Now, I dont like Loren’s stuff, and I am glad the video got pulled, its out of line.

Just like all the black musicians that use the term “nigga”.
It should be made illegal, its a racist term in ANY sense (be it “good” in black music, “bad” from a white mouth).

I think there is one monolithic bigger issue here - racist language is used on BOTH sides of the fence, and it SHOULDNT BE ALLOWED ON EITHER.

It couldn’t have happened to a nicer racist. And No2 (jimeee) the reason Arrington is friends with Loren is simple, he needs “anyone” to talk too, other than the dog because everyone else is a suck up CEO wanting a review or Jason Calacanis.

Is the video tasteless? Sure. I’m not particularly a fan of Loren, but I don’t think it’s crossing the line nor do I think it’s racism.

It’s interesting that a Black comedian or Latino comedian can stand up and make rash jokes about their own nationality and every OTHER nationality, but a Caucasian comedian that makes one parody video gets on the news and initiates a civil rights boycott.

What in his video was hateful? What about the video was insulting to anyone who has higher than a 3rd grade education?

In 2008, it amazes me that SO MUCH energy is wasted on fighting these “racists.” Want to go after the KKK or white supremacy groups? Fine, I applaud you. But a comedian that makes a stupid video? I don’t see civil rights groups boycotting Weird Al…

I think it’s sad, personally, and I hardly think it will hurt 1938 Media in the least. Loren’s probably happy to get the free publicity. It sucks Verizon pulled the plug on his mobile project, but I’m sure he’ll find another sponsor.

To the people saying the video is not racist and that we should not take it so seriously, you have not seen HIS reaction to someone making what he felt was an affront to HIS ethnic identity. See the video (http://www.1938media.com/guy-kawasaki-is-an-asshole/) and THEN think about the hypocrisy at work here. He is VERY sensitive about racial and ethnic slurs and stereotyping, so there is no excuse for his video.

Be sure to read the Wikipedia entry for N*gga, btw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigga

comment on his blog:

“LOREN FELDMAN, YOU RACIST, PIECE OF NO CLASS SHIT!!!!! EVERY BLACK PERSON IN THE US IS LOOKING FOR YOU!!!!!”

hmm,watchyoback.

I wouldn’t characterize the video as racist but it is or should be offensive to anyone with developed sensitivities for their fellow human beings. History has shown us that mockery is often the first tool used to dehumanize people. It’s a just a joke, what harm is there? It won’t lead to anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIwxNrSNpe4

It does doesn’t matter what they throw at Loren Feldman.

The fact remain that Shel Israel still sucks dogs balls - that will never change.

thanks for comment #115 — that Feldman video is indeed an ear opener

O happy day.

I just want to point out, as others have, this wasn’t some secret hidden video dug up by enemies.

It was a big deal and and resulted in high profile condemnation at the time it happened. And Feldman never apologized for that racist crap.

http://blog.wired.com/business.....1938-.html

What’s amazing is not that it came up again once Loren got more exposure thus leading people to look up his old videos. What’s fascinating is Verizon didn’t bother to do the basic research which would have discovered it.

he deserved it. he’s made a lot of enemies - and he so small time that VZ has no problem removing his stuff.

Karma…

What Feldman did to Guy was totally uncalled for and as hateful as anything ever “done” to Feldman.

He’ll find sympathy in the dictionary - right between sh** and syphyllis.

lol Karma’s a bitch ain’t it?

Also - does anyone really care about 1938 Media? no….

Big companies posturing for the special interest groups.

How interesting that a group of 3 people ruin a person’s livelihood, just by pointing a finger and mentioning the word racist. Doesn’t matter what the masses say - since it is the masses that ultimately decide what is and isn’t racist. As long as the 3 people say it is, the sheep will follow.

The fact that TechCrunch completely glosses over the BLATANT racism in this video and instead tries to cook up some conspiracy theory that someone is out to get Loren Feldman is repulsive.

