I was researching something unrelated yesterday when I stumbled upon a gem from the past of Daniel Lyons, a.k.a. Fake Steve Jobs.
It was November 2005, TechCrunch was 5 months old and had yet to break into the Alexa top 10,000, and Lyons was then, as he still is now, writing for Forbes. Despite the growing tide of positive publicity surrounding blogging following the 2004 Presidential Elections, Lyons hadn’t yet received the memo that blogs were actually good.
Perhaps Lyons feared for the future of mainstream journalism? Perhaps he was trying to be the Andrew Keen of 2005? In the Forbes Cover Story “Attack of the Blogs” he makes his blog hating stance plainly clear in the first paragraph:
Web logs are the prized platform of an online lynch mob spouting liberty but spewing lies, libel and invective. Their potent allies in this pursuit include Google and Yahoo.
It gets better:
Blogs started a few years ago as a simple way for people to keep online diaries. Suddenly they are the ultimate vehicle for brand-bashing, personal attacks, political extremism and smear campaigns…
The online haters have formidable allies amplifying their tirades to a potential worldwide audience of 900 million: Google, Yahoo and Microsoft…Google and other services operate with government-sanctioned impunity, protected from any liability for anything posted on the blogs they host. Thus they serve up vitriolic “content” without bearing any legal responsibility for ensuring it is fair or accurate;
And though they have First Amendment protection and posture as patriotic muckrakers in the solemn pursuit of truth, the blog mob isn’t democratic at all. They are inclined to crush dissent with the “delete” key…
OK, sins of the past and all that, but going back two years Lyons’ story made major headlines; this was an attack article that didn’t even pretend or try to be subjective or fair. So what changed? Did Lyons see blogging as a tool for fame and a book deal despite his hatred of the medium? Would Fake Steve Jobs have had a lesser following if people knew of Lyons’ past? Perhaps not, but recalling that article certainly makes me personally less inclined to be supportive of his future endeavors.
I read somewhere back in 2004 that Duncan likes men.
Reading the selected quotes from the article actually makes the FSJ endeavor make _more_ sense. Lyons’ seems to like to mix sensationalism and satire, and both the 2005 article and FSJ seem to have a healthy mix of each.
Duncan, Im of the view that Lyons was just generally talking about how blogs can be used to ‘brand-bash and attack people’ without any just cause. From reading the article it seems that Lyons was just taking a swing at the power of blogs and how they can be easily manipulated to make perfectively reasonable things look bad.
I mean really, the Fake Steve Jobs blog is testament to what he was saying in this article. i.e. how easy it is to pretend to be somebody that you aren’t for the purposes of ‘taking the piss outta them’.
I know there’s no reason for you to read my blog, Duncan. However, this was something I noted on the day the NYT outed Lyons. I also noted this May when Lyons wrote a follow-up to the first Blog-bashing story.
Tcruncher2
My issue with Lyons’ post then and now is that instead of presenting both sides he injected his own opinion (the quotes are all Lyons quotes) which was all against
RickH
good point, although the medium with FSJ has still got to be somewhat ironic.
lol, attack of the Blogs, 10 years from now everyone will have a blog
Duncan, my friend, your writing, is painful, to read.
Yeah FSJ, while funny, is kind of the sum-total of what nay-sayers, evidently himself included, would say is *wrong* with blogs. Ironic.
Brian
this went through an industrial strength grammar + punctuation checker so if I’ve missed something feel free to point it out.
everyone is a hater – till they see the light.
what’s the big deal about fake steve jobs hating, initially, blogs?
This is what passes for news?
The news came up at around the same time Fake Steve was unmasked. I have to agree that this just goes to “prove his point”. FSJ gave him a platform to do whatever he wanted with the ‘character’ Steve Jobs, and no one could stop him.
Was the article right? Nah, but who really is these days?
I pretty much think Duncan has gone from writing ‘ about ‘ tech to writing editorial opinion. Your view just validated what his earlier stance was on blogs. Feel the love Duncan?
Duncan, you’re harshing my mellow. Relax.
Attacking the world of blogs doesn’t preclude a writer from ever starting one, any more than attacking the state of modern publishing means that one should be expected to stay away from books.
