Comments on: A few weekend thoughts … http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/ Curiously Long Posts Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:36:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Creston http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-14300 Creston Wed, 07 May 2008 17:35:59 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-14300 "Joe, I sure wish you’d jettison the “Al Gore invented the internet” gag. Here’s why: 1) He never said it like that 2) He really did sponsor legislation that led to the internet’s development 3) Exploitation and distortion of his actual statement led to the ‘election’ of our current President 4) This makes me angry every time, still." 1) He sure meant it like that. 2) He sponsored some legislation that sort of, kinda, said that, hey maybe we should look into putting some fiber down, so we can transfer data faster. How that somehow gets translated to "it developed the internet" is beyond comprehension. 3) You're absolutely right. Al Gore lost the election because the stupid internet people intentionally distorted his quote. What? 4) 7.5 years later, you're still angry that your preferred candidate didn't get enough votes? Don't you have anything else to get upset over? At all? How long do you hold a grudge? Forever? “Joe, I sure wish you’d jettison the “Al Gore invented the internet” gag. Here’s why:
1) He never said it like that
2) He really did sponsor legislation that led to the internet’s development
3) Exploitation and distortion of his actual statement led to the ‘election’ of our current President
4) This makes me angry every time, still.”

1) He sure meant it like that.
2) He sponsored some legislation that sort of, kinda, said that, hey maybe we should look into putting some fiber down, so we can transfer data faster.
How that somehow gets translated to “it developed the internet” is beyond comprehension.
3) You’re absolutely right. Al Gore lost the election because the stupid internet people intentionally distorted his quote. What?
4) 7.5 years later, you’re still angry that your preferred candidate didn’t get enough votes? Don’t you have anything else to get upset over? At all? How long do you hold a grudge? Forever?

]]> By: Kyle http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13862 Kyle Mon, 05 May 2008 23:58:21 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13862 Amen KCJoe (#53), I watch sports and read Joe's blog to get away from all the partisan hackery that dominates most sites, I'd love for it to stay away. Also, Joe, the snippet from the article you wrote (#26) about your daughter brought tears to my eyes. Just brilliant. Amen KCJoe (#53), I watch sports and read Joe’s blog to get away from all the partisan hackery that dominates most sites, I’d love for it to stay away.

Also, Joe, the snippet from the article you wrote (#26) about your daughter brought tears to my eyes. Just brilliant.

]]> By: James http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13792 James Mon, 05 May 2008 18:17:49 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13792 Daniel- Best comment I've seen in a while my man. Made me seriously laugh out loud at my desk and get suspecting glances from nearby coworkers. Thanks for the laugh!! Daniel-
Best comment I’ve seen in a while my man. Made me seriously laugh out loud at my desk and get suspecting glances from nearby coworkers. Thanks for the laugh!!

]]> By: KCJoe http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13759 KCJoe Mon, 05 May 2008 15:53:02 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13759 Just as we discuss the high level of commentary, you can see the seeds of name calling and idiotic black/white, yes/no, great taste/less filling banter planted in the greatest Us v. Them of politics. The day this comment page is filled with that garbage will be the day I read Joe’s blog entry and then move on. Just as we discuss the high level of commentary, you can see the seeds of name calling and idiotic black/white, yes/no, great taste/less filling banter planted in the greatest Us v. Them of politics. The day this comment page is filled with that garbage will be the day I read Joe’s blog entry and then move on.

]]> By: Mikey http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13736 Mikey Mon, 05 May 2008 14:23:24 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13736 Yes, it would be tragic if our policy makers were able to profit personally from their decisions. That could lead to some real screw-ups. If Al Gore were President we probably would have invaded Holland to get their solar and windmill technology. Think what a quagmire that would be! Yes, it would be tragic if our policy makers were able to profit personally from their decisions.

That could lead to some real screw-ups.

If Al Gore were President we probably would have invaded Holland to get their solar and windmill technology. Think what a quagmire that would be!

]]> By: Paul White http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13722 Paul White Mon, 05 May 2008 13:25:18 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13722 Given the subject matter, I don't think the article was egregiously overwritten. Costas put together a team comprised in part of his own personal heroes, to play a game he reveres, in a small southern town for which he admittedly has a soft spot. That’s got sappy, syrupy, sentimentality written all over it, and your article seems to be written very much in that light. It seems a bit duplicitous of Costas to sponsor an event that is so abjectly corny and then be critical of the guy who wrote an abjectly corny article about that event. But what do I know? I’m just some guy on the Internet. Given the subject matter, I don’t think the article was egregiously overwritten. Costas put together a team comprised in part of his own personal heroes, to play a game he reveres, in a small southern town for which he admittedly has a soft spot. That’s got sappy, syrupy, sentimentality written all over it, and your article seems to be written very much in that light. It seems a bit duplicitous of Costas to sponsor an event that is so abjectly corny and then be critical of the guy who wrote an abjectly corny article about that event.

