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
12:01 – really good post. was just thinking this last night. live in a condo complex in williamsburg where the apts with backyards feed into a common walkway. several families were part of a backyard bbq where we walked via the walkway between apts which eventually led to evening wine drinking in my backyard.
we go from apt to apt all the time having parties and playdates.
it’s a great life, a great community, and a wonderful place to live, right here, right now.
i have no doubt that things will continue to be great in brooklyn, or, get even better.
Ha, Roberto, children grow up too fast now because the bar has been lowered so much that they can do what took 20 years to do in 10 now.
The problem with The What is not his opinions about investing in Brooklyn, which he in his meglomania always assumes is what people don’t like about him. But rather because he’s a nutjob and one could hardly take him seriously. He’s also completely narcissistic and won’t enter any real conversation with people. My diagnosis is Borderline Personality Disorder.
Also if anybody believes The What’s profile (is black and lives in Clinton Hill) please give it some thought. Like for more than 5 seconds. It would make no sense whatsoever for somebody who is hiding behind a specific persona he created, trademark phrase and all, to give the real details about himself. Oh and he apparently he lives in the same neighborhood as his arch nemesis Jonathan Butler.
Right.
In that case I have some swampland in Lodi, NJ to sell you.
“you only step in and question someone’s intelligence when they attack posters of a particular race.” Since when is someone intelligent for attacking posters of a particular race?
Actually I am an equal opportunity questioner of anyone who feels the need to attack any group of a particular race. those are the ones who need to raise the level of their commentary. I’m shocked you don’t see that but it does seem you enjoy targeting posters who don’t let you indulge your baser instincts. In fact it’s your consciousness that needs the raising, not my level of commentary.
bxgrl
11.18, apart from not seeming to understand the meaning of “don’t suffer fools lightly”, (by that I presume you mean don’t suffer fools gladly), you only step in and question someone’s intelligence when they attack posters of a particular race.
If you want to start raising the level of your commentary, go ahead.
“and as Brooklyn loses some of the vitality it enjoyed over the last 10 years. ”
I personally don’t see this happening. Brooklyn has had vitality for 100 years. It still does. Just because housing prices are no longer skyrockting, does not make Brooklyn any less vital.
Personally I’ve never seen Park Slope so alive. 7th and 5th are jam packed. The new Flea Market is added a huge shot of vitality to that neck of the woods.
It’s up to the people to keep the borough filled with energy. It has nothing to do with prices of brownstones. It has to do with being excited and being proud of where you call home.
It’s kind of funny to think that only Brooklyn is “seething with anxiety”-try “the entire United States”. Or the world.
what I love about Brooklyn is its raucous, free for all nature. I mean- what can you say about a borough that still loves the Dodgers and has Coney Island and the Mermaid Parade? Brooklyn is a big dose of life- something I see less and less of in a rarefied, elitist Manhattan. Sometimes I think Manhattan is no longer New York, but the Disney version.
bxgrl
bitter bitter renter 🙂
There’s one sentence in Sternbergh’s article underscores how ridiculous his point of view is:
“Both Butler and The What have made their relative reputations by identifying and tapping into exactly the same thing: a borough seething with anxiety.”
A borough seething with anxiety? I have no idea what he’s talking about. And I’m certainly not losing sleep over The What or anything he/she/it says. The what’s antics are laughable.
Maybe if in that sentence you replaced the word “borough” with “blog comment posts” you’d have something close to accurate, but even then I’m not sure.
10:51- unfounded? Hardly. I simply don’t suffer fools lightly. If you care to keep harassing me , have at it. Of course you could just ignore my posts and make yourself happy. 🙂
I don’t like racism, anti-semitism and the constant attacks on other members of the blog. And I will continue to say so.