Wired: Prof Pursued by Mob of Bloggers
[Note: The reference to comment sections should have been phrased as “unregistered comment sections”]
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About The Author
Kevin
Kevin founded Wizbang in 2003. He still contributes occasionally and handles all the technical and design work for the site.
Who would have thought that 5 years ago guys sitting at their 9-5 jobs could sway masses of people and the mass media by simply pointing and clicking?
It’s great to see blogs get this type of attention, but as one might expect, the Wired story is tilted to the left. It basically makes Hailey out to be the victim, and these right wingers to be the irresponsible ones. There is no attention given to the scientific shoddiness of Hailey’s report, no hint that most of the criticism was valid. It makes it seem only like a witch hunt.
Also, notice how outlets like Wired only make the conservative sights seem like crazy extremists? They never seem to post any of the extreme comments from the liberal sites, and even make a hero out of the DailyKos guy who posted his famous “screw them” remark about murdered Americans in Iraq…
Wired magazine is just another liberal rag, dressed up in modern tech clothes…
I used to enjoy reading Wired, but then I realized so much of what they wrote was just pure BS, and I’m not talking political BS. They are kind of like the tech equivalent of People Magazine…they just do very nonserious stuff that tries to sensationalize everything in one way or another.
I remember that in the late 90’s and in 2000 they kept on recommending Enron as one of the best companies for the future…one more example of their consistent failures.
Bottom line: I don’t read Wired any longer, except to possibly glance at it for free in a bookstore…
Anyone notice Dr. Hailey’s comment about being “stained”? Does he realise how often this has happened to Bush, and in the matter of the guard, he was a part of it?
And, IMO, it was inexcusable of Wired to not mention Dr. Newcomber’s comments on the matter.
I think it’s fair to say some things went wrong on both sides. I also have a hard time contrasting a radio news report on the way to my office (over 3,000 dead in Haiti from storm and mudslides) with someone getting a load of nasty email. Which, to be clear, was wrong for anyone to do.
I saw nothing in the article “exhonerating” the professor, excepting a nebulus claim that he had somehow been exhonerated because he gets to keep his job. I found it interesting that not much was said to defend his “work in progress.” And the reasoning behind putting ANY in progress research of this kind in public view somewhat escapes me.
Actually, I think it entirely irresponsible. Think about it. A university is suppose to be about knowledge, discovery, learning, etc. But by putting incomplete, inadequately documented work of any nature in public view does just the opposite. It neither informs, enlightens nor clarifies anything. It engenders confusion, conclusion jumping and possibly misinformation. This Professor did that as regards a highly charged topic regarding an election at a significant time in that election’s run up to conclusion.
Perhaps the University and the professor have learned a lesson from this. But where is the apology for that misstep and misuse of the public trust?
Or, like many liberals and liberal institutions (assuming that is true in this case) are they just portraying themselves as victims while at the same time failing to take responsibility for their own actions that created this affair. And, yes, I know there was some mild handwringing on their part, but that was far from the theme of the piece.
Last thought: A hypothetical – You have a reasonably large University with all that implies – credentials, a research arm, an institution – on the other hand you have a loose conglomeration of folks, some of whom have the capacity to write and send nasty emails. In terms of the betterment of our society and national dialogue – which one really wields the most power and has the most responsibility to behave appropriately and in the greater public interest? I’d argue that a mismanaged University with poor research procedures and low public accountablity is the far greater danger. But then, that’s just me.
Asked if he hoped as a Democrat to redeem the memos, Hailey replied, “I’m a complete person. I’m a liberal. I’m a Democrat. I felt Dan Rather was being totally abused … but mostly it’s like a crossword puzzle.”
How can we possible view this guy as objective? You had every right to question him. And we still don’t know for sure if he was trying to make the story fit his way.
And what the hell does “I’m a complete person” mean?
I suppose Dan Rather completes him..;-)
Ok, who’s got the torches?
you far right nazis with your hate mail and death threats make me sick! well listen up, your chimp is going to lose in a few weeks and then we can crack down on your fascism! the internet should be regulated to stop this real EVIL! not fake evil, like how you try to pain all muslims. how dare you try to intimidate the American people!!! maybe we will find out where you live and bring it on you. you should try THINKING not letting talk-radio fill you with hate and war.
suzie
Suzie? Suzie CREAMCHEEZE??
What up, girl. Say hi to Frank, ok?
This piece was a red herring. Instead of really discussing the issues surrounding why people were suspicious of Hailey’s work, i.e., modifying the work to say something different AFTER he was caught out, they chose to dismiss the criticism because of the comments and e-mails of a handful of people and portray Hailey as a victim. Once again, the “fake but true” doctrine attempts to win out.
I would be willing to bet money that the university officials that accepted his explanation did no research other than to ask him for his version of events. He used the phrase “work-in-progress” and they accepted it. They didn’t look for the truth that he was already touting his study because they didn’t want to know it.
The only good thing is that Hailey will never be able to open his mouth again without thousands of people fact-checking him.
