It has just been announced that Huffington Post has been purchased by AOL for $315 million. What does this mean? Why not let Arthur Jensen explain:

I found this bit from Om Malik at gigaom.com very instructive:

Huffington Post was valued between $300 million to $450 million in 2010 according to Bloomberg. In that story that ran on December 14, 2010, Huffington said: “It’s working. Everybody’s happy with how it’s going. Nobody is in a hurry to cash out.” Ironic, considering that was around the time, Armstrong was trying to buy the company.

http://gigaom.com/2011/02/07/aol-huffington-post-and-why-it-is-not-really-a-good-deal/

I think Om is being a bit generous with choosing the word “ironic”. I mean, if she’d be that plainly dishonest for no reason, what might she do for 350 million reasons?

It’s not as if the corporate buyout of Huffington Post will come to many familiar with it as a big surprise. This was the ultimate goal of the hedge funds that financed and controlled this business.

This is a great thing for them and Arianna who have now profited immensely from the freely contributed time and energy that many have and continue to invest there (don’t hold your breath waiting for any trickle down of any of that $315 million to those blogging at HP). However, as every mega-corporate buy out of an independent news or media entity has shown (we still miss ya KO), integrity does not increase with corporate revenues, just the opposite. Principles and civic responsibility are disruptive to profit.

Here we are in the 21st Century, with the wealthy and corporations, the Kochs and Comcast and AOL avidly buying up or buying off whatever aspects of free expression they can.

And the sadly Orwellian aspect of this is that, alongside Fox News spouting “Fair and Balanced” there will no doubt be the aggressively promoted doublespeak from HP about how “Independent” and “Progressive” they are.

Let’s be real, being owned as part of a $4 billion media empire is not what most of us consider being independent or Progressive…unless one is pursuing “progress” towards a fully corporately owned America.

Now, does it really matter that the business represented as the most popular and influential Progressive blog site is owned by a mega corporation? Let’s ask the wolf in sheep’s clothing on the street. Or better yet, consider the following.

There is an inescapable conflict of interest when an entity that represents itself as a news and opinion organization is owned and operated by a corporation worth over $4.2 billion dollars that has business interests and investments in myriad other businesses.

There is one fact about corporations that must be recognized. Corporations have no responsibility to the society they exploit for their revenues, they have only one legal obligation…to make as much money as possible. Shareholders can in fact successfully sue those running a corporation if such decision makers ever chose to be socially responsible at the expense of generating the most profit.

So, it is a fact now that Huffington Post’s first and primary responsibility is to enrich the shareholders of AOL.

How might it affect HP’s reporting and opinions if it is in AOL’s financial interest to oppose tax increases on the wealthy? Or healthcare reform? Or employer sanctions for hiring undocumented immigrants? What if AOL believes deregulation and a Republican president would be more financially beneficial?

If Huffington Post campaigned against what was in the best financial interest of its shareholders, those in management could indeed be sued or replaced.

Also, when a powerful and wealthy business or individual buys up another business, the first thing they typically do is try to recoup the expense of buying that business. For a media business, that means they need a lot more viewership to boost ad revenue.

How might that be accomplished? How might that integrate with the operation of Huffington Post as a place of independent, Progressive and anti-corporate thought?

It now may become much more clear to some as to why there have been all the attacks on Obama at HP by Arianna and others, the conspicuous focus on and all the attacks on his financial team, the inexplicable moderation applied and manipulation of conflict at the site (which generates greater traffic) and Arianna’s having a fun time with Newt Gingrich on vacation and “palling around” with Darrell Issa at another elegant event.

At this point, one either bets on Arianna having unshakable principles upon which she is prepared to sacrifice whatever is necessary (ask Mike Huffington about that)…or that hundreds of millions of dollars speak louder than blogs.

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intotheabyss
Member
intotheabyss

Don’t know if anyone is still reading this story, but Robert Parry at Consortium News has a good take on the HuffPost/AOL merger.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2011/021111.html

Buddy McCue
Member

Thanks for the link; I’ll go and look at that.

