Post by Optimus on Jul 5, 2017 0:05:26 GMT -5
I used to think that CNN was just having a run of bad luck and maybe people were being too harsh on them.
But now I'm starting to think that perhaps they really are just a garbage dump of an organization (I blame Jeff Zucker's influence).
So, they tracked down the anonymous internet troll who made the original GIF of Trump beating up CNN (taken from footage of Trump on WWE in a bit with Vince McMahon) which was then made into a longer vid which Trump tweeted.
I'm sure their decision to focus their investigative resources into tracking down the GIF creator (rather than focusing on actual news) was for purely journalistic reasons and not at all for revenge (sarcasm alert).
Anyway, so the guy goes onto the Trump sub-Reddit that he trolls on and apologizes profusely for all of his racist, anti-semitic, etc. posts and admits that they were just him trolling to get reactions out of people (which is all that genuine trolling really is). He denounces that type of behavior, encourages others not to do it, and apologizes again for his role in all of this. He then deleted all of his posts and called up CNN to confess and apologize to them.
He asked them to please not reveal his identity for fear of death threats or other violence against him and his family because, unfortunately, that's how the internet works these days.
The trollish types of things he (and all other trolls) has posted online are reprehensible and I think it takes a shitty type of person to do such things, but he did apologize and hopefully he really has learned a valuable lesson. I'm willing to give the guy the benefit of the doubt that this might be a transformative moment for him as a person.
CNN accepted his apology and, in the same article where they reported all of this while bragging about how they tracked him down, they then proceeded to publicly blackmail him by threatening to dox him if he steps out of line:
Bolding mine. I thought it was an interesting article up until that point, when my jaw hit the desk.
A national "news" organization seriously just publicly threatened to dox a private citizen if he behaves in a way that they don't find acceptable, all because he made fun of them. What a wonderfully ethical, professional organization they are. No wonder they have such a stellar reputation of journalistic integrity.
It's also incredibly hypocritical given how much they've criticized Trump's alleged attempt at blackmailing the hosts of Morning Joe. They've just engaged in the same type of unethical behavior that they chided Trump for doing. All they're doing is destroying the little scraps of credibility they might still have while giving Trump and his supporters more ammo and an undeserved feeling of vindication.
I wasn't the only one who noticed and now CNN is trying to claim that their public doxxing threat wasn't actually a doxxing threat at all:
"Misinterpreted."
Uh huh.
Stay classy, CNN.
But now I'm starting to think that perhaps they really are just a garbage dump of an organization (I blame Jeff Zucker's influence).
So, they tracked down the anonymous internet troll who made the original GIF of Trump beating up CNN (taken from footage of Trump on WWE in a bit with Vince McMahon) which was then made into a longