Comments on: Podtech sheds famous Scobleizer troll Coulter, beds Feldman

By: Christopher Coulter

Christopher Coulter — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:39:08 +0000

Once again, this so-called “disappearing act”, was due to workload. I delivered my snark n person back then, the “comments section” on some blog is not the world. But read whatever crazy conspiracy or deflectional theory you want into it. And it wasn’t a few weeks, more a few months. And I wasn’t even doing my scripting or other writings. But end prog, tired of this pointless back and forth.

By: TDavid

TDavid — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:57:37 +0000

LOL Christopher, c’mon you aren’t seriously suggesting that you didn’t basically pull a disappearing act once you got hired, are you? The comments area is public, dude, and I’m far and away not the only one making this “wild, run-awy rumor.”

“90 hour work week” for what, a few weeks? People can read a calendar and rack up a lot more than zero basis in fact. And as if anything you’ve written in the comments area of Scoble’s blog and elsewhere wasn’t ever speculative. Dish and take, mon. Deflection isn’t a good card to play here.

By: Christopher Coulter

Christopher Coulter — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 07:17:54 +0000

You know, this is one bad thing about blogs, rampant speculation and wild run-away rumors, with zero basis in fact. Why did I stop “trolling”? Well, the 90 hour work weeks mighta factored in, yah think? And yet, even so, I snarked in on the Edwards kick-up, ask Scoble on that one. When I can announce, I will announce…or maybe not, as I am no public figure, and I don’t live on the web. No scandals, no grand bloggistic conspiracy theories, it’s all good, blog drama kick-ups notwithstanding. In the meantime, radio silence.

By: TDavid

TDavid — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:49:51 +0000

Ross - It goes beyond a normal probationary period at a job in this case.

I know some attribute being a ‘troll’ online as a negative, ‘get away’ type thing. I actually think the opposite. Trolls can be helpful to sites. I wish we had more intelligent trolls like Coulter here. He’s left like one or two comments here in the past that basically agreed with something I wrote. For whatever reasons at our sites trolls don’t latch on. Maybe it’s because it makes them uncomfortable that someone actually likes and wants their input as opposed to the normal response (note: Scoble liked Coulter being around his blog too, he recognized the value that Coulter brought his site).

At the same time I’ve learned almost universally that when the same light is shone on trolls as they shine on others even more cracks begin to show. We’re all fallable as human beings. From my experience online, those who target and prey on others in a relentless fashion — as trolls do — tend to have even more human frailties than those who utilyze their time in more productive, creative ways.

Coulter didn’t simply ask questions like you did, which would have been fine and a good check and balance for some of the things Scoble writes that are out there. Every blog, Hmm included, can use this type of scrutiny. He was regularly bashing in the comment area making everyone wonder why he didn’t also get his own anti-scoble blog? You know there are some anti-blogs out there like EyeOnWiner (anti Dave Winer) and Mini Microsoft (sort of anti-M$). He could have directed some of that flow to his own site rather than only pumping up Scoble’s place.

Lastly, why did Coulter stop trolling in the comments after he was hired? The timing is very suspect. So, now that he’s working for the guy, his demeanor changes? All bark, little bite?

By: Ross

Ross — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 08:12:38 +0000

I am not sure that leaving before the end of a probationary period really damages your credibility. The whole point is for *both sides* to determine whether they can work together, and in some cases the company is so screwed up that it would be insane to stay. Of course what is all happiness and light for the ’star’ might not be so for a normal worker.

Does simply questioning Scoble really make you a troll?