KC45
Member
KC45

I really don’t care how many millions A.H. receives from this sale. Her abundance doesn’t take away from my abundance.
I do feel a profound loss of belonging and having easy access to so many whom I have come to regard as friends.
I suppose I am not yet accustomed to the new format here, I find it harder to follow conversations. I do wish PlanetPOV would consider a format more closely designed like HP. I DO APPRICATE being treated like an adult, rather than some rowdy semi-intellectual reform school detainee!
I’m sure I’m not the only one making adjustments and it is nice to have company on this journey.
KC

chauncey1186
Member
chauncey1186

It’s good to see so many familiar faces over here! Breaking up was hard to do (old habits, and so on…), but the AOL business was the final straw for me. After two years of increasingly draconian mods and the “all-kardashian/all-the-time coverage, well….here I am.

Now – can somebody please tell me how to delete my account over there?

zootliberal
Member

Welcome chauncey1186! this is a great place, so glad you’re here.

It’s at the bottom of your profile page, I think, I deleted mine so I can’t check now.

chauncey1186
Member
chauncey1186

Thanks for the welcome, and the info. Looking forward to some lively discussion. 😀

intotheabyss
Member
intotheabyss

Hi fellow former HuffPost people. Nice to see so many of you here. Looking forward to many informative exchanges.

PatsyT
Member

Welcome intotheabyss! Enjoy exploring!
Cher put up this helpful post
http://planetpov.com/2011/02/09/tips-for-newcomers-and-regulars-alike/
Don’t be afraid to ask any questionss.

TruthWins
Member
TruthWins

Hi intotheabyss, and if you want to bring more friends from Huff here, be careful. They have deleted some posts and even accounts with the direct link, since Whorianna put this site on her long enemy number one list. (out of a personal frustration, I forgot what it was. I guess she was called out for being the hypocrite she is).

In any case, adLib created this special link, it should last a while until they ban this one too…: http://viasite.wordpress.com/

Or, jumble all the words together as in: goonplanet.povandseelotsoffriendsthere

***EDIT** : I just came back from the dark side and remembered that the http has to be removed in front of “viasite”, else the comment goes pending and gets extra scrutiny.

intotheabyss
Member
intotheabyss

Thanks for the tips and the welcome. Nice to be among friends.

TruthWins
Member
TruthWins

I know what you mean! Have been here for a couple of days only, but what a feeling to express myself freely and see others do the same!

Buddy McCue
Member

I managed to recruit a couple of people this morning.

They haven’t caught onto me yet!

TruthWins
Member
TruthWins

Yes, we pick them up one by one. I try to avoid the heavily moderated threads, but that’s still difficult! We need to remove the http thing too in order not to get pending. If the mods don’t check the link as long as possible we can use it that much longer.

Buddy McCue
Member

I’ve been able to get around the “Mod Squad” just by putting spaces in the name of P l a n e t P O V.

I figure that people can Google it without me providing an actual link.

jdmn17
Member
jdmn17

Into, good to see you. Wondering if you’d come over. I went back this morning to see the headlines and got sucked into two threads – no comments left but I noted a decided absence of people I’ve fanned. They are mostly here now. I thought of trying to slip something through the mods but the last post of mine they did was several days ago after almost 24 hours of moderation. I think they were poring over every word trying to find my code to direct people here. I thought of a lot of corny stuff but in the end just gave it up for major threads and I wasn’t heavily followed so I don’t think people are looking for me. Regardless, nice to see you joined us

audadvnc
Member
audadvnc

HP looks kind of like it did months ago. Like a dead body resembles the human being it used to be. It’s even been dressed up for the funeral viewing. But as AOL moves in, the smell will become overpowering.

I think of it as CorpsePost…

TruthWins
Member
TruthWins

Exactly, audadvnc. Someone here coined the term Corpsington Post, which I fnd the most accurate name since it leans also on Corporington Post….

chasethis
Member
chasethis

Good morning, all. I’m dipping my toe into the PPOV puddle today. It looks warm and feels friendly, but I smell a learning curve. Thanks to those who’ve lured me here. It’s so nice to see the familiar names. Now what?

PocketWatch
Member

Hey Chase! Welcome!

There is an article on the right that gives some help for commenting, and see the FAQ’s all the way at the bottom for directions to put up an AV…

I just cancelled my account over at HP 10 minutes ago. Had enough!

