Wired? Tired? Linkbaiting? I wish

August 29, 2007 By

Adario Strange, of Wired Online, jumps in with a late whipping of my Sunday videos.

It’s interesting that Wired chose to link to this and jump on the “Scoble is an idiot” pile.

It’s sad, because in the past year I’ve put up more than three hundred videos, most of which are far more deserving of your attention than the ones I put up on Sunday. Let’s just look through my videos to see which ones might have actually been more important for you to consider.

1. Dr. Eliott Soloway on how to improve education (he was one of Larry Page’s computer science professors and was very interesting to talk with about where education is falling apart and how to fix it).
2. Mark Canter on social networking. He does an interesting job of bringing us into the social networking space. Says a TON of stuff that SHOULD have gotten Wired to react, but instead they are more interested in making fun of me and piling onto the “hate Scoble” pile.
3. Scott Klemmer is an assistant professor at Stanford University and talks with me about all sorts of geeky stuff going on inside Stanford. Human interaction design, mobile development, and much more. Remember, this is the place that started Google. Wired should have been all over this. Why weren’t they?
4. IBM’s top intellectual property lawyer held an interesting conversation with me about all sorts of stuff including open source licenses, patent reform, and a whole raft of stuff that directly affects Wired’s readership. Why didn’t they link to this?
5. One of IBM’s most decorated employees had a chat with me and Larry Magid of CBS News. Talked about virtual worlds and a few other things. That sounds like the kind of thing Wired used to be interested in. But they didn’t link to that, either. Nor did they link to a separate interview where I interview the guy who runs IBM Ventures and is one of the key strategists at IBM.
6. At the iPhoneDevCamp I interview a top game designer about emotional design and why the iPhone feels so good. Wired kind of stuff, yet didn’t earn a link.
7. VMWare just went IPO, so you’d think Wired would have linked to this interesting discussion with VMWare’s top technologist. Nah, not Wired. How about this discussion of a new programming language designed to help kids learn to program? Future Wired customers, right? Nope. You won’t have seen that on Wired Online.
8. You’d think that all the SEOs and Danny Sullivan wannabees would have linked to this interview about search engine marketing. Nope. Wired didn’t either.
9. Or maybe Wired would have linked to this interview with New York Times bestseller Tim Ferriss, who tells you how to work less. Nah, no link for that one, either.

Those are the good ones from just the past month or so. I won’t go into all the company interviews in the last few months that I’ve done (including tonight’s exclusive news about Plaxo). That didn’t get a link from Wired either.

I’m not laughing anymore, Wired. Why did you take a cheap shot and not link to anything else I’ve done for balance? Are you trying to compete with Valleywag? Is that what the tech press has come to lately?

I guess so.

Oh, and lots of people on Sunday said my videos were “linkbaiting.” Which is funny. I’d far rather you link to one of these nine videos and talk about them than talk about anything I did on a Sunday morning in 25 minutes.

So, I guess this post is really linkbait. I bet I don’t get a single link to this, though. Instead I’ll probably have to do another Kyte video. At least I know Valleywag and Wired Online will link to that.

Sigh.

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  • http://searchengines.wordpress.com/ searchengines

    Would it be possible to have transcripts of all the top videos for those who have less of multimedia bias for consuming information.

  • http://searchengines.wordpress.com/ searchengines

    Would it be possible to have transcripts of all the top videos for those who have less of multimedia bias for consuming information.

  • Vic Berggren

    #23

    In this case Jason is only a lightning rod for criticism because he doesn’t like SEO.

    That rational kind of looks like the SEO crowd just gets overly emotional whenever someone has something to say about SEO that they don’t agree with.

    Robert make room in the kook camp buddy, I think your on to something.

  • Vic Berggren

    #23

    In this case Jason is only a lightning rod for criticism because he doesn’t like SEO.

    That rational kind of looks like the SEO crowd just gets overly emotional whenever someone has something to say about SEO that they don’t agree with.

    Robert make room in the kook camp buddy, I think your on to something.

  • Steven

    Robert,

    It seems like some of those online are not too much different than my local ( and by the way, national news) on tv! Same behavior, go for the sensational crap for attention and deliver the viewer to the ads.

  • Steven

    Robert,

    It seems like some of those online are not too much different than my local ( and by the way, national news) on tv! Same behavior, go for the sensational crap for attention and deliver the viewer to the ads.

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  • http://steven.openid.org/ Steven Livingstone

    Robert – an ideal pickup for you:

  • http://steven.openid.org Steven Livingstone

    Robert – an ideal pickup for you:

  • http://baijukb.blogspot.com/ Baiju.k.b

    Nice video knowledge…!!

  • http://baijukb.blogspot.com Baiju.k.b

    Nice video knowledge…!!

  • http://www.chrisbellini.com/ Chris

    Why sweat over what Wired thinks. For the most part, it’s just a coffee table tech mag, anyway ;)

  • http://www.chrisbellini.com Chris

    Why sweat over what Wired thinks. For the most part, it’s just a coffee table tech mag, anyway ;)

  • http://mattwalters.net/ Matt

    I wouldn’t sweat it.

    As far as the other videos they should have paid attention to, it’s easier to write-up condemning articles then it is to actually spend the time to think about things and write real responses to them (would be my guess as to why they ignored them). I probably could have been more articulate in making my point, but I’m tired, so hopefully you get the idea.

    Why discuss education when it’s easier to give you grief about “x”? (/sarcasm)

  • http://mattwalters.net/ Matt

    I wouldn’t sweat it.

    As far as the other videos they should have paid attention to, it’s easier to write-up condemning articles then it is to actually spend the time to think about things and write real responses to them (would be my guess as to why they ignored them). I probably could have been more articulate in making my point, but I’m tired, so hopefully you get the idea.

    Why discuss education when it’s easier to give you grief about “x”? (/sarcasm)

  • http://searchengineland.com/ Danny Sullivan

    Seriously, Robert — why didn’t they link to your other videos? Sure, I’ll take the bait and state the obvious.

    The other videos weren’t the news this week. The Wired article, like it or not, was about the video series you did on search and the ruckus it kicked up.

    Your other videos deserved more attention? Hey, I haven’t watched them — but were any of them about how one of the most powerful earners on the web (Google) was going to get wiped out by a revolution?

    The other videos weren’t about the current story. The other videos, as you know well, have been pointed at when they are fresh news (and you drum up those links).

    In addition, Wired did in fact acknowledge the work you have done in the lead, talking about your “tech analysis cred” you’ve earned through them. Sadly, for you, its assessment was that took a “nosedive” for talking about stuff in an unconvincing manner to those who know search more deeply than you. You know — like me, who you yourself have said on several occasions is a top search expert.

    You sparked a lot of discussion. You got people thinking. And I find it hard to believe you didn’t expect this was going to happen. Crying now that not everyone agreed with what you said just doesn’t cut it. And dropping a million video links in your defense that aren’t on the topic doesn’t help.

    Oh, and that search marketing video? Really — you want me to invest time watching a video with one single search marketer that tells me people click on ads, those clicks cost money and you can measure conversion? This is news? This is compelling video? Look — go out, interview a lot of people and give me a comprehensive look on a subject that is told best through video, and you might get me. But that video “reads” like a billion other one-off interviews I’ve read over the year — and read faster than it takes to watch a video.

  • http://searchengineland.com Danny Sullivan

    Seriously, Robert — why didn’t they link to your other videos? Sure, I’ll take the bait and state the obvious.

    The other videos weren’t the news this week. The Wired article, like it or not, was about the video series you did on search and the ruckus it kicked up.

    Your other videos deserved more attention? Hey, I haven’t watched them — but were any of them about how one of the most powerful earners on the web (Google) was going to get wiped out by a revolution?

    The other videos weren’t about the current story. The other videos, as you know well, have been pointed at when they are fresh news (and you drum up those links).

