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
biff- for a very long time I did and then the troll copied my user name but added a space and the registration system accepted it. This was as recently as a couple of months ago. It’s happened for several user names I tried. then they posted links to urls with the most horrible pictures you can imagine, under those names. My real posts were deleted because of the confusion and once I was accidentally blocked. All the troll has to do to make it look like a legitimate registered login name is add a space and it looks exactly like yours. The troll targeted me as well as several other long time blog readers. So until Mr. B gets a better system I won’t sign in as anything other than guest.
bxgrl
“and FYI, daveinBS, and country Club Biff are setups, flim-flamm mans out the mind of theB who did watch his share of WWF growing up.
Entertainment people, to incite inpsire and at least keep you reading for another day.”
Thanks 9:50! While I can assure you I have no connection to Mr. B, it’s heartwarming to know I entertain you, incite inspiration and keep you reading for another day. But I’m always curious to know what keeps one returning to a site that one deems “post-shark and double double burnt and done.”
Guest 10:09, I agree with you re: the registration. I think logging in even under a pseudonym increases the feeling of being responsible for one’s comments. But it begs the question, why don’t you lead by example and at least sign in using the existing login procedures?
New York Mag has always been suspicious of the outer boros and the underlying message of this article seems to be “see, we knew Brooklyn couldn’t be trusted”. They needed to find someone who could validate their insecurities about Manhattan no longer being the center of the universe, and that rich people would want to live in Brooklyn.. and they found their muse in .. “the what”.
I thought it was a classic NY magazine article- lots of one liners, hyperbole, zingers, and a fair amount of truth. Mr. B.came off as long-suffering and exasperated. The What has been elevated to cyber urban legend (I loved the picture of the What giving the raspberry to the Park Slope mom!). We’ve all been analyzed.
there is a lot of truth to brownstoner saying we have discussions we wouldn’t normally have- but sometimes those discussions are more about ranting and venting than communicating. All that does is give those who hatemonger a platform for their views. Brownstoner needs a moderator and a real registration system. I don’t want censorship- I do want to be able to read brownstoner without going through the comments from the guys with eye holes in their sheets and Mein kampe under their pillow.
The What’s demise has begun. now that he’s achieved a tiny degree of fame, his appeal will quickly fade. flavor of the month.
9:43 you are a genius! LOL
Captain Obvious where did you plagiarize that bs?
Brooklyn has changed and I agree that some of the prices tripling in 5-10 years is crazy but here is what you dont get that in 1990-1998 NO ONE WANTED TO LIVE IN BROOKLYN now people want to live there… There was no demand back then so you cant compare prices to then like the UES would today…
Real estate in Brooklyn may level off for a few years but this slaying of prices is ridiculous it WONT happen…
So in you delusional world you feel that an apt let say in Boerum Hill going for $475k will go to $295k???? Keep dreaming maybe that same apt will go to $435k and a buyer will step in at that price…I see the gutted brownstone getting chopped but apts under $750k will always have a huge demand and may only suffer a minor correction… like 10-15%…
“Hey What where do you live and what do you do… You should work for the Fegeral reserve since you know exactly whats going to happen in the market…Except in reality you are a geek who sits on his computer all day being a negative dweeb and makes no money…”
Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars
http://www.akasha.de/~aton/swfqw.html
You know what? I can get a job at the FED, I understand what
“Money” is and isn’t.
“In this case, the surrounding areas where many of these fine homes were built have gone from terrifying blight of the 60s-70s to the safer neighborhoods that they are today. However, some neighborhoods have accelerated in value significantly more than is rational due to the “free money” gasoline poured onto the market. There is no way, rationally, that a house that merely 5 years ago would trade at 400k is worth 3-4 times that now. It’s just nonsensical, looking at the historical appreciation of real estate.
What that means in the long run, who knows — it’s possible that prices will stay where they are now and just not increase for 5-10 years, rather than plummeting as they have in other overinflated markets (Arizona, Florida, Nevada, California.) The possibility of a plummet exists, of course, as any number of externalities (continued bank failures and job losses in the financial industry) can change the landscape of both available buyers and needy sellers. Who really knows.
To guest at May 27, 2008 9:43 AM. Yes I read LD but, I don’t share the same views. If you think whats happen in other parts of America will not affect you, you are one delusional person! There is a major credit market dislocation going on! Just because the MSM blew a “all clear” doesn’t mean it’s over.
Well Looky here! The S&P/Case-Shiller index is out and the survey says…. Buzzzzz you’re done!
S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. Home-Price Index Falls 14.4% (Update1)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ajojnweWQjfE&refer=home
“May 27 (Bloomberg) — Home prices in 20 U.S. metropolitan areas fell in March by the most in at least seven years, pointing to continued weakness in the housing market that will further drag on the economy.”
But but… It will not effect Brownstoner Brooklyn… It’s different here…..
The What
Someday this war is gonna end…
they say that no publicity is bad publicity.
but i’m sorry, this has to be a total nightmare for mr. brownstoner.
my condolences.
Nice to see a print thing getting on this band-wagon, but it’s already been said:
the what is the sun, that this blog revolves around;
few are the planets. some are the stars,
and the most and the rest are holes in the sky.
truth, eventually when and if you find it.
and FYI, daveinBS, and country Club Biff are setups, flim-flamm mans out the mind of theB who did watch his share of WWF growing up.
Entertainment people, to incite inpsire and at least keep you reading for another day.
the What needs to get his own game on, and get paid.
As the site is post-shark and double double burnt and done.
the WhatEver