8)

chasethis
Member
chasethis

Hey, Pocket! I read your previous post about poofing your HP (Look! I can type HP!) account before I posted. I’m going to have to wean myself off.

Just looking at the quality of posters here, I can feel my IQ ticking upward.

bito
Member
chasethis
Member
chasethis

Thanks, bito. I’m immersing myself now.

escribacat
Member

Hi Chase, Fancy meeting you here! You can click on the home button at the top left and look for Cher’s article that she posted yesterday for newbies.

chasethis
Member
chasethis

I gave it a cursory once over. Very helpful. Rather than dip a toe, I might just need to dive in head first.

Khirad
Member

I think you owe me this much. 😉

chasethis
Member
chasethis

And more. Look! I can delete my own darn posts!

Khirad
Member

That you can. No need for me here. We’re all grown ups here. 🙂

funksands
Member

Just sit back and enjoy the ride……Great to see you!

chasethis
Member
chasethis

Thank you!

Abbyrose86
Member

HI Chase!!!! So nice to see you here!

chasethis
Member
chasethis

Abbyrose! Involuntary tears sprung up just seeing your name. I know it’s silly, but breaking up with HP is hard to do. Great to see you.

TruthWins
Member
TruthWins

Breaking up with HP is only hard to do if you have to leave the community. That’s why I never left there besides my huge disgust of Arianna after reading up on her on gawker.com. Now since so many came here I don’t miss HPost even a bit. Instead I’m forcing myself to go back there to lure more folks here…

MossyOak
Guest
MossyOak

Hello Abbyrose! I know, I got a little choked up finding her too, even with the new avatar you can’t miss her. Everyone seems to have gone through HP withdrawal and came out on the other side detoxed and healthier. This is good and I like PPOV. Bunch of HP deserters on Alternet, too.

Abbyrose86
Member

IT was hard to do Chase. But sometimes you got to move on!

Glad to see you here!!!

FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

Hi Chase,

In another life, I was a big fan of yours. Here, I’m a day old newborn. Good to see you!

boomer1949
Member

Welcome to The Planet Chase!

You might find this info useful:

Tips for Newcomers…

HotChocolateParty
Member

One of the MANY posts like this on HP this morning

http://twitpic.com/3y8s9d

Caru
Member

Fuck…

TruthWins
Member
TruthWins

Sadly this is only getting worse from there. Check out my post in the section “Off Topic” to see what I mean…

Khirad
Member

That reminds me of some of the shit which appeared when he went to Africa in Spring 2009. It’s the sole reason I kept my new powers when I got them. I knew things could get VERY nasty.

But now? I don’t care. That’s what they get. They’ve fostered it for so long they get to reap what they have sown.

Kalima
Admin

This was already going on in 08 before your GE, after the election, and up to April 09 when I left because we had to flag them almost 20 times before they were scrubbed. Some slipped under the radar, or were left up to incite. It’s not new, but now more people are watching the “Queen Bee.”

Khirad
Member

Yup, they took forever to be scrubbed.

I had another horrible troll who deigned post the entire Constitution in sections, never answering any questions, and using an ACSII Obama with hammer and sickles ‘Bow Down To Me’ crap. It went on like that forever. One of the most obnoxious trolls I ever encountered.

Again, it’s why I kept my ability to delete. I never wanted to be powerless waiting on the mods again.

Kalima
Admin

Actually Khirad I think it was around the Rev. Wright fiasco, remember how they had all the headers in red with his video clips, so it was the primaries. AH didn’t like Hillary, maybe she had a secret “hard on” for Bill and he rejected her. Anyway, she allowed an unlimited amount of Hillary bashing, and then came the PUMAS. I don’t believe for a minute that they were Dems or even progressives, they were Lush’s Operation Chaos, and so began the downfall of AH’s pretense. I’m so glad that I got out of there with my sanity.

Oh btw, I went there yesterday to finally delete my account, I couldn’t sign in, they had deleted it for me. Someone must have been here lurking. LOL!

Khirad
Member

This was after the election, but may well have been a Rev. Wright thread.

And yes, the PUMAS, best eximplified by AnninCalifornia (now Texas).

