Scobleizer - Latest Comments in “All he talks about is politics!”

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

David Ellis — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:05:06 -0000

RAWR!

Scoble, all I see from you is hypocrisy and retaliation.

You say in your post:
"Which makes me very happy at the unsubscribes. I’m hoping for a smart audience here, not one that throws insults based on bad data."

And then to Jake:
"Jake: a smart audience is one that can have a conversation without throwing stupid insults like “I’m unsubscribing.” Smart people just unsubscribe, they don’t need to let the world know."

But you do the very thing you're griping about. As people are unsubscribing, you only ridicule them further. You're in essence yelling back "Good! I only want *smart* people to read what I have to say!", implying that those who unsubscribe and let you know are somehow less intelligent for doing so.

You say, "Smart people just unsubscribe, they don’t need to let the world know.".
How very gracious you are to "let the world know" about how stupidly people are acting.

Live up to your stated standard, or don't state one.

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

EJ Hill — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:46:39 -0000

Wow! What a bunch of touchy-feeling almost grown-ups ;-) It's Robert's personal blog, full stop. He can say what he wants about what he wants. That said, I think anyone spending this much effort on either Palin or Obama should go check political history - it's nasty, it's corrupt, it's filled with double-standards ... And, no, I don't defend Robert ... I dislike both Palin and Obama, for my own reasons. And I'm not even from the US.

- http://www.foxnews.com/stor...
- http://www.lifenews.com/nat...
- http://www.christianworldvi...
- http://www.frontpagemagazin...
- http://www.worldnetdaily.co...
- http://www.streetprophets.c...

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

K. Smith — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:46:34 -0000

I, personally, like that your posts are diverse. While I don't always agree with all of your opinions, they make me. . .think. You'd be one-dimensional (and not nearly as entertaining) if you limited your blog to only tech talk!

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Sciamachy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:36:29 -0000

Personally I don't mind if you do want to talk politics - everyone's entitled to his/her opinion anyway. I find my opinions often coincide with yours where you reveal them though, and everyone likes to hear people agreeing with them. :-)

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

mlewis106 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:39:00 -0000

So is this a political post or does this get tagged as posts about political posts and tech posts. Blogging can be a hassle sometimes..

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Gib at BriefEpisode — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:14:50 -0000

Robert,

I haven't read the post in question or the comments. I'll probably skip at this point.

But to this post of yours I'd like to reply as an Angel's Advocate for a moment.

Although you are definitely a multi-channel, multi-media personality, not everyone subscribes to all your channels of Scobleness.

I tend to be more up to date on your Tweets, your Facebook, your Shared Items. I read your blog less often but in longer sits. I tend not to watch original video content at all if it's tech oriented.

So although your point is valid that your output on political topics is a small percentage, if people focus only on the channel or yours that's featuring the kind of topics they don't favor, that's a different thing than saying all your output on all channels in all media is narrowly focused.

Just as in the ink & paper world it's fine & normal for subscribers to write to the editor about reasons for cancelling subscriptions, I think it's fine if people put in comments their reasons for unsubbing to your blog since you're really a demi-god her (more than an editor or publisher).

If the comments are cranky or mean in tone, I'm always in favor of zapping them!

Don't lose faith. People comment & leave & that's fine too. I suspect you won't have any shortage of subscribers.

One door closes, another opens.

Best,

Gib

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Eric Rice — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:04:11 -0000

Note: Do not write a post that says 'iPhone owners are un-American, GO OBAMA' cuz yeah, the universe will implode people's hard drives, yea verily. /smirk

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

blogan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:34:06 -0000

Robert, you dilute your brand by discussing politics. Whether you like it or not, half of your readers will disagree with you politically. On an emotional, visceral level. You can't change that.

Start a political blog, announce it here, link to it, whatever. Every time you get the urge to write something political, do it there.

I used to buy into the, "it's my personal blog and I'll write what I want, politics and all" view. Then I saw how upset I'd get reading political comments from people I though were otherwise intelligent on other issues. Maybe it's because the political views were expressed as snarky, gloating, name-calling drivel instead of intellectual discussions. Fine. I found I was writing the same sort of junk, just from the other perspective. So I started a political blog. Problem solved.

In fact, I found I myself like my other blog better now. Go figure...

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Cris Cohen — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:54:18 -0000

Never mind them. As Gary Vaynerchuk says (who I found because of one of your posts), execute on being you:

http://garyvaynerchuk.com/2...

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

smartminion — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:48:24 -0000

I think the reason many unsubscribed or (like) me were just highly agitated was not that you were talking about politics really but the tone and way you do it. the words snarky, petty, smug, elitist come to my mind reading this stuff. that and you're just plain wrong so much :)
jmo

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Bob — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:53:01 -0000

Wow, what hypocrisy I'm reading here. But it is typical. on both sides. What is often forgotten by the side that is reacting to being called "un american", is that their party(yes the party of "inclusion" Dem's) has said some pretty nasty things about the other party as well. But that is overlooked as being
necessary. The ends justifies the means kind of thing.

There is Acorn for which a specific candidate has worked for and did training for as well, actively "working" to win the election for a specific candidate. Once again, it matters not how they win, just that they win. But that will be overlooked here as well.

Oh and about the surplus. Yes you are correct, there may have been one.
There had been a decline in the economy that had started before GWB took office. But in 2001, we were attacked on our own soil. The president decided that his first responsibility is the protection of the people of this country.
Can any of you remember the when we have been attacked on our own soil since 2001? A strong economy is only good if we are safe as a nation.
I for one thank GWB for this. I hope who ever wins the next election also takes the stance that the protection of our nation comes first.
Cause who cares if the economy is strong, if we are dodging bullets and bombs on the way to the store to buy more stuff?

