Comments on: Techno-Files, Or Why I Learned To Hate the Coast http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast The Appalachian Geek Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:16:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ICOM 210: The Best of the Blog Responses » Appalachian Geek http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-1084 ICOM 210: The Best of the Blog Responses » Appalachian Geek Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:51:11 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-1084 [...] world. We no longer have to sit back and take what the media has to offer. [As a point of order, here is a piece I wrote that ended up on Gawker after Vanity Fair wrote a nasty article about Cincinnati. Pre-Web, [...] [...] world. We no longer have to sit back and take what the media has to offer. [As a point of order, here is a piece I wrote that ended up on Gawker after Vanity Fair wrote a nasty article about Cincinnati. Pre-Web, [...]

]]> By: Brad_King http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-455 Brad_King Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:39:52 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-455 Eric: <br><br>Thanks for reading and thanks for the thoughtful reply. I would add something to it - but it seems you've covered explained the problem quite thoroughly.<br><br>The issue I have locally is that 1) the local media didn't know about this for weeks and 2) they didn't feel compelled to respond TO THE ARTICLE. They responded to chatter in the blogosphere. I have gone back and forth with several members of the media + this point seems lost of them. <br><br>Then again: I stopped reading traditional media outlets long ago (local ones, anyway). And I'm a journalist. This is a good explanation of why.<br><br>I do, however, like The Dukes of Hazard. Eric:

Thanks for reading and thanks for the thoughtful reply. I would add something to it – but it seems you've covered explained the problem quite thoroughly.

The issue I have locally is that 1) the local media didn't know about this for weeks and 2) they didn't feel compelled to respond TO THE ARTICLE. They responded to chatter in the blogosphere. I have gone back and forth with several members of the media + this point seems lost of them.

Then again: I stopped reading traditional media outlets long ago (local ones, anyway). And I'm a journalist. This is a good explanation of why.

I do, however, like The Dukes of Hazard.

]]> By: ericreynolds http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-454 ericreynolds Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:33:00 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-454 I think that the issue at hand is far less about one man's condescending idiocy and far more about the plague that is bad journalism. This man enjoys and prospers from ridiculing the plebes-his opinions are inconsequential. His work, however, is a small piece of a giant, disgusting jigsaw puzzle of misinformation that is smothering this country. In this example, we have an article that is being read by people, informing them about a topic about which a vast majority knows nothing. In it are ridiculous assertions that have no basis in fact whatsoever (I speak here about the generalizations made about our region, not about the "museum") but are PRESENTED as such. Not only did he portray us as slack-jawed bible-beating yahoos, but he couldn't even get the goddamn city right while he was doing it. You call it lazy, but it's beyond lazy. It's as if he wrote the article from home using "The Dukes of Hazzard" as his research. Anyone from this region knows it's bullshit. The problem is, the people reading the article for the most part DON'T. And now this poison journalism as you call it has infected a community of readers. And, unfortunately, this is how a large majority of information gets spread in this country, opinion and outright deception disguised as fact, for the sake of snatching more listeners, viewers or readers from the other guy. It's a shite state of affairs, and it plays a large part in perpetuating the festering hatred of everything different to which so many here cling. I think that the issue at hand is far less about one man's condescending idiocy and far more about the plague that is bad journalism. This man enjoys and prospers from ridiculing the plebes-his opinions are inconsequential. His work, however, is a small piece of a giant, disgusting jigsaw puzzle of misinformation that is smothering this country. In this example, we have an article that is being read by people, informing them about a topic about which a vast majority knows nothing. In it are ridiculous assertions that have no basis in fact whatsoever (I speak here about the generalizations made about our region, not about the “museum”) but are PRESENTED as such. Not only did he portray us as slack-jawed bible-beating yahoos, but he couldn't even get the goddamn city right while he was doing it. You call it lazy, but it's beyond lazy. It's as if he wrote the article from home using “The Dukes of Hazzard” as his research. Anyone from this region knows it's bullshit. The problem is, the people reading the article for the most part DON'T. And now this poison journalism as you call it has infected a community of readers. And, unfortunately, this is how a large majority of information gets spread in this country, opinion and outright deception disguised as fact, for the sake of snatching more listeners, viewers or readers from the other guy. It's a shite state of affairs, and it plays a large part in perpetuating the festering hatred of everything different to which so many here cling.

]]> By: On A.A. Gill’s Response to Cincinnati [Vitriol Party] | The Cincinnati Man http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-446 On A.A. Gill’s Response to Cincinnati [Vitriol Party] | The Cincinnati Man Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:14:55 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-446 [...] why Brad King got it right: he told a story about it.  He pointed to a larger issue, and pretty much just said that articles like that do nothing more [...] [...] why Brad King got it right: he told a story about it.  He pointed to a larger issue, and pretty much just said that articles like that do nothing more [...]