She hated the Clintons for personal reasons, and it showed. She did, after all, help to impeach him.

Kalima
Admin

“Hell has no fury like a woman scorned.”

Khirad
Member
FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

Interesting article. I don’t know who made me sicker in defense of Forest. The government officials or the commentators.

FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

I’m not surprised, but saddened nevertheless. I have lived through Jim Crow, a Great Uncle’s lynching, segregation, discrimination, assassinations, and the civil rights movement. When I think I have seen racism in all of its possible forms, new versions crop up. I feel like I have spent every second of my entire life dealing with the kind of social constructs the majority of our society will never ever face. I learned a long time ago that for me (and folks like me), “life ain’t been no crystal stair.” I’m reminded “It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor—bare,” whenever I hear folks like John Boehner and the tea-bigots say they want their country back. In his and their faces, and subtle remarks, I see a certain kind of aristocracy and privilege; a smugness that spat into my and my family’s soul, when I was a small boy in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s.

For me, it does not take a screen shot of this fool’s fool to know that racism still exists. His words only serve to remind me, that for some, there is a manifest privilege I (and my children’s children) will never be able to overcome—a social-anthropological hypo-decent that keep us in our place. I see it in every facet of our society, in every form of media—an eternal three-fifths albatross.

But, “I’se still climbin,” nonetheless. I continue to pursue what I believe to be the right things to do. I’ve raised two wonderful, highly educated, children. I‘ve worked for companies large and small, as well as my own. However, I would like to have prepared them for the kinds of things this nation is devolving into. The kind of things going on over there on Huffington Post—all cloaked in the first amendment. But, I can’t prepare them. I can’t because, quite frankly, I have never witnessed anything like this—ironically correlating with the election of the country’s first black president. In this regard, I feel sorry for my children, particularly my only son. He joined the United States Marines. And despite our misgivings, he elected to put his life on the line to protect the rights of those who want their country back.

I’ll end now.

–Excerpts taken from Langston Hughes’ poem, Mother to Son

LINY01
Member
LINY01

Unreal! I can’t believe they let that through!

It will be sad to see HuffPo devolve to that but I suspect with the AOL crowd that they will see lots more of that kind of stuff.

FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

I can believe it. It’s been going on for quite sometime.

Mightywoof
Member

You have robbed me of words and left me bereft of speech – anything I say would be tarnishing the heartfelt words you have written

I’ve never read Langston Hughes and my education has been sorely lacking – for such a few lines that’s one powerful poem! Thanks

FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

Thank you for the eloquent feedback Mightywoof!

Mightywoof
Member

I found Langston Hughes poems on the Poet Hunter and I intend working my way through every single one!! I chuckled at ‘Enemy’

FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

Yes I know–short and sweet. Wish he could change the name to “Ode to the Tea Bagger”

Mightywoof
Member

😆 Ferra

kesmarn
Admin

Thank you, FerraKnows, and welcome to the Planet.

Beautifully written. And from the heart.

Please stick around and don’t stop posting here. This message needs to be repeated until America finally gets it.

It’s hard to express the crash that I and so many others felt when, after the elation of election night, we awoke to discover that so much racism still existed. I guess I was a little naive. It’s so much worse than I realized.

FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

Thanks kesmarn! The Planet feels warm.

escribacat
Member

What a moving post, Ferra. I feel sad for all of us, that we haven’t evolved beyond these primitive and brutal fears of anyone who looks different. How pathetic. I agree that the election of Obama and the rise of the tea party has once again brought onto the main stage people who never went away but at least crept into shadowy corners for a time — the people who “want their country back.” How else can you interpret that statement? Bill Clinton didn’t bring them out calling for their country back. Bill Clinton didn’t bring them out calling for his birth certificate.

Last week Bill OReilly asked the president why he thought he (Obama) was so “polarizing,” as though it were Obama’s fault that so many in this country are still racist idiots.

FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

Thank you escribacat. And I agree with you on all counts. F&F! (hehehe couldn’t resist)

boomer1949
Member

I never, ever thought I would see this kind of behavior again in my lifetime. Seriously, at the very least, it’s disheartening, but most of all it’s absolutely appalling and makes me want to knock some of these idiots upside the head.

FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

So many idiots, so little time, boomer.

gmb007
Member
gmb007

What a very excellent post, FerraKnows! So glad you’re a member of Planet! Look forward to reading more of your posts. 🙂

Mightywoof
Member

I have to say I’m glad I live where I do where there are limits in what can be said in the name of free speech. Speech is not free when it’s used to wrap visible groups in invisible chains – it comes at a very high cost and one that most civilized societies are not prepared to pay.

To say that is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen is the biggest understatement of my life

escribacat
Member

Sickening. I remember a period over there when someone like that just kept at it, getting scrubbed, creating a new account and reposting vile psychotic stuff about Michelle. There are some really sick dangerous people in this world and a lot of them are running around free.

LINY01
Member
LINY01

No Kidding! Kinda scary, ain’t it?

2garden
Member
2garden

I so agree with you..

PocketWatch
Member

I subscribe to AOL for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to maintain a decades-long email account that everyone I know knows me by.

I was one of their first 1/2million subscribers when they first started up. I still use a couple of their chat rooms from time to time.

And I see that the AOL comment crowd is starting to migrate to HP, as seen by the post linked to above. THIS is what AOL devolved to over time, as anyone that has looked at the comments attached to any story. Juvenile at best, and inhuman at worst.

I will be deleting my main account over at HP as soon as I finish posting this comment.

However, I am keeping a sock named ‘YeOldePhartt’ at HP to be able to lurk around a bit and sow seeds of dissention and to keep an eye on the place.

‘Keep your enemies closer…’

8)

funksands
Member

It’s always good to keep a spare tire in the trunk, no?

FerraKnows
Member
FerraKnows

Tire iron?

Abbyrose86
Member

Oh MY….

MossyOak
Guest
MossyOak

I took a sneak peak over to AOL after the announcement of the HP buyout. It was a sobering sortie.. the comments were unreadable and I had a sneaking suspicion that many of them would attach themselves to HP to make mischief. What a surly bunch of wackos. I bet when Arianna gets done counting her Judas coins she’ll have some serious down time in front of a mirror. One can only hope.

TruthWins
Member
TruthWins

I read here that some folks have been banned on Huff just for advertising planet.pov. I’m trying to go below the radar in order to stick around there as long as I can, just to bring even more good folks over here (and trying to avoid trolls). But just in case I do get deleted earlier than anticipated I made snapshots of my entire list of friends, also in order to reach them individually with another moniker if need arises.

Ariana sucked the life out of us for her own personal goals and for profit, now we suck the life out of Huffington Post. For that rag is NOTHING without the active commenter’s community. And after all, this is the only credit that goes to her: having created a format in which we could meet, (that is before she tried to destroy that with fakebook et al.)

And here’s a hint for other newbies: I just found out I can expand the comment box and actually read what I wrote…

Khirad
Member

I agree with everything there, but don’t knock Facebook too much. I was able to bring a few people here with it. The hyper-integration of it and Twitter into HP I personally thought was totally tacky though.

To the end I’ve *gasp* signed in with the HP account, which I must now LOOK for.

And hey, I’m an old-timer here, but do tell me how to expand the comment box.

TruthWins
Member
TruthWins

To expand the comment box click the two arrows just besides the spell check on top of the box. You don’t even lose the text when you click on it even after you’ve already written, which is great.

About facebook: it is not my cup of tea, but it’s not a problem. I think I got so angry at it and twitter because Huff was declining at a fast pace right when they were added. But in reality the crumbling of Fluff ultimately must have started when the new CEO, of whom Ariana was so proud in her last article, took up his job.

BTW, I find it funny that there is not a word about the merger anymore on Fluff. I guess she is in shock that people actually left and nobody is really in need of the bad stepmother of the fairytale…

Khirad
Member

Ohhhhhh, THAT’S what that does! 😆

Understood on the rest.

Just sayin’

http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/04/5987825-egypt-protesters-thank-you-facebook

TruthWins
Member
TruthWins

Ok, ok, you’re right, maybe I’m just getting old…

boomer1949
Member

We can also look at it another way…

Folks are being band because the Empress is feeling incredibly threatened. IMO, we should consider it a compliment. Just sayin’…

🙂

Moist Robot
Member
Moist Robot

Isn’t AOL also behind all those Patch web “news” sites that have been metastasizing, um, I mean cropping up all over?