    In addition, Wired did in fact acknowledge the work you have done in the lead, talking about your “tech analysis cred” you’ve earned through them. Sadly, for you, its assessment was that took a “nosedive” for talking about stuff in an unconvincing manner to those who know search more deeply than you. You know — like me, who you yourself have said on several occasions is a top search expert.

    You sparked a lot of discussion. You got people thinking. And I find it hard to believe you didn’t expect this was going to happen. Crying now that not everyone agreed with what you said just doesn’t cut it. And dropping a million video links in your defense that aren’t on the topic doesn’t help.

    Oh, and that search marketing video? Really — you want me to invest time watching a video with one single search marketer that tells me people click on ads, those clicks cost money and you can measure conversion? This is news? This is compelling video? Look — go out, interview a lot of people and give me a comprehensive look on a subject that is told best through video, and you might get me. But that video “reads” like a billion other one-off interviews I’ve read over the year — and read faster than it takes to watch a video.

  • http://million-dollar-blog.com/blog/ MDB

    If people aren’t disagreeing with you then it means you are doing something wrong. The fact that people are, just means you are doing something new or something different. You are challenging people’s ideas and the world needs more of that.

  • http://million-dollar-blog.com/blog/ MDB

    If people aren’t disagreeing with you then it means you are doing something wrong. The fact that people are, just means you are doing something new or something different. You are challenging people’s ideas and the world needs more of that.

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  • http://www.appdev.info/ D. Lambert

    I’m constantly amazed at the stupid stuff that ends up getting attention while lots more “deserving” material goes unnoticed. I get more links to a post about the PHB’s etch-a-sketch laptop of Dilbert fame than posts about what’s missing in developers’ skillsets today.

    Danny touched on a big part of it, I think. It’s about controversy. Big, audacious, over-the-top, outrageous statements make better headlines, and they elicit reactions. Like the Batboy, you’ve just got to look when someone says Google is going down.

    Sadly, meaningful material frequently doesn’t have the punch that an off-the-cuff flame sometimes does.

    But it’s attention, right? And you’ve got a platform that you can use to promote your “good” stuff, right?

    It could be worse.

  • http://www.appdev.info D. Lambert

    I’m constantly amazed at the stupid stuff that ends up getting attention while lots more “deserving” material goes unnoticed. I get more links to a post about the PHB’s etch-a-sketch laptop of Dilbert fame than posts about what’s missing in developers’ skillsets today.

    Danny touched on a big part of it, I think. It’s about controversy. Big, audacious, over-the-top, outrageous statements make better headlines, and they elicit reactions. Like the Batboy, you’ve just got to look when someone says Google is going down.

    Sadly, meaningful material frequently doesn’t have the punch that an off-the-cuff flame sometimes does.

    But it’s attention, right? And you’ve got a platform that you can use to promote your “good” stuff, right?

    It could be worse.

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  • http://www.charlesfrith.com charlesfrith

    Ease up. I only ever use Mr. Scoble’s views as an opinion. A valued one but not a digital tech deity.

  • http://charlesfrith.blogspot.com Charles Frith

    Ease up. I only ever use Mr. Scoble’s views as an opinion. A valued one but not a digital tech deity.

  • http://misanthropytoday.wordpress.com/ andyfox1979

    i usually say that scoble is a jerk,and i’ve also said that Mahalo sucks, but you know after seeing this video there really is something to it. It does have a personal touch that Google has never had and never will have. I sorta like that. I think the key thing is that good SEO costs money, and it always will, whether its paying google or paying mahalo or any other goddmaned company.

  • http://misanthropytoday.wordpress.com andyfox1979

    i usually say that scoble is a jerk,and i’ve also said that Mahalo sucks, but you know after seeing this video there really is something to it. It does have a personal touch that Google has never had and never will have. I sorta like that. I think the key thing is that good SEO costs money, and it always will, whether its paying google or paying mahalo or any other goddmaned company.