Life is a learning experience for all of us. I personally hope that Loren will go forward not embittered or accusatory, but humbled to the point where he will make some needed changes going forward. He obviously has significant talent, and if he can clear away some personal issues, perhaps, should in the long run (continue to) be highly successful.

stupid stupid man

the fact that this sort of content still exists in this day and age is just plain sad. it’s not funny, makes a stupid generalization and deserves to be pulled.

grow up feldman … it certainly cost you and so it should

@96 Zoe:

I think you hit the nail on the head. The Verizon deal was bizarre to begin with. Are 15 year old girls looking for Miley Cyrus videos on Vcast while txt’ing LOL’s really going to fall in love with 1938Media?

I have Verizon and there are much better ways to watch videos on my Voyager than Vcast. Loren, wanna be on Sprint, ATT and Verizon? How about a m.1938media.com site?

Political correctness gone mad.

Plenty of people seems to understand comedy - like Comedy Central

eg: South park : see : http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155469

I don’t see them losing deals anytime soon. But sure, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

@121 Ken

I think calling 1938s VZW deal a “Deal” is an overstatement. In all likelihood there’s a boilerplate content distribution agreement that Loren signed. Anyone can terminate at any time.

You’ll notice VZW did no PR about signing 1938 Media but did do PR on dropping them.

In my opinion, the guy is an *sshole. Glad he lost the deal.

What comes around goes around….and this guy is clearly short on karma.

The word for the day children is Karma. Can you say Karma? I knew you could.

I am appalled. Just because you use certain language doesn’t make your videos racist. That particular video was satirical, and all good satire needs to be somewhat offensive to get the point across. That’s how it works.

This is sad. It remains the fact that Loren’s offering is totally unique.

What goes around comes around…

I’ve seen just enough of Loren’s brand of satire to observe its dark side.

I must admit laughing (out loud at times) during some of his commentary and parody, but have also almost invariably noticed that I feel bad about it later.

It’s interesting how some satirists (especially those who openly purport to employ humor, as does Loren) pull off satirical routines in a way that sheds light on improving a situation.

Somehow, Loren’s work is missing this component. He seems to rail against individuals, or against an entire race in this case, for no apparent purpose other than to deride. And although I’ve never thought through exactly why I later feel uneasy or disconcerted after watching his videos, perhaps it is because something makes Loren just seem mean - which, like selfishness, is never held in high regard.

Its perhaps a bit ironic that through initially laughing with Loren, I have now come to believe it is better that I don’t. I have a choice, and will personally exercise it in avoiding his work. And I will feel better for doing so.

Maybe that’s the same process some Verizon execs went through. Somebody at VZ obviously initially found him funny - and then didn’t. Whether their change of heart was financial or personal, Loren is reaping what he has sowed - which is apparently not of much positive value.

This has been out for over a year, Verizon is probably using this as an excuse to tank the deal because there are simply better video platforms out there.

Nobody can point a finger at Verizon when pulling this racism trump card, just like the Republican party has numerous injustices under the auspices of freedom.

Good move Verizon! Can you hear me now?

Many people may laugh at his ignorant and stereotypical video, but let’s get back to the question this guy asked: Where are all the black tech bloggers?

Check me out!

Do you hear us now, Feldman? Good!

I want to point out that Comment #103, apparently signed by me, was not written by me. Yesterday, Loren signed over the shelisrael.com domain name to me as he said he would do. As I’ve stated all along, my public dispute with Loren would end when I got possession of that URL. Mike, for you to imply I somehow, in the back channel, incited a black Muslim organization to persuade a telephony carrier to take down Loren’s material shows a very weird assumption of what I can or would do.

Live by the sword… 

Yes, karma does seem to work.

NEVER going to watch his show again after seeing ‘technigga’! Please stop writing about this guy on Techcrunch…now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Don Imus made out ok

I’m black and a big time tech Guru, I know there are black tech blogger and not really looking up to 1938 Media to educate me on that, I go there for laughs and that’s it! I don’t find it offensive, after all, it’s comedy.

Just like Ken said, “The Verizon deal was bizarre to begin with.” Verizon is just trying to protect their brand - you can’t tell me they didn’t do some kind of research on 1938 Media before signing a deal?

Of course it’s racist, and if I were Verizon, I would not want to associate my brand with that type of humor.

Feldman has the right (in the US) to create it, which is great, but Verizon has just as much a right to not want to be associated with it.

That technigga video was the catalyst to Loren’s fame.
The verizon deal was the result of continued attention and limelight on Loren since last summer when he published that video and follow-up faux apologies etc.