Abbyrose86
Member

OH my…all of a sudden, I’m having trouble keeping up with all the good posts! THAT is a good problem, btw!

KB723
Guest
KB723

Abby, it is nice to keep up here, cos we are not looking for some snarky reply, but to see the good someone else might have to say… I saw some of my old friends here the other night, but did not see them here last night… I did however see them on HP. Sad, cos sometimes Change can be harmful to some.

Abbyrose86
Member

I was surprised. I was keeping up, in time, until just a little while ago…of course I’m flipping back and forth between here and facebook…has to do with the Chris Lee story…he’s a local boy so I keep going back and forth, thus I’m missing things 🙂

..we are loving the Chris Lee story.

KB723
Guest
KB723

Abby this does remind me of that pastor from my home state…. What was that guys name from Colorado Springs who landed flat on his face???

Abbyrose86
Member

Ted something…right?

KB723
Guest
KB723

Correct Abby I think his last name was Haggerd…

Mightywoof
Member

Me too!! Every time I read a comment I find the Recent Comments has galloped ahead and left me behind 🙄 ….. and there are so many new articles being written that it’ll take me a month of Sundays to catch up (this is a good thing!!)

Abbyrose86
Member

INDEED…it is a positive NOT a negative. I was just a little taken aback…I was doing so well in real time and all of a sudden I wasn’t.

Not complaining AT all…I think this site is the type that is ok.

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

It’s nice, though, to be able to “catch up” if you’re gone for a day or so. (Links would help. *smiles*)

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

Hmmm…although maybe links would interfere with the editing function…

…oh, well. Whatever. 🙂

KB723
Guest
KB723

Redemption, Cool, you are using the yellow smileys… There is also a Green One… :mrgreen:

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

…and blushers!! 😳

bito
Member

M’woof, I am having a hard time on my screen. 😆

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

Is there a tech for the site? (Maybe he, she or they could link replies to usernames for easier access.)

enigma2
Member
enigma2

Hello hello, good to see so many friendlies on here..:-)

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

Greetings, Enigma!! (Good to see you, too. *smiles* )

(I’m still uncomrfortable with the little yellow smilie faces…gotta get used to ’em.)

bito
Member

Address your reply like you were addressing a letter, it will appear in the Recent Comments (RC)

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

Oh: cool. (Sorry…I’m still learning my way around…)

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

…disregard the tech question–I just sent a suggestion to whomever one contacts with the “contact us” dialog box.

Kalima
Admin

Then you will receive an answer when whoever reads it will have time to answer I’m sure.

The person who will read it is a little busy right now fixing glitches with our new server. We thank you for your patience.

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

Okey-dokey. (Hmmm…there’s no shrug yellow thingy.)

Kalima
Admin

You don’t really need one.

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

With you, I most certainly do. 🙂

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

…it has started:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/09/college-board-ap-test-scores-minorities_n_820925.html

(The accompanying photo is…well, it is what it is.)

KB723
Guest
KB723

Redemption, sometimes it’s Hard to tell who they will Bash next…. I have a secret…. I know who they will never Bash, but will never tell…

jdmn17
Member
jdmn17

Holy shit, that was just wrong for so many reasons. Thanks although it makes me a little sick in my gut. Wonder how many of the remaining folks will get there and see it? Done and done

liberallioness76
Member
liberallioness76

What it is is disgraceful.

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

(…of course I could do myself a favor and just stop “peeking”. *smiles*)

jdmn17
Member
jdmn17

Kind of like spotting an old love at a restaurant and instead of leaving you hide behind a fern and watch for a while. Think I’ll leave them to their dinner. They have reasons for staying on HP and it’s not my call. Anyway I see a lot more going on at “my table” than hers.

MossyOak
Guest
MossyOak

We peek because we want to be sure we did the right thing by leaving. There are two main attractions to HP, the blogs/articles and the comments. The articles will slowly morph into the typical corporatist BS you find elsewhere for the reasons listed in this piece by AdLib, but most of the seriously good commentators are gone. Some of us actually believe in free speech.