But what do I know? I’m just some guy on the Internet.

]]> By: Pokey Joe http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13605 Pokey Joe Mon, 05 May 2008 00:20:48 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13605 Keep up the Al Gore references. A gentle jab at a pompous soul like Albert is good for society, I think. After all, it's not like you accused him of personally profiting off of his Inconvenient environmental stance by owning shares in a company that sells carbon credits... Keep up the Al Gore references. A gentle jab at a pompous soul like Albert is good for society, I think. After all, it’s not like you accused him of personally profiting off of his Inconvenient environmental stance by owning shares in a company that sells carbon credits…

]]> By: Alejandro http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13579 Alejandro Sun, 04 May 2008 21:10:39 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13579 I thought the Al Gore thing was a joke. I say the same thing in jest. Saying "Internet Inventor Al Gore" is the same thing to me as saying "All-Star third baseman Shea Hillenbrand" or something. You're mocking the masses by invoking something other people take seriously. I wanted to weigh in on the comments comment, because we had a lengthy discussion on the same idea over at BaseballThinkFactory and I made a similar point. But I think you've got it right the first time, Joe; the character of comments on this blog is much more due to the quality of the readership than it is to the actual nature of the blogiverse (or whatever it's called) at large. At BTF I cited yourself as an example of this phenomenon. Easy exemplar: compare the quality of the comments on this blog to the quality of the comments on any randomly selected Posnanski column posted on the KC Star website. Interestingly, you'll find that the KC Star comments are full of crap, which can't be due to the quality of the material. It's the location of the medium that makes the difference. The closer the blog gets to being connected in the mainstream media, the worse the comments will be because the commenters are closer to the "lowest common denominator" of the available population. Exclusive, elitist, but true. I thought the Al Gore thing was a joke. I say the same thing in jest. Saying “Internet Inventor Al Gore” is the same thing to me as saying “All-Star third baseman Shea Hillenbrand” or something. You’re mocking the masses by invoking something other people take seriously.

I wanted to weigh in on the comments comment, because we had a lengthy discussion on the same idea over at BaseballThinkFactory and I made a similar point. But I think you’ve got it right the first time, Joe; the character of comments on this blog is much more due to the quality of the readership than it is to the actual nature of the blogiverse (or whatever it’s called) at large. At BTF I cited yourself as an example of this phenomenon. Easy exemplar: compare the quality of the comments on this blog to the quality of the comments on any randomly selected Posnanski column posted on the KC Star website. Interestingly, you’ll find that the KC Star comments are full of crap, which can’t be due to the quality of the material. It’s the location of the medium that makes the difference. The closer the blog gets to being connected in the mainstream media, the worse the comments will be because the commenters are closer to the “lowest common denominator” of the available population. Exclusive, elitist, but true.

]]> By: Aaron http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13545 Aaron Sun, 04 May 2008 13:54:28 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13545 Joe It's easy to overwrite that. And as much as you overwrote, I can't say it could've been otherwise given your obvious hero worship. Full disclosure: Met Bob Costas (my hero too for his sheer love of baseball) once while working as a PA at the Kentucky Derby. I was filling his trailer fridge up with soda and water and from behind me came that voice. Discreetly, I think I started crying. Holding it together, I returned the hello, said it was good to meet him and that was it. Best. Moment. Ever. So I've been there. As you can tell, I'd overwrite it too. Joe

It’s easy to overwrite that. And as much as you overwrote, I can’t say it could’ve been otherwise given your obvious hero worship. Full disclosure: Met Bob Costas (my hero too for his sheer love of baseball) once while working as a PA at the Kentucky Derby. I was filling his trailer fridge up with soda and water and from behind me came that voice. Discreetly, I think I started crying. Holding it together, I returned the hello, said it was good to meet him and that was it. Best. Moment. Ever. So I’ve been there. As you can tell, I’d overwrite it too.

]]> By: AH http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13519 AH Sun, 04 May 2008 06:30:03 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/05/02/a-few-weekend-thoughts/#comment-13519 Joe The article may have been overwritten, but in a good way, kind of like "Blinded by the Light". I think they are both examples of a young writer getting his chance and letting everthing spew (and I do mean spew in a good way). And in response to John in comment #29, you are completly right in your facts, but the legislation that Al Gore sponsored provided seed money to allow the technologhy developed at ARPA to grow into the Internet. That is exactly what Al Gore said, and one of the people who agreed with his statement was Vincent Cerf, who was one of the leading scientist working at ARPA. Joe
The article may have been overwritten, but in a good way, kind of like “Blinded by the Light”. I think they are both examples of a young writer getting his chance and letting everthing spew (and I do mean spew in a good way).
And in response to John in comment #29, you are completly right in your facts, but the legislation that Al Gore sponsored provided seed money to allow the technologhy developed at ARPA to grow into the Internet. That is exactly what Al Gore said, and one of the people who agreed with his statement was Vincent Cerf, who was one of the leading scientist working at ARPA.

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