I have read Professor Hailey’s “work in progress”, re-read it, and re-read it again. I wish he would, too. He moves seamlessly from features of various sources, never bringing them together for the necessary instant when all would be needed to create these memos.
He seems to ask the question, “Who are you gonna believe…me, or your lying eyes?”
If this is accepted as reasoned study at an institution of higher learning, I weep for our kids.
FYI – I just got this in my inbox:
Dear Voter
I am a senior citizen. During the Clinton Administration I had an extremely good and well paying job. I took numerous vacations and had several vacation homes. Since President Bush took office, I have watched my entire life change for the worse.
I lost my job.
I lost my two sons in that terrible Iraqi War.
I lost my homes.
I lost my health insurance.
As a matter of fact I lost virtually everything and became homeless.
Adding insult to injury, when the authorities found me living like an animal, instead of helping me, they arrested me.
I will do anything that Senator Kerry wants to insure that a Democrat is back in the White House come next year. Bush has to go.
I just thought all Americans would like to know how one senior citizen views the Bush Administration.
Thank you for taking time to read my letter.
Sincerely,
Saddam Hussein
Susie Brownshirt, welcome to the real world. I’d love for you to come and visit me like you and your friends have in WI, TN, FLA, and other places. You’ll be greated in a much ruder fashion.
drinking the koolaid…….they still fail to see that the real crime here isn’t the bloggers calling the professor on his fallacies…….the real crime is that educators are routinely given permission to push their political views in the classroom
suzie, suzie, suzie…put the koolaid down and walk away.
Damn, I’ve never been compared to John Dillinger. I’m envious.
I think suzie’s hot. Nothing like a woman who knows how to push back a little. };^P~
If anyone subscribes to Wired Magazine, I’d suggest they cancel their subscription.
Wired Mag is just another bastion of liberalism. They do not deserve our money.
Besides, you can read most of the content for free on their website, and if that isn’t good enough, you can read it for free at bookstores.
Only when we get serious about making a statement will we effect some sort of change in this world. For most of us, a big statement we can make is how we spend our money. Liberal media should not get our money.
Put Judy behind bars, with Martha !!
Maybe they can get together in prison.
http://www.casperstartribune.net/apdata/wire_detail.php?wire_num=10226
Utah professor takes flak for examining disputed CBS News memos on Bush guard service
By PAUL FOY
Associated Press Writer
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)
The critics accused Hailey of being an academic fraud and demanded he be fired.
”We are not going to do either,” USU President Kermit Hall told The Salt Lake Tribune in a story published Thursday.
Hailey said hackers got into his computer server, downloaded files and spread them over the Internet. But the torrent of criticism pouring into his university e-mail account abruptly stopped on Sunday, suggesting the attacks were partisan and coordinated.
”I was getting so much hate mail and so continuously that it was like standing under a waterfall. It turned off at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. It just turned off. It suddenly stopped. It does not fit a normal distribution curve. I suspect thugs. These are hired guns,” Hailey said.
Hailey said his findings suggest that, if the memos were forged, they still were written on an old typewriter. He said it is easy to buy old or refurbished typewriters or even borrow one from Vietnam veterans who may keep them as war mementos.
Hailey found that the ”proportional fonts” used in the disputed memos – varying spaces designed for individual characters – were available in some IBM typewriters since 1944.
Hailey, 61, was an Army illustrator during his seven years of military service, which ended in 1972 – the same year the disputed Bush memos were dated. He’s accumulated nearly 35 years of experience in document design and production and has a personal archive of military documents produced from 1963 to 1984.
”The bloggers kept saying I was an English teacher, but I’m a tech writing teacher. I teach document design,” he said.
My God! “It turned off at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. It just turned off. It suddenly stopped. It does not fit a normal distribution curve. I suspect thugs. These are hired guns,” Hailey said.”
Every time someone even breaks wind in the direction of a liberal, it’s Karl Rove and the VRWC. How pathetic can you get?
Hailey said hackers got into his computer server, downloaded files and spread them over the Internet. But the torrent of criticism pouring into his university e-mail account abruptly stopped on Sunday, suggesting the attacks were partisan and coordinated.
”I was getting so much hate mail and so continuously that it was like standing under a waterfall. It turned off at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. It just turned off. It suddenly stopped. It does not fit a normal distribution curve. I suspect thugs. These are hired guns,” Hailey said.
This guy is one crazy fuck huh?
The Rather document was obviously planted by Republicans. Casae closed.
Unless someone was sending Hailey nonconditional threats which caused him actual fear, I could care less if he got a bunch of nasty emails. Call the Ms. Manners police. I did find it amusing that Hailey says he didn’t know much about blogs, yet he was posting on them pre-Haileygate. And USU atty is full of it, too.
”’I was getting so much hate mail and so continuously that it was like standing under a waterfall. It turned off at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. It just turned off. It suddenly stopped. It does not fit a normal distribution curve. I suspect thugs. These are hired guns,” Hailey said.’
You don’t suppose his mailbox reached capacity, do you?
Nah, that wouldn’t fit the facts as well as a conspiracy.