Ashley Taylor at the SN chickened out.

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Remember this "reporter" from a few days ago? She bugged us for opinions about the Davis Sq Wheel. Well, obviously, we did not provide the kind of materials and objective evidence the Somerville News was looking for:  www.thesomervillenews.com/main.asp . Everybody loves the Wheel, apparently... Good job, Ashely Taylor, one day FOX News may hire you.

Comments

[ron_newman]

For reference: http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1870797.html

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Lame. And then they wonder why people are losing faith in journalism.

[ifotismeni]

to be fair, for all we know, she included quotes from DS_LJ and other naysayers in her draft, but her editor said "bah, too heavy for a fluff piece" and cut them out.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I guess she thought we'd be all in love with the thing. Gee, sorry to disappoint. Next time, why don't you tell us what we're supposed to respond with?

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

"to be fair"?? I think you're in the wrong community. ;)

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

I think to be fair, the article is about the Object, and all of our comments were about the creepy guy. I think that's probably why DS's opinion got ignored, perhaps. and the article doesn't really seem to say anything about "a community"...

OTOH, he IS creepy.

[ifotismeni]

silly me

Well well...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Many of us expressed opinion about the Wheel itself (OK, the thread veered toward talk about the guy; but the guy IS the Wheel, when you think about it). Since we are all Davis Sq people, I think our opinions are as representative as those of the folks who love the Wheel!

James Norton again!

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

:)

[bluesauce.livejournal.com]

We did express opinions on the wheel, though. It seemed like most thought it was ugly and pretentious.

[smacaski.livejournal.com]

That's not entirely true. Looking over the responses, plenty of people complained about the aesthetics and one-answerer format of the piece, in addition to what a creep the creator is. ;)

Re: James Norton again!

[ifotismeni]

i dunno who her editor is, but i could totally see it playing out like this with someone like my former EIC who was like 80 and thought everything on the internet was fake:

*submit story*
*include quotes from internet users, with attributions to LJ usernames*
EIC: we can't attribute imaginary people on The Internette. we need real names and we need to get written confirmation that they are who they say and that they are local, et cetera. gotta call each one and check on it or we scrap the quotes.
reporter: okay *runs out the door to track down LJ users*
managing editor: oh and by the way your deadline is in 15 minutes.
reporter: ... crap.
*quotes get scrapped*



really, y eah, most likely she didn't use LJ quotes, but i am JUST SAYIN'...

Is it illegal to paint graffiti

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

On the Wheel? Just a thought for all the graffiti artists who risk being arrested for painting graffiti on public property around the city. Why not use the Wheel?

Re: James Norton again!

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Ahahah! Stop saying "JUST SAYIN'", some people here get annoyed :)

Re: James Norton again!

[ifotismeni]

JUST SAYINNNNNNNNNN

Re: Is it illegal to paint graffiti

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

more formally, it seems as though it might be fun to pose a "question" in the form of abstract visual imagery, and see what sort of answers you get.

Further, while he says "please don't answer the questions" that's awfully goddamned self-centered of him and I think anyone who feels as though they have good answers ought to be giving them. (if what qualifies him to give advice on a card is that he's the one who set up the wheel, I figure our ideas of what qualifies someone to give advice are pretty screwed up.)

Re: James Norton again!

[jamesnorton.livejournal.com]

hey there - i was surprised that none of the comments from the lj community were in her draft.

just so you are all clear on this, i didn't edit anything out of her story - you can ask anyone who has ever worked at our newspaper - i rarely, if ever, edit out content and the ONLY time i have ever done that was to make sure there was more background information obtained to supplement the reporting.

i haven't talked to ashley, but, i hope to find out if she is going to be following it up with the angle mentioned in the lj comment.

jamie norton

Re: James Norton again!

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Ahahah! Finally we hear from you :-)

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

They all seem like game show hosts to me.

Re: James Norton again!

[jamesnorton.livejournal.com]

ok, well, happy to help. have a great day.

Re: James Norton again!

[ifotismeni]

oh hi, it was just a guess on my part (it's fun to blame the EIC :D). i don't know your newsroom so i wouldn't presume to know what goes on :)

Re: Is it illegal to paint graffiti

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the Wheel would just shut down and reboot, if given graffiti as input.

[skexy.livejournal.com]

I noticed the ugly obtrusive thing yesterday for the first time; not having noted yesterday's post, on my way to the somerville theatre. Maybe they should just clear a spot for it in the MoBA...

Oh She totally was paying attention

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

She called it a Tedeschi instead of a 7-11, see, she WAS paying attention to us!

(yes, I'm entirely kidding around)

Re: Oh She totally was paying attention

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Holy smokes, you are right! This reporter does not check even the most basic facts, even when people correct her mistakes before she writes the piece. Who the hell is this Ashley Taylor? Not gonna make it into any good school of journalism, I bet...