I’m surprised you just came across this story now; I was under the impression it was the second-most-famous of Lyons’ past features (aside from the Linux one). I know this is everyone’s day off, but that doesn’t give you permission to become Valleywag. Ah, I kid, I kid…
I remember reading this article when it came out. I’d have to re-read it to be 100 percent sure, but looking at a quote you highlight:
“Web logs are the prized platform of an online lynch mob spouting liberty but spewing lies, libel and invective”
That quote refers to blogs as a preferred platform for ‘online lynch mobs’. It does not say that all blogs are evil/bad. If memory serves me, I came away from the article with a sense of warning that businesses, and people in general, better be aware of the power of blogs and the speed at which information now travels … and know how to counter misinformation, slander, etc.
That being said … could the article have been a case also of ‘circling the wagons’ to deal with this fast rising competition? Sure. Coming from a radio background, my superiors snickered when new technology arrived (satellite radio in 2001). Then, when proven wrong (no one will pay for radio, no one likes long music sets), they tried to adapt certain elements of the new competition. (I’m sure they’re snickerng about WiMax enabled internet radios in cars). And of course we see mainstream publications going whole hog now with their own blogs and desperate attempts to build some community. They know now that blogs are a media ‘killer app’.
Why, Is, Brian, Criticizing, This, Article?
(Was that outlandish punctuation scheme a joke?)
He was just saying hey be careful and sift through what’s real and what’s not. That was 2 years ago. We still have to do that today.
Sins of the past or future. How many time we said: “I will not drink this water”. But when you are thirsty …. I try to be honorable and consistent, but, even a righteous man – and I am anything but – falters once in a while.
Good tidbit though!!!
“Victor, I’m positioned. Okay? Do you understand what
that means? On a very personal level–here–to know that the
companies that make these fine products want me to be their
spokesperson? Their voice? ” -Captain Amazing (Mystery Men)
another super lame duncan post.
Someone wondered in Duncan’s previous post if he was attracting so many critical comments to every one of his posts just because he isn’t Mike. I think it’s true to a decent extent. But Duncan’s super defensive responses to the critical comments, I think, only feed into people’s desire to post more critical comments. I’m no wizard, but being unnecessarily defensive isn’t the trait of a mature professional, let alone a mature blog poster.
I guess you don’t read Anil Dash’s blog, product manager of Six Apart.
Just mentioned this because, if you read, you would have come up with this story on the day fake steve jobs was disclosed.
Oh, wait!! Perhaps you were doing research on Six Apart/Movable Type and went by Anil’s blog and found his post about this?
http://www.dash...h-of-blogs.html
How I miss the days when TechCrunch actually breaked news about startups and was always on the edge…. it really contributed, in a great way, for the web as we know today. Please come back!
I was about to mention what Steve A did. This came out the very same day it broke who was the fake Steve. Why write about it 3 or 4 weeks later?
Zemode
I’m not super defensive, but I do have an issue with people attacking me personally instead of partaking in reasonable debate around the topic. As for the worthiness of this post: it’s a bloody long weekend in the US folks, so lighten up just a little bit. I thought it was interesting, if others don’t so be it.
As for Dominic the professional troll: I wasn’t hired to just write fluff pieces on the latest Digg or De.licio.us clones (and if I was Michael should sack me immediately
) and I’ve never been known for anything like that in over 6 years blogging. If I don’t like something I’ll say so, I always have and as much as I respect anyones right to disagree with me, try playing the topic instead of the man, you’ll find I’ll respond far more nicely.
Duncan,
Expectations from techcrunch are high and one feels disappointed to see not very exciting posts.
I suggest to add categories like:Breaking News,Gossips,Analysis of Existing Stuff etc so that expectations are set properly and posts reach only the intended audience.
Duncan,
You write well. But the thing is, most of your posts (probably 80%) is not what the techcrunch crowd is keen on. Except if you were hired to change techcrunch’s writing style. If this does change, the rss feed will drop in the next 6 months.
On the flip side, why dont you start a blog where you will be writing your Gossip and sensational posts. I am sure there is a market out there for this.
Raj
Fair call, but to be fair it was a long weekend in the US…literally next to nothing happened over 3 days, so as much as it wasn’t a post I’d run on a normal day, I thought it was interesting enough for a long weekend. If I’m wrong so be it.
Fake Steve is biased and extremely unfair. I would venture to say he should be working at a tabloid, and not Forbes Magazine.