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

shareme — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:49:13 -0000

Hm only interested insmart data Robert?

You know during July I as in the GillMore Gang ustream chat room and was board and the whole gang watched a social experiment unfold where several of us posted rumor son FriendFeed to see who would be very unsmart and take that rumor and not verify it before running with it.

I seem to recall a certain Robert Scoble running full steam with that rumor rather take any time to verify it..

The lesson is not deleting people form your connections..

But verifying information received from connections before relying upon it..

Think back to last Summer where you were reacting on bad data because you refuse to do the work to verfiy it..Pot Calling Kettle Black comes to mind..

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

daniel — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:52:55 -0000

I like the politics...it is that damn tech stuff that pisses me off. When can we discuss religion more in depth?

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Nikos Drandakis — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:35:48 -0000

I'm totaly with you on this Robert...

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Ben — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:03:35 -0000

Yeah, serious differences of opinion, Yorktown proved that well enough.

I presume you're referring to some US event that everyone else is blissfully ignorant of. After all, I wouldn't expect just anyone to know about random events in Australia just because I'm Australian.

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Maurice — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:45:09 -0000

I can think of only 3 or 4 posts that robert has done that are political at all and only this one which is a realy political one.

Its surprising that when any tech podcaster/bloger makes even the most mild political comment that would not be at all controversial in any european context they get a few to be frank nut jobs ranting about socialisiam :-)

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Bryan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:36:57 -0000

"Last time I checked this is still my +personal blog+ where I get to write about whatever I am interested in."

Funny how people sometimes forget that.

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Guest — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:15:59 -0000

i think the point is that no one gives a shit about what you have to say about politics... not that "they unsubscribed."

maybe you should actually listen to some of your readers, i.e. customers.

The "smart" people are the ones who dont want to listen to a TECH BLOGGER preach about POLITICS... you just don't have the credibility there.

Would you read reviews of start ups on the huffington post??? Exactly...

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Christopher Coulter — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:36:42 -0000

Weird how the two countries view themselves.

Yeah, serious differences of opinion, Yorktown proved that well enough.

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Christopher Coulter — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:34:23 -0000

Of course all you talk about is politics, just more of the tech kind, as blogger spaz, conference meet and greets, daily gossip with the insider Twitter clam-chowder soupheads, keeping Dave Winer happy and sane, interviewing lame start-up companies in desperate need of any PR, flippant off-the-deep-end lame attempts to drive up traffic, and always inserting yourself into any major controversy, that's pure all politics.

Thankfully, it's extremely isolated, the same group talking to the same circular audiences. 24/7/365 Narcissistic Personality Disorder Social Networking.

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Ryan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:40:01 -0000

So, Robert, the problem I see with your list of issues is how you define "some" and how you define "rich" ?

And, yes, taxation is physical force. If you don't pay your taxes what do you think eventually happens? People will come to your door to arrest you and they will have guns and you will have no choice. That is, if you can survive after all your assets have been frozen.

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Russ — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:07:24 -0000

Seems like a few subscribers are trying to bully you out of expressing opinions on the political mess this country is in and has been in for the last eight years. If they disagree with your political analysis let them post a reply that addresses their difference of opinion in a logical, non threatening manner. If all they can do is whine about how they don't want to consider opinions other than those that reflect their own views, they can tune out. It's not required for viewers to read every one of your posts. Those of us who use RSS readers only have to click on what interests us. I will not be bullied out of expressing my conclusion that Obama/Biden is a much safer choice for America than McCain/Paulin. It doesn't look like you are to be bullied either.

What disturbs me is the fear of political discussions. Far too many people want to believe that Democrats spend more and do not wish to consider the fact that there was a budget surplus 8 years ago and the fiscal responsibility of Clinton was replaced by fiscal responsibility of Bush. Shouldn't we discuss such things in a reasonable manner? Are we simply left to robo calls as the mainstay of political discussion. Too bad we can't unsubscribe to robo calls.

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Rob — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:14:40 -0000

Robert, calm down!

Like other people have said, you do appear to have a giant chip on your shoulder of late.

I couldn't care less what you say on your blog. Hell, I enjoy reading whatever you write because I think you're a smart guy but you really need to learn to accept criticism.

If you can't handle negative feedback, then don't blog about topics which are going to get people fired up e.g. politics, religion etc. Alternatively, disable commenting.

It is your blog and you are entitled to write about whatever you want but the same applies to your readers.

Naked conversations and all that jazz...

Peace dude.

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Brad — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:35:38 -0000

Its your blog and we are just guests, but I think many of the "disappointed" posts have been trying to explain why your blog seems abit off-kilter recently in case you care of your readers sentiment (not that you have to of course). But claiming that everyone who cares enough to give you an explanation why they are unsubscribing isn't smart enough to belong here seemed abit harsh and was hard to believe came from you. I still look forward to reading of your travels and the people you meet and wish you the best and thank you again for the services you provie our community.

Re: “All he talks about is politics!”

Mark — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:29:24 -0000

While it is a personal blog...that is a bit of a misnomer because if it were truly intended for a strictly personal audience it would be called a diary and you wouldn't post it for the masses to see.

Secondarily, I think that while your tech thoughts are very insightful, your political comments are rather shallow, in my humble opinion lowering your overall value/word or value/post value.

Your are definitely entitled to your opinion and this is your personal blog but when you make your contact information available or turn comments on you are inviting feedback. Don't have a hissy fit when people give you their opinions back.