]]> By: Brad King: - Techno-Files, or Anatomy of a Link-Bait Vanity Fair Story http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-434 Brad King: - Techno-Files, or Anatomy of a Link-Bait Vanity Fair Story Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:25:11 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-434 [...] Jan 26, 2010: My blog post, “Techno-Files, or Why I Learned to Hate the Coast” [...] [...] Jan 26, 2010: My blog post, “Techno-Files, or Why I Learned to Hate the Coast” [...]

]]> By: WLWT is Way, Way Behind on This One. [But at Least They Said Something] | The Cincinnati Man http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-430 WLWT is Way, Way Behind on This One. [But at Least They Said Something] | The Cincinnati Man Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:02:08 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-430 [...] pointed to this post at Kate’s Random Musings, which went up yesterday afternoon, as well as this one at my buddy Brad’s [...] [...] pointed to this post at Kate’s Random Musings, which went up yesterday afternoon, as well as this one at my buddy Brad’s [...]

]]> By: Brad_King http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-426 Brad_King Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:20:07 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-426 We actually trace our roots back to England (my family that is - not Appalachia). <br><br>And yes, I've certainly read much about Appalachia that's offensive - but this really does take the cake in terms of a major organization (Conde Nast) and a well-known magazine. It's just unbelievable.<br><br>I appreciate the read and the comment :) Always happy to meet another Appalachian - even if it's just online :) We actually trace our roots back to England (my family that is – not Appalachia).

And yes, I've certainly read much about Appalachia that's offensive – but this really does take the cake in terms of a major organization (Conde Nast) and a well-known magazine. It's just unbelievable.

I appreciate the read and the comment :) Always happy to meet another Appalachian – even if it's just online :)

]]> By: Holy Cow http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-425 Holy Cow Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:16:34 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-425 Being from Appalachia myself (Wise County), I can honestly say if Gill's screed is one of the most offensive and contemptible pieces you've ever read about Appalachia, you need to turn off your computer now before it's too late. <br><br>It's worth noting that I work near the embarrassment to humanity known as the Creation Museum and I ridicule it frequently. It's also worth noting that Gill is Scottish where most of the people in Appalachia, including myself, trace their roots.<br><br>So Gill if doesn't like to the way we turned out, he has only his ancestors' bad genetics to blame. Being from Appalachia myself (Wise County), I can honestly say if Gill's screed is one of the most offensive and contemptible pieces you've ever read about Appalachia, you need to turn off your computer now before it's too late.

It's worth noting that I work near the embarrassment to humanity known as the Creation Museum and I ridicule it frequently. It's also worth noting that Gill is Scottish where most of the people in Appalachia, including myself, trace their roots.

So Gill if doesn't like to the way we turned out, he has only his ancestors' bad genetics to blame.

]]> By: Brad King: - Questioning Things (21 of 90) http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-429 Brad King: - Questioning Things (21 of 90) Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:05:00 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-429 [...] blog post I wrote on January 26 about Vanity Fair’s take on Appalachia ended up on the 11 pm news (this is the online story) [...] [...] blog post I wrote on January 26 about Vanity Fair’s take on Appalachia ended up on the 11 pm news (this is the online story) [...]

]]> By: heather http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-423 heather Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:02:03 +0000 http://www.thebradking.com/2010/01/26/techno-files-or-why-i-learned-to-hate-the-coast/#comment-423 Brad,<br><br>Lovely writing as always. What you're describing may generally map to the Coasts but is it also a question of general relational weakness of some people?<br>The institutions we've had have favoured those who can compartmentalize. "You're an x" rather than relate and emotionally connect with you (or anyone) as an emotional/ relational force (some would say spirit).<br><br>I believe we're at a moment where that is changing. Hierarchies are breaking down and the ramifications of discarding someone are much more visible (ie like in your blog post). Relationships matter more to those who have always taken their workings for granted (since they often didn't do much work on them).<br><br>Everyone wants to be seen. Even those terrified people who want to put you in a box. They have mistaken their own box for themselves, maybe because they have a shiny box. But it is a box all the same. Brad,

Lovely writing as always. What you're describing may generally map to the Coasts but is it also a question of general relational weakness of some people?
The institutions we've had have favoured those who can compartmentalize. “You're an x” rather than relate and emotionally connect with you (or anyone) as an emotional/ relational force (some would say spirit).

I believe we're at a moment where that is changing. Hierarchies are breaking down and the ramifications of discarding someone are much more visible (ie like in your blog post). Relationships matter more to those who have always taken their workings for granted (since they often didn't do much work on them).

Everyone wants to be seen. Even those terrified people who want to put you in a box. They have mistaken their own box for themselves, maybe because they have a shiny box. But it is a box all the same.

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