Scobleizer - Latest Comments in Scoble’s a shill … more details

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Sunil Choudhary — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 01:12:27 -0000

Really appreciate the efforts you put in. Dont let minor annoyances bother you.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Paul B — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 08:49:08 -0000

Robert, just cop it on the chin mate and move on. A couple of weeks from now and will any of us really care about the "failure to fully disclose"? Hell no, they'll be looking for your next clip/your next blog post - either to watch/read and enjoy, or just rip apart.

In the end we've all done things we regret and I think you're actions over the past few weeks, whilst up-and-down like a yo-yo, show that you're human. A quality I sure admire. And to be honest, I've been in a few arguments where I've said 'hold on, I could be wrong here' too.

I appreciate what you do! I don't always like you're content, or agree with your views but in the end I know with you, the 'comments' are always open. I'm sure, good or bad, you appreciate that feedback too!

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Robert John Ed — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:51:18 -0000

As a marketer, it strikes me funny that this really will boost your readership; despite all the complaints about some sort of disingenuous action by Robert here. I'm not denigrating that either, because I'll be one of the new readers. Is any news good news for bloggers? Don't get me wrong, the integrity of ANY writer regardless of stature or credentials is on the line every time he puts something out; but if I were Robert (well the other Robert) I'd be wearing a shit eating grin about this. The people who respect you will still respect you, while the people who casually observe tech and valley stuff will bring you a bevy of new readership. Publicity, good or bad, the same to a blogger.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

TimTheFoolMan — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:31:40 -0000

Goebbels posts a comment complaining about Scoble's latest posts.

In related news, Pacific Ocean found to be "wet." - Tim

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Mike Woodhouse — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 07:23:10 -0000

Just a thought - could there be mileage in posting "full" and "edited" versions of your footage? Thing is, I don't have time to watch much stuff at 40-60 minutes a time, but I would love to watch an edited highlights (with or without laugh!) at say 5-8 minutes. If I wanted more, I could step up to the full deal when merited.

And if the price is that the edited version is biased by your viewpoint, then OK, fine, whatever. After a few years I think I know roughly where you're coming from and I can de-bias as necessary. It's no different from watching the BBC or whoever.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Anti — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:23:29 -0000

"Ethics are for other people."
-- Bobby

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

vlidi_01 — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 06:09:29 -0000

Like you so far all thought that CEOs talk the holy truth, and especially so when presented with recording equipment? it is just that reading between the lines of data they pack for media, when and how they do it, and the history and the current balance of powers in the market, we all can interpret what could be really expected and what they think is really important to get hold of... OK, so we now know who pays, and learn slowly that everybody pays for their own promotion. Like somebody genuinely did not believe that that wasn't the case from the vey beginning? ... I mean, whoever's doing it, we would get exactly the same output, crafted for us to get it. And Scobble is already doing it. I agree the change of style would be refreshing, but I'm more for maintaining the disinformation flow uninterrupted, for my own paranoid amusement. So nothing really changes for me...

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Dawn Douglass — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:41:38 -0000

Jeff S.: Clinton just proves my point. Secularists flocked to defend Clinton, whom they saw as one of their own. If George Bush seduced a young and emotionally fragile intern in the Oval office, do you think those same people would be saying, "Oh, it's just sex" and "Everybody lies about sex." Yeah, right.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Karoli — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 03:55:42 -0000

I cannot believe the sanctimonious cries piling on here. You people need to go blog about something important, like how Louisiana is still being screwed by the Feds and may never get those levees shored up properly, or how rotten it is that there are still starving homeless people in the world.

Getting your panties in a bunch over whether or not Robert Scoble was directly or indirectly paid by Intel is just silly. These "voices of the pure blogosphere" just blather. Quit being silly about this and consider things that are important.

I swear, as much as I love reading tech blogs, it just drives me crazy when the 'high horse riders' climb up and start flogging.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Zane — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 03:25:50 -0000

I love you!!!!

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Chris Brogan... — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 03:08:50 -0000

My only add to this whole thread is, "boy, people really spend LOTS of calories tearing other people down instead of making new things."

You're a nice enough guy, from the few times we've met. I applaud you for trying to bring a non-PR-flavored view on businesses. Your work has been interesting to those of us who work in and around the Enterprise technology space, and tech wonks in general.

See you Feb 8th?

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

hugh macleod — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 03:02:27 -0000

You have my sympathy, Robert. Posted my response here: http://www.gapingvoid.com/M...

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

hugh macleod — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:28:54 -0000

Lesson to be learned from reading these here comments: When the shit hits the fan, don't let anonymous trolls HAVE ANY CONTROL WHATSOEVER in the conversation.

They have nothing to lose, trying to tear you a new one. Nor will they stand accountable for their actions.

Without accountable identity, you owe them nothing. So use that delete button with impunity, I say.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Jeff S — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:10:42 -0000

Dawn: Um, Clinton.

"But if a secularist does the same thing or worse, nobody cares, or else they jump to defend the guilty party."

A longer list of "secularists" that have been caught in the moralizing trap of "American values" can be easily found. So, I'm not sure the issue being discussed here is analogous at all, or if it is, the analogy really should be rethought.

Robert: Disclosure is not a mole hill or a mountain. It's a communicative pledge so that we, your public, understands the fidelity of your discourse.

Without disclosure, even if it seems tedious or trivial, your just another voice in a sea of paid shills. I'm not accusing you of being a shill btw, since this has very little to do with you as a person (e.g. your wed site is not a diary or a personal correspondence with friends).

I would also say that signing one's name (or not doing so) seems like a flimsy distinction on which to respond to comments. Names are not identities, and anonymity is not a cowardice.