Haruko Haruhara
Member

This summer, Pepe wants to climb an 11,000-foot mountain and leave this photo for Sharp Dressed Man, a poster he really, sincrely loved, who apparently died very quietly last winter.

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escribacat
Member

I remember him, Haruko. I liked him too.

Khirad
Member

Oh, I remember him. So that’s what happened. 😥

Haruko Haruhara
Member

Cher, from what I understand, you had taken a hiatus from PPOV for a while.

This is what Pepe and I did for Hume. It was Pepe’s idea:

http://planetpov.com/2010/07/15/st-mary-peak-and-my-little-gesture-for-hume-and-carlvee/

Mightywoof
Member

I’m so glad you posted the link to your article HH – when folks started talking about Hume I thought of it and how moved I was when I first read it

boomer1949
Member

I remember that Haruko and, if I’m not mistaken, it wasn’t until after this piece and one at DailyKos(I think)were posted that HP even thought of paying tribute to either one of them.

Chernynkaya
Member

Haruko– thanks for letting me read that– beautiful post AND action. Yes, I was gone for about 6 months, but I never intended to stay away for that long. After a month or two, I felt somehow shy about coming back. I’m crazy that way–it’s a character flaw. I won’t do that again, and I am really grateful to WhatsThatSound and ChoiceLady for encouraging me to come home.

Khirad
Member

Adbusters: The left built Huffington, and we can tear it down too

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/bloggers-readers-band-quit-huffington-post/

PocketWatch
Member

I’m personally torn between hanging around there to see the carcass rot, or to see what ripples (if any) my demise might make.

I have another sock over there ‘YeOldePhartt’ that I have rarely used, and it might be fun to watch from that perspective.

(Old AOL trick from the good old days of role playing there)

:mrgreen:

KB723
Guest
KB723

PW.. Please send pictures… I want to see what happens as well..

Abbyrose86
Member

As KB said…send us some bones PW…I refuse to click on to the site.

Thanks 🙂

DawgBone
Member

Excellent article!

I personally think AH owes us severance pay.

Abbyrose86
Member

No doubt….not like we will ever see any…but morally she does owe us.

Redemption Song II
Guest
Redemption Song II

…nice.

Thefoxislaur
Member
Thefoxislaur

I’m going to give my opinion on this just this once because I feel it’s necessary. The HP male poster from Canada who was on here earlier today who appeared to be so congenial and easy to have a back and forth conversation with was on the HP KO thread a little awhile ago throwing out his usual bullshit and trying to incite other posters. I intend to view him with a wary eye, and hope he doesn’t try to disrupt this site somehow, some way. I was interested in the KO developing story, read it there and happened to see the same old same old, Mrsdressup was his target as usual.

Haruko Haruhara
Member

Which Canadian … or faux Canadian … can you tell me, please?

There are some people on HP who claim to be Canadian that I can tell aren’t.

KB723
Guest
KB723

HH you mean like CanuckCanuck perhaps???

Haruko Haruhara
Member

No, I mean someone else who I bloody know damn well is no Canadian. And not Penner, BTW.

KB723
Guest
KB723

HH, maybe x27??? Awww come on tell me… Now I am too curious…

Haruko Haruhara
Member

No, X27 is VERY cool.

As are the other REAL Canadians — Bridgeman, E’Cat, LisaDi, Phreaked, Bisko, Mrsmdressup, etc (I’m sure I forgot some).

There is someone claiming to be Canadian who isn’t.

KB723
Guest
KB723

HH, Ok… I am not bothered but if you are that’s Ok with me. I myself am Not Canadian, nor am I Australian, Not sure why I said that… Guess I just wanted to make mention… ❓

escribacat
Member

I woke up Canadian, Haruko, last year when they changed that law. (My parents were Canadians).

jdmn17
Member
jdmn17

Haruko, you already said it, if someone says they are Canadian and doesn’t know who Don Cherry is they are NOT Canadian. As for the one calling himself DPenner, I do believe he is the one from HP who got himself kicked off. He enjoys the games, what can you expect from someone who has health care, the loonie and better beer than we have down here? I’m here, I’m glad to be away from HP and for my money, everyone here comes in clean and gets to prove themselves otherwise. I’m too old to hold grudges or bring over old baggage. I love the people who are here from HP and I’m willing to be open minded until proven otherwise. If we can’t fight from time to time we aren’t much of a family.

