Analyze This: New York Puts Brownstoner on the Couch
Considering the tone of what New York Magazine has written about some other blogs, we thought that this week’s cover story about Brownstoner, and its culture of commenting in particular, was reasonably thoughtful. Sure, it had some the magazine’s signature sensationalism, but underneath that were some interesting thoughts about what the commenting culture on the…
Considering the tone of what New York Magazine has written about some other blogs, we thought that this week’s cover story about Brownstoner, and its culture of commenting in particular, was reasonably thoughtful. Sure, it had some the magazine’s signature sensationalism, but underneath that were some interesting thoughts about what the commenting culture on the blog says about the collective psyche of Brownstone Brooklyn. Our only major gripe was that it played up the importance of one egomaniacal commenter over some of the more constructive aspects of the community. In the end, though, it did include one belief of ours that we’ve clung to from the beginning: That as messy as many of the threads get, the tough issues that underlie much of the change that Brooklyn has experienced in recent years—class, race, gentrification—are at least getting discussed, and often among people who wouldn’t otherwise be mingling offline. The conversations could be a lot more polite, but at least they are happening.
The Brooklyn Wars [New York Magazine]
Illustration by Zohar Lazar
5.02 pm, DaveinBedStuy is right. For god sakes, we’re not talking about The New Yorker here. New York Magazine is one step above the Post.
Yeah, 5:02, I wasn’t talking about you. That said, you’ve posted one of the more lame comments today.
You need to raise your journalistic standards if you hold these type of magazines in high regard.
“these journalists are ALL a bunch of pseudo intellectuals writing to a below C mentality audience for entertainment value only.”
Well then this writer targeted the right crowd – you just described about 90% of the people who post here (not including me). Dave, you and your little buddies specialize in steering conversations in directions that are completely irrelevant. Alsi , if you believe ALL journalists are a “bunch of pseudo-intellectuals” you have some persecutory issues of your own to explore.
“Those of us who read this site daily are way ahead of most of the points in that article, which is clearly for those who have never heard of this blog.”
Yeah, I think that was the idea behind writing the article. It wouldn’t make much sense to write to Brownstoner readers about Brownstoner. You guys have no clue what good journalism is all about.
11:18 – I’m not trying to minimize the difficulty you face when weighing a move to the suburbs. I tried out both Hackensack, NJ, and Brentwood, Long Island when I was trying to find a balance between commuting and having a life.
My main point was trying to point out that any cost / benefit analysis between Brooklyn / Manhattan and the suburbs has to be properly weighted for the time lost to commuting. Once the cost of owning and insuring a car, paying the exorbitant property taxes, and spending multiple hours a day commuting are also weighed in, the initial difference in cost balances out a lot.
It’s true that Brooklyn and Manhattan both still come out a good deal more expensive than almost anywhere in a reasonable commuting distance, but then the question comes back to how much money the few free hours that we have left in a week are worth.
Those of us who read this site daily are way ahead of most of the points in that article, which is clearly for those who have never heard of this blog.
Regarding The What, if he’s so down why doesn’t he confess to some serious crimes he’s committed over the years? He’s probably a mousy Bartleby-type. And Buzz Bissinger and Will Leitch totally beat him and NYMag to the altar on this topic.
However, as we’ve seen today with what look like a number of new registered sign-ins, ANY publicity is good publicity…remember the cow dung madonna!!!!!
All the “writer” did was read this site for a few months, cut and paste other peoples’ comments and then hold it out as something important. Hmmmm. Sounds like the work of the What!
i disagree: pure perfection!
Did The What’s publicist set this up? Otherwise there’s no explantion for this “much ado about nothing” article.
This article was a perfect example of why not to ever talk to the press bout your business unless its going to be a very specific topic. these journalists are ALL a bunch of pseudo intellectuals writing to a below C mentality audience for entertainment value only. You will always be misquoted, misconstrued, taken completely out of context or have your story steered in a direction that’s completely irrelevant…like this story.