Matt: what you describe is money, e.g. compensation, both in direct (free meals, travel, lodging) and indirect form (cultural cache). Disclosure is nice I guess so we know, but it's a pretty blatant conflict of interest. A bad but useful analogy might be, "Hi, I'm writing a review of your casino, and you should let me eat for free, sleep for free, gamble for free, and an interview execs so I can tell my readers what I think of your casino."

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

LayZ — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:22:22 -0000

Scoble, the timing of events would be interesting to know. Did Intel come to PodTech and propose the "professional" video (commercial) and as a result you saw an opportunity to do a longer piece on their fabrication process? Or did PodTech pitch the idea to Intel? Who make the payment proposal? PodTech or Intel?

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Dawn Douglass — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:46:32 -0000

btw, I just now went to valleywag for the first time to see their story. Big ads all over it. What a surprise. :-P

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Dawn Douglass — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:39:47 -0000

This whole thing reminds me of the attacks against Christians. When a Christian gets caught in a sex scandal or whatever, everyone goes crazy. But if a secularist does the same thing or worse, nobody cares, or else they jump to defend the guilty party. Why? Because of the perceived hypocrisy and the chance for the attackers to say, "See! You think you're better than us, but this proves you're worse!"

Robert, the irony is that if you continue to struggle to stay pure in this impure world of advertising-backed media, you'll remain a huge target for vicious assault. Having standards is hard. If you treated your blog like a newspaper or a tons of other websites and blogs out there, and had advertisements all over it, nobody would care about this Intel molehill that people are trying to make into a "got you!" mountain.

SIGH

Hang in there.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Vijay — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:15:31 -0000

So what if you are paid... the videos have interesting content. Eventually its up to the viewer to make up his/her mind. It doesnt make Robert Scoble any less effective...

Keep Going !!!

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Ted — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:30:09 -0000

Robert Dewey, I didn't say the videos weren't entertaining or watchable, I just said no one cares about them. Which may be hyperbole but is different from saying they are not well-made, interesting etc.

My reason in saying that is to say that the videos themselves are not the point.

You have a blogger asking people to remember blogging is all about by linking and reminding people where your links come from.

Well, another facet of blogging is being 100% on the level. This is not a tech magazine, this is not "computer journalism". It's a blog, it should be outspoken and it should remind us what the circumstances of the content's creation are. Robert has admitted he failed to disclose, but he's still trying to spin this as it looks bad. I say he has lost credibility and will have to work hard to get it back.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Andrew Eisner — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:51:02 -0000

I have to come to Robert's aid here, not just because I like and respect him but because in all the years I spent in computer journalism, this issue always came up. As long as advertisers pay the bills, readers will always suspect the reviewers are biased in their favor. Hey folks, welcome to the real world, it's not ideal but it works pretty well. Have things gotten a little fuzzier in the age of new media? Maybe a little but I have to say Robert got his start by telling it like was despite what his employer (Microsoft) might have wanted him to say - he's got my vote!

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Schlomo Rabinowitz — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:19:46 -0000

This is crazy stuff! Sure, disclosure is nice and all, but really... do you have to attach a PDF of your income tax filing to every blog post?

I can think of issues I would want full disclosure for; like maybe why and who benefits from us being in a war. But disclosing who pays for what on a video technology site seems excessive. Or maybe I just don't take all of this seriously enough. What do I know, I just make media. And yes, some people pay for me to make it.

Two words: "Whoopdie" and "Doo"

But you know as well as anyone, Robert; just keep on keepin' on and the audience will follow. Just like the backchannel will constantly complain.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Dominic Jones — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:11:42 -0000

I don't see any other bloggers being as open as Scoble. Everyone has hidden agendas and biases, but you will rarely see them admit as much. Sure, Robert knows how to create a buzz. He does it deliberately sometimes. But I don't know of many bloggers who are as honest as he is.

And, yes, his interviews are boring if you're not interested in the content. But if he covers something you really have an interest in, 41 minutes will feel like it's not enough. I've gotten that feeling after a couple of videos I've watched.

Om Malik said in his video that Robert is a real blogger, while he (Om) is just a reporter trying to be a blogger. He's right.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

AndyBeard — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:00:00 -0000

Could every shill commenter please include a full financial disclosure with every comment.

There are so many twists and turns in things like this, and often there are things you are not allowed to disclose.

There are things I have done with Intel in the past that I could only recently talk about, as they normally have 5 year NDAs on everything.

I am sure the same is true for lots of VC related items, not just who invested, but who else they invested in, and the contacts such connections provide, such as exclusive content.

@Robert - get the Podtech guys to install my Disclosure Policy Plugin. That way they can have a context related disclosure within the content and not forget about it.

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Robert Dewey — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:59:34 -0000

^^ another unsubscriber? or is this unsubscriber number one trolling around again?? :)

Re: Scoble’s a shill … more details

Guernica — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:50:55 -0000

I've threatened it many times before, but now I'm really unsubscribing from your feed. Scoble, you have long demonstrated that you are immature and have a very false sense of your own importance, but I at least respected you. Your John Kerry-like equivocating on this issue has cost you that respect. If you say something important, I'll see it on TechMeme or one of my other feeds, but as for continuing to listen to your whining on a daily basis, you can count me out. How stupid do you have to be to cry about how other, more successful blogs don't link to what turns out to be an undisclosed paid commercial? And then to add insult to injury by complaining that Engadget then linked to a real article about an Xbox stolen from a cancer patient? You may not think it's as newsworthy as your commercial, but why Engadget would give a damn about your opinion I have no idea. I'm done with you.