  • http://www.tagZar.com/ Greg

    Ignore them, they are idiots…

  • http://www.tagZar.com Greg

    Ignore them, they are idiots…

  • something2chewon

    All this sounds like child birth, lots of pain, crying but joy in the end.

    Congrats Scoble………………..perspective, enjoy.

    Greg

  • something2chewon

    All this sounds like child birth, lots of pain, crying but joy in the end.

    Congrats Scoble………………..perspective, enjoy.

    Greg

  • Michael

    If sites don’t link to your videos, I wonder if that is not an indicator of the quality of the work? Don’t people generally link to things they find interesting?

  • Michael

    If sites don’t link to your videos, I wonder if that is not an indicator of the quality of the work? Don’t people generally link to things they find interesting?

  • http://0blog.com Toivo Lainevool

    I think this video got the hype because this is the area that people are paying attention to. Where is search going – where is the attention going to end up.

    You said a lot of things that were controversial and kid of out there, but it struck a chord because that’s what people care about. Who is going to be the next Google? What is search going to look like in four years? Nobody knows, but you stuck you neck out there and took a guess. Will it be right? i don’t think so. But at least it got us talking about it. If I really want to know about the future of search I’ll listen to John Battelle. If I want to get some more crazy ideas, I’ll listen to you again. And that’s a compliment, by the way.

    Mad props, and it was great chatting on kyle last night. (I think this is the longest comment i have ever made on a blog.)

  • http://0blog.com/ Toivo Lainevool

    I think this video got the hype because this is the area that people are paying attention to. Where is search going – where is the attention going to end up.

    You said a lot of things that were controversial and kid of out there, but it struck a chord because that’s what people care about. Who is going to be the next Google? What is search going to look like in four years? Nobody knows, but you stuck you neck out there and took a guess. Will it be right? i don’t think so. But at least it got us talking about it. If I really want to know about the future of search I’ll listen to John Battelle. If I want to get some more crazy ideas, I’ll listen to you again. And that’s a compliment, by the way.

    Mad props, and it was great chatting on kyle last night. (I think this is the longest comment i have ever made on a blog.)

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Michael: lots of people watch, or are interested in, Paris Hilton. Does that make her work “quality?”

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Michael: lots of people watch, or are interested in, Paris Hilton. Does that make her work “quality?”

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  • Michael

    @44 I have no doubt a lot of people watch. But it seems the issue you raised is that people don’t link to them. Isn’t there a difference? I can watch a movie, think it’s bad and consequently tell my friends not to bother. Sort of like not linking to it. Anyway, I find your videos interesting, but apparently some at Wired do not. Not a big deal.

    I think your Paris Hilton example is kind of off the mark. People like to watch train wrecks. And no one expects Paris Hilton to offer them anything of substance. She’s meeting people’s expectations. I think people expect, and more often than not, get substance from you. I just think your volume of links would be some type of indicator. I could be wrong.

  • Michael

    @44 I have no doubt a lot of people watch. But it seems the issue you raised is that people don’t link to them. Isn’t there a difference? I can watch a movie, think it’s bad and consequently tell my friends not to bother. Sort of like not linking to it. Anyway, I find your videos interesting, but apparently some at Wired do not. Not a big deal.

    I think your Paris Hilton example is kind of off the mark. People like to watch train wrecks. And no one expects Paris Hilton to offer them anything of substance. She’s meeting people’s expectations. I think people expect, and more often than not, get substance from you. I just think your volume of links would be some type of indicator. I could be wrong.

  • meechwings

    Wow, you’re really taking this criticism hard.

  • meechwings

    Wow, you’re really taking this criticism hard.

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  • http://www.lekimo.de/Haengematten:::4.html Hängematten

    Thanks for very interesting article. btw. I really enjoyed reading all of your posts. It’s interesting to read ideas, and observations from someone else’s point of view… makes you think more. Greetings

  • http://www.lekimo.de/Haengematten:::4.html Hängematten

    Thanks for very interesting article. btw. I really enjoyed reading all of your posts. It’s interesting to read ideas, and observations from someone else’s point of view… makes you think more. Greetings

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