Haruko Haruhara
Member

I’m thinking of someone else. Someone who doesn’t know Don Cherry from Jack Layton from squat!

jdmn17
Member
jdmn17

Ah, yes, there was one person who claimed she was from PQuebec. My family is from there back to 1752 and I asked her some really simple thing and she knew nothing at all. Why would someone want to be a fake Canadian? Nothing against Canadians, love them dearly, but if I was going to be fake something I might go for Lichtenstein or something where I could be descended from royalty or something

bzb
Member
bzb

You’re talking about DPenner and I never ever fall for his bullshit.

david p canada
Member
david p canada

DPenner is not involved in this.

bzb
Member
bzb

Who do you think you’re trying to fool you just can’t get enough of the smart people?

david p canada
Member
david p canada

I’m sorry you’re so bitter.

I’ll do my best to change your mind.

However, we will probably disagree on many things. Civilly, I hope.

bzb
Member
bzb

No I’m not bitter at all and I would love to debate you on anything but I just don’t understand how you go on the KO thread and totally do the opposite there then what you are doing here.

I guess it’s the two faces of D Penner and no I never hated you, I just don’t agree with your politics.

bito
Member

bzb, do not bring your personal HP problems over to the Planet, thank you.

Thefoxislaur
Member
Thefoxislaur

Yup…..See his posts today under PW’s terrific business article from today. I’m not buying it either, past experiences with him not pleasant.

KB723
Guest
KB723

foxi, I was actually impressed by his writings today…

Abbyrose86
Member

SO was I…he was very different here…i actually didn’t dislike him. I truly hope he was being sincere.

KB723
Guest
KB723

Hi Abby… I am aware that he has seen the light and knows he can post here, but without the shielding of annoying posters… Matter of fact I think he said so himself.

escribacat
Member

Interesting.

Haruko Haruhara
Member

Oh, Penner.

I thought he was a fake Canadian at first, but I’ve reached the conclusion he really is a Canadian. He knew too much about hockey and Don Cherry when I cornered him one time. Believe me, Canada has right-wing Canadians … yet he is something very weird … a self-loathing right-wing Canadian.

david p canada
Member
david p canada

I must correct you, my fellow Canadian.

I loathe no one, including myself.

Haruko Haruhara
Member

But you rag on Canada all the time.

Where is your pride in your country?

bzb
Member
bzb

I forgot about you and his match ups you alwasy gave him a good troll smack down.

david p canada
Member
david p canada

I don’t rag on Canada.

I am often disturbed by many of the socialist policies we have adopted.

Not all of them, though.

Haruko Haruhara
Member

Claiming Canada has like 6 MRI machines or whatever ISN’T ragging on Canada ? … when you bloody well know that isn’t true?

KarateKid
Member

If you’re Penner, did you see all of us complaining when you got banned? I don’t speak for everyone, but I don’t mind a good give and take with conservatives as long as it doesn’t get combative. We never found you to be that way so we ralled for your cause over there. And, lefties have intense differences, too, among ourselves.

PocketWatch
Member

That’s right, KK!!!!

MY kung fu is strong!

Put ’em up!

👿

Kalima
Admin

We have very few rules here, but one of them is not to attack other posters personally, it’s worked very well for our site so far, and we would appreciate it you would help to keep it this way.

Thanks.

Thefoxislaur
Member
Thefoxislaur

Kalima, I’m sorry. Duly noted and it’s a good policy to have. I will abide by it.

Kalima
Admin

Thank you Thefoxislaur, much appreciated. We started this site because we wanted to be nothing like HP, we hope to always follow that path.

Khirad
Member

It’s best to engage him here with kindness.

I know many will be wary of this, but we do like to remove inciting posts, rather than encourage ad hominem conflict (topic based conflict is still fine).

AdLib can explain it better than I, but it’s best just to not feed it.

If they wish to engage in conversation, they are welcome.

It is up to them to convince us they are genuine in this pursuit.