Chances are, if you're a big time blogger and you write about MLS, and you think there is a lot of room to improve the league, expect a forceful rebuttal from any one of the above. No, not forceful, juvenile. Noxiously, self-congratulatingly so. So much so that any actual argument gets lost amidst all the cathartic, self-serving snark.
Big time bloggers, huh? Writing about MLS? DO TELL.
For the most part, their approach isolates them from any meaningful engagement with writers with opposing views, in contrast to someone like Fake Sig who has engaged with several writers of opposing views, some more civilly than others..
Whittall then spends the rest of the post complaining about a lack of substantiation from Stollar before concluding:
Basically, Fake Sigi, it's time to write an epic post defending your association with the tone—not the opinions, the tone—of Big Soccer. These are grown up writers, presumably. Why are they not able to defend their position like grown-ups?
What? Really?
Look, I've found Loney and Archer perfectly approachable on manners of disagreement so long as you're logical and sensible. And no, logic and sensibility are not euphamisms for "agree with their point of view". I've had not one, but two instances where I've disagreed with Dan this month alone. Guess what, he still returns my phone calls - or at least comments on my blog.
As far as I'm concerned, they've both spent enough time in the online soccer community that they're allowed to suffer or wind up fools as they see fit. And Loney's piece on Krishnaiyer showed a mastery of literary form seldom displayed elsewhere in the soccer blogosphere.
In regards to Stollar, while his post wasn't a ruthless exploitation of logic and facts, he pretty much put out there what a lot of people were already thinking about Kartik Krishnaiyer. Furthermore, in the comment thread, Krishnaiyer's associate made a total mess of himself trying to defend the hiring. I wouldn't have linked to the post if I didn't think it added more to the matter than those who just said "Way to go Kartik!" And besides that, it was entertaining as hell.
When you put your writing and persona out in public, you'd better be prepared to defend it. And not every criticism is going to be neatly packaged and perfectly rational. And even if it was, where's the fun in that?
-FS
9 comments:
The bread crumbs of evidence against Kartik and his buddies - are we ever going to find out who The Gaffer is because I wonder if that explains a lot more - are unreal, yet they continue to act as if they are God's gift.
I had never heard of the kid you linked to, but he won some blogging contest run by "The Gaffer." Birds of a feather.
I totally forgot about that award. But you're right. Good catch.
As for the Gaffer, is his identity really all that mysterious? He posts video of himself after all, and worked as a journalist in Palm Beach. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out.
-FS
INT - CANADA - DAY
A writing den in a spacious mansion. RICHARD ponders a blank screen.
RICHARD:
A fine morning indeed. What shall I do today?
I know! I shall write something.
But upon what topic?
Fie, those handsome devils at BigSoccer. They irk me so. They and their tone, which downward depresses. The full brunt of my literary powers shall be brought to bear!
...but soft! Who is this, who affects a cloak of mocking disguise, sized XXXXXL? The untrained eye sees a different writer on a different website entirely.
But I discern if I wax wroth against this gargantuan pseudonym, that will make sense somehow!
RICHARD types with expert craftsmanship.
What a wonderful idea this was! This was everything I had hoped for! I managed to type entire sentences without getting my dick caught in the printer! Another triumph for RICHARD WHITTALL, KIND OF A BIG DEAL!
Music swells. The camera pulls back. A spy satellite falls on the mansion, burning it to the ground.
THE END
...okay, ask me how small I feel now that I read his apology.
There's a lesson in there, somewhere.
I don't care. That was phenomenal.
-FS
That's about right, I'd say, on the whole there, Dan, minus the mansion part. And yes, it was awesome, so thanks.
The "big deal" thing, does no one fucking get that already?
Who the hell is Richard Whittnell? Beyond assuming that he's just another small-time Canadian pussy who loves to dish it out but can't bear to have anyone tell him he's full of it, as God is my witness I haven't got the first damn clue.
And, frankly, don't care.
- Bill Archer
As for the Gaffer, is his identity really all that mysterious? He posts video of himself after all, and worked as a journalist in Palm Beach. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out.
I've never investigated beyond looking at the author bios on their site so I guess that's on me. If he's easy to figure out, why the anonymity?
Whatever. They have decided to go for fans instead of a wide audience.
The Gaffer, as far as I know, makes no effort to hide the fact that his name is Christopher Harris.
I think the pseudonym is goofy and not clever, but whatever. To each their own I suppose.
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