The only time I hear about Gizmodo, it’s in a negative context. I didn’t like the site then, and I don’t like it now. But at least there may be some penalties involved this time.
I hope so. Some of my friends think the prank was hilarious; I’m in the other camp. This is sabotage. If “legitimate” press had pulled this shit (or another company showing products!), you’d never hear the end of it, there would be no “but it’s just a joke” defense. News isn’t pranks. News isn’t even gossip. And increasingly, blogs are proving that they aren’t news. If you want what little respect the press has left, I don’t think it’s asking too much that you try to earn it. And again…they’re getting traffic for the bad behavior, but for how long? I understand there are a few other websites out there that also cover tech news. Why the fuck do I need theirs?
A good friend suggested that this was nerds taking back CES with nerdly pranks; it was not only funny, but somewhat noble in that “take that, bloated faceless corporations” way. But I disagree. CES has always been about business — it’s a trade show, and it’s there to serve the needs of the bloated faceless corporations. If this were a sitcom and The Man had taken over the local comic book shop and turned it into a stuffy art gallery where no kids were allowed, I’d agree with the shenanigans — but this isn’t, and I don’t.
I think it bothers me deeply for another, obviously personal reason: as someone who was bullied, I fucking hate bullies. Bullies pick on defenseless people for no reason, and usually those defenseless people aren’t prepared to defend themselves because the aggression is so unexpected and undeserved. We made it through how many CES shows without someone introducing this kind of attack?
And yes, it was an attack. Pardon my melodrama, but I sure don’t like the long security lines since 9/11; how much more complicated did these jackholes just make CES for everyone showing or attending?
Ban the fuckers.