Your note has a bitter tone that stats me wondering if any “fight” involved you and FSJ, Duncan ?
As for me I’m amazed at how FSJ was right in the quoted articles, his description of blogs *is* still accurate and good.
Duncan, may be you just lack taking a look outside of the tech world for a broader view of how much blog can be bad or armful.
Ah, the land of hate!
I hadn’t heard about this and maybe it undermines Fake blogs and maybe it doesn’t but I don’t care. I just love watching the journalists capitulate.
Every human may not eventually have a blog but every journalist certainly will.
Why? Cause management will mandate it.
I agree with #10. Duncan, I’ve never attacked your posts, but this is old news. This is something you should have written up when the news came out about who Fake Steve Jobs was. If you look at the comments when he was outed, there are some comments discussing his point of view on blogs:
http://snipurl.com/sjcomment
http://snipurl.com/sjcomment2
One more:
http://technica...2007/8#item-772
Ok, last one:
http://www.dash...h-of-blogs.html
…I for one agree with Mr. Lyons. Blogs sometimes create news be referencing each other until it MUST be true! Even mainstream media can get caught up in this hype. The key for dealing with this new “news” medium is having a way to sort out the b.s.
Furthermore, by parody-blogging, Mr. Lyons isn’t exactly embracing the blogging world: he’s making fun of it, while cashing in at the same time. Genius…
I’ve found the the ad hominem vitriol and downright demonization of people who think poorly of blogs (particularly Andrew Keen) is really amusing/pathetic. I see it on boing boing too.
This sort of bullying approach has always been the poorest way to make a point; it’s more useful as a tool to help polarize people of two opposing opinions.
tldr: grow up.
It looks like the blogging glory might have changed his mind or what?
I hope my past writings attacking various foodstuffs are never revealed.
Zemode:
OMG….Mike is the worst in taking criticism and frequently deletes posts that he does not like, calling them “spam” Mike has also said time and time again that he writes what he likes and does not care what people think. His posts covering justintv’s fiasco with EMT personnel and his attack on Sprint are examples that this blog’s purpose is often to provide a soapbox for Mike. Kind of sounds like Daniel’s article in Forbes could have been written about this blog!
Mike has great connections and understands the technology space very well. I just wish he would keep his ego in check and understand that techcrunch is no longer his personal blog.
Duncan
I think it is obvious I struck a nerve. Can everyone be wrong and you be 100% wcorrect. I also thought you were above name calling. When someone gets the best of you, is that all you can offer?
There are several people who find your ‘ opinions’ to be offensive or way out in left field. You do like to have people read your post don’t you? If you want to continue having some sort of impact, just remember when keep score, readers always win. Dom 1 Duncan 0
Long time reader (~1yr) first time commenter:
Duncan has become the guy everyone likes to bag. It is as of it is part of the “things to do list”:
milk? Check
took the trash out? check
dishes? check
bash duncan? check
k, done
I agree this is overdue, as far as Lyons is concerned, and that he is proving/proved this with FSJ.
Please engage duncan on the facts of the posts not some bs, without supporting arguments.
I learn a whole lot here from posts and comments, even when the original post is less than stellar. Constructive criticism has meaning.
I don’t see how this is ironic, hypocritical etc.
The whole point of FSJ is making fun of not only tech insiders but also bloggers. Because it happened to be funny and attracted a huge following doesn’t make what he said in that article any less true. I’m sure he feels the same.
And I don’t think the editor of Forbes needs ‘fame’ or a ‘book deal’. The book is just supplying a demand.
Content aside (come on, just for a moment), Duncan writes well. Some of us read for the quality of the writing. Style is important: just ask Steve Jobs.
Lyons is not only a hypocrite, but he also *stole* the bulk of his little writing devices (use of “tard” in compound words, “pet names”) from the hated “freetards”, who he went after in a piece called Revenge of the Nerds a few years ago. Apologists should attempt to wade through Lyons’ Floating Point blog.
Not to mention that Dan continues to attack his competitors from behind the Forbes backed FSJ mask. Witness his recent withering attack on tiny news site silicon alley insider. The man is a remorseless hypocrite, and his blog is a safe place from which to carry on his petty personal vendettas.
Google for “Dan Lyons+Linux” and feel the love.
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