Ironic.

Loren has talent. He can be funny, speaks his mind clearly and aggressively, is willing to try anything and take anyone on by using his personality and technology.
He will probably have other opportunities

This renege because of technigga shows you that corporations take racism seriously. They don’t want the mess. If someone like Don Imus can get fired, you better be damn sure that anyone else that plays with racial comments/parodies will get the boot. Afterall, it was more of a favor to Loren than a lucrative deal for Verizon. Loren may be a popular prospect but he is still in the minors.

It does not matter whether or not Verizon should have axed the deal. It’s business and it’s obvious that business has little to no room for shit like this.
Much easier to just come out smelling good and move on.
And the attention that this will get will undoubtedly land Loren a decent gig in the near future.

Loren had a right to make his technigga video. No doubt. And everyone who finds it irresponsible and distasteful and aggrevating…. they have their right to oppose it and make sure their opposition spreads far and wide. That is their right. That’s the balance.

I personally would enjoy hearing Loren simply say something that is at least somewhat sensitive to those he has offended.

sull

If he hadn’t titled the post “Where are the Black Tech Bloggers,” people might have perceived it as comedy rather than a minstrel show sans black face. There’s plenty of humor in “thug blogger,” “pimp blogger” or “hood blogger.” The broadness of “black,” and his defense of “I’m a comedian” is what puts that video into racist territory.

But like others have said, Loren Feldman seems like a weird fit. I still can’t believe that Verizon didn’t catch this sooner though. That’s just a bad look for their marketing team.

Kharma, in this case, is actually a biatch.

Nevermind the inaccurate + cliche stereotyping, this is not even funny. Who is this guy? I would love to see Dave Chappelle make fun of this guy. Loren would get ripped to pieces. I think that is the only fair punishment.

Mr. Arrington, you’ve got pull.. get Dave Chappelle in on this.

The above Loic is not me obivously 

the above Loic is not me, obviously, I wonder how anybody could doubt it.

Funny how Mike is usually so opinionated on most things. Yet when there’s something a little thorny or controversial, all of the sudden he just demures without adding any insight or his own views.

verizon is full of s**t

they should have done research

it strikes me as wierd that they didnt know of this

being that it was one of loren most popular pieces

One way to understand this video is to understand phases of brain impairment due to intoxication

1. Excitement phase: Decreased inhibition by higher mental functions (sense of responsibility, critical judgment, moral and ethical considerations). Depreciation of alcohol effect, overrate of power, increased self-esteem. Impairment of attention, concentration and memory. Euphoria. Disturbances of long term learning and routine motor functions (e.g. driving car). Changes in sensory organs start with optical system: impaired eye for proportion, estimation of space, distance and speed. Vegetative and behavioral signs are characteristic. This phase disposes to commit aggressive acts due to possible exaggerated emotional reactions. Potentially dangerous personality traits thus far controlled may emerge due to loss of inhibitions.

2. Depressive phase: Mental activities and movements slow down. Expressed incoordination and slurred speech are very characteristic to this phase. Dump, cry, self-accusation, self-degradation. Depressive episode, self-harm, attempted suicide may occur. Easily falls asleep and can be easily waken up.

3. Narcotic phase: Progressive stuporous condition. He/she can hardly be waken up or not at all. Amnesia occurs. Severe disturbances of vegetative regulation. Slipped or decreased reflexes. Loss of control of sphincters.

4. Phase of asphyxia: Death possible, from cessation of breathing and cessation of circulation.

It had a few laughs, but was otherwise so pathetic that I can see why it would be accused of being racist. Now, if Eddie Murphy had just been starting out on Saturday Night Live *now*, think of what he would have done with, say, “Mr. Robinson’s Wired Neighborhood.” And it would have been funny, not overall pathetic.

Perhaps its time that techcrunch adopted a new way to leave comments to avoid impostors re: Loic, Shel and “Michael Arrington- not really.”

Should we addressing Blog Comment Tools ?

Seriously, it is a pain in the ass to have morons post and link as another.

There is serious business and discussion enough without
the rabble polluting progress with their ignorant voices.

Why grant them that much?

You want to post? Have the balls to put your name on it!

Maybe you can try http://disqus.com for comments. The “Loic” comment (52) is no comments.