404 / Dead to Me

As of today, I’m announcing a new policy here at Bro-Emo. I will no longer continue to promote sites in my blogroll that I feel do not represent the interests of the average internet user. I am speaking, of course, of BoingBoing!

You see, until today, I was an avid reader of BoingBoing! I followed Xeni’s posts on tentacle porn and anything remotely Japanese and counted on her to innoculate me with Unicorns whenever I felt grossed out. I followed the posts about "copyfight," where a true grassroots following gathered to stop Big Media from making our entertainment less entertaining. I read about how David (or is it Mark? I never can tell them apart) believes a true cryptozoological conspiracy is keeping Big Foot from improving our lives. I even listened, with earnest, as my friend Cory Doctorow painstakingly detailed how each and every airline, phone company, and ISP had given him less than excellent service.

But then I tried to "submit a site."

You see, despite their frequent reminders not to email them directly about wonderful links, it turns out the "submit a site" form doesn’t even go anywhere! Nothing happens! Or is it possible the BoingBoing! crew have secretly sold out to Big Media?

I tried to "submit-a-site"–well, several sites actually–about the Fake Local TV News issue I blogged about previously. First, I tried linking to the official report by my brother, Dan Price. Nothing happened. Next, I tried linking to my own blog for a more folksy description. Nada. I even found a gotcha article that shows a paid rep for an Apple iPod competitor dissing the "iPorn" while the TV Station insisted she was an "independent expert." I know how much the BoingBoing! folks love any story having to do with Apple. So I figured this was a lock. But I was wrong.

So all I can conclude is that BoingBoing! simply doesn’t care if you take Vioxx but never hear the FDA-required warnings about side-effects that your local TV station conveniently edited out. I fear they’ve been overrun by drug companies and corporate media types who want to prevent local TV stations from being embarassed by their own miserable behavior. Or perhaps they do want the FCC to make a bigger stink over random nipple-slips than over TV stations intentionally lying to their viewers? One wonders how deep it runs.

The same thing goes for Slashdot and Fark, by the way. Surely, Fark would have loved to rip local Florida TV stations a new one over something they mis-did. But sadly, they ignored every attempt. I eventually gave up.

So from now until I feel otherwise, BoingBoing!, Slashdot, and Fark, your links are officially "404 To Me." I will do my best to personally refrain from clicking your links or bookmarks, as they go nowhere, or even typing your URLs. And I imagine everyone reading this will do the same.

Sincerely,

Avi Bar-Ze’ev