Calvanization
To prove to posterity that I first coined the term, I am posting this at 11:25 (MST).
“Calvanize” means to post something so amazing that all the Internets are unanimous in their reaction.
Used in a sentence: Fifteen years after Rodney King’s invitation, Bobby Calvan proved that, indeed, we can all get along, as he calvanized the Internet with his post about throwing a hissy fit at a Baghdad security check point.
UPDATE: Aw, man. Bobby scrubbed the good stuff. I'll find an archived version and link to it. I can only imagine how the wake up call from the boss must have gone. From the look of the explanation for the scrubbing, I'd guess his boss must have given him 30 seconds to take it down. As I'm sure that too will be scrubbed, here are Bobby's muddled words: "Yes, I’m obviously new to blogging. Somtimes I share too much. The blogosphere has reacted and pointed out my folly. Yes, I can be pushy. I can also be wrong. I’v'e edited this post — and have shut down the comment feature."
And I'm off to write for the Gotebo Gazette.
Now, this really will be a fascinating moment in the history of the Internet and its relationship to big media. Calvan, a reporter for McClatchy stationed in Baghdad, wrote a post about a nothing encounter he had with an American soldier at a Baghdad check point. Clearly the intent of the post was to show that Calvan was a stud and had expertly put a dumb soldier in his place. But, the post clearly showed that Calvan was out of line, arrogant, and disrespectful of the American forces keeping him alive and, also, that the soldier was very professional to simply ignore the guy.
As the comments to the post and as posts on other blogs show, Calvan's post itself rapidly became a big story -- about journalism and the attitudes and biases of journalists. In just 3 1/2 hours, the post generated 197 comments, unanimously negative toward Calvan and his representation of big media's sense of entitlement, superiority and disdain for the military. So, once big media became the story, what did the representative of big media do?
He scrubbed the post, erased the tapes, and Bergered the documents.
UPDATE: Yep, Bobby and his bosses took down the entire blog. I guess it never happened.
“Calvanize” means to post something so amazing that all the Internets are unanimous in their reaction.
Used in a sentence: Fifteen years after Rodney King’s invitation, Bobby Calvan proved that, indeed, we can all get along, as he calvanized the Internet with his post about throwing a hissy fit at a Baghdad security check point.
UPDATE: Aw, man. Bobby scrubbed the good stuff. I'll find an archived version and link to it. I can only imagine how the wake up call from the boss must have gone. From the look of the explanation for the scrubbing, I'd guess his boss must have given him 30 seconds to take it down. As I'm sure that too will be scrubbed, here are Bobby's muddled words: "Yes, I’m obviously new to blogging. Somtimes I share too much. The blogosphere has reacted and pointed out my folly. Yes, I can be pushy. I can also be wrong. I’v'e edited this post — and have shut down the comment feature."
And I'm off to write for the Gotebo Gazette.
Now, this really will be a fascinating moment in the history of the Internet and its relationship to big media. Calvan, a reporter for McClatchy stationed in Baghdad, wrote a post about a nothing encounter he had with an American soldier at a Baghdad check point. Clearly the intent of the post was to show that Calvan was a stud and had expertly put a dumb soldier in his place. But, the post clearly showed that Calvan was out of line, arrogant, and disrespectful of the American forces keeping him alive and, also, that the soldier was very professional to simply ignore the guy.
As the comments to the post and as posts on other blogs show, Calvan's post itself rapidly became a big story -- about journalism and the attitudes and biases of journalists. In just 3 1/2 hours, the post generated 197 comments, unanimously negative toward Calvan and his representation of big media's sense of entitlement, superiority and disdain for the military. So, once big media became the story, what did the representative of big media do?
He scrubbed the post, erased the tapes, and Bergered the documents.
UPDATE: Yep, Bobby and his bosses took down the entire blog. I guess it never happened.
posted by steve u. at 10/24/2007
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6 Comments:
The link is 404'd now- I guess Bobby Calvan figured he was in for trouble when his boss reads all the angry emails tomorrow, so he pulled down the entire blog-
However, obsessive types (like me) saved the entire page (with all the comments)
http://docweasel.wordpress.com/2007/10/25/bobby-caina-calvan-blog-the-comments-preserved/
-d
whoops. here's the link
Hilarious! What a tool!
When I read this post and the Calvan blog/comments yesterday, I laughed out loud at some and thought, "Wow. This poor doofus really stepped into it."
This morning I'm sobered by the phenomenon. What was this outpouring? Today's equivalent to mob lynching, to Biblical stoning, to rabble taunting the fool? I mean, after two or three dozen comments it was evident the guy was in serious error.
So were further comments made in reaction to the original post or fueled by the angry comments readers saw? The remarks seemed to increase in venom. Righteous indignation is scary en mass.
DMc
DMc,
Part of this episode is simply an ascendant new media mocking an unravelling old media. But you raise a good point: if we merely use the Internet to do the same stuff louder and faster, rather than use it to raise the level of dialogue, we've blown the opportunity of the Internet.
Really, I don't see but one or two comments that don't make a serious, valid point about his post. Just because a large number of people feel the same way and want to express it is not inherently wrong.
At least the right seems above the typical leftist pile on, which includes stuff like "I hope your mom dies of cancer and I hope your kids are raped" like the college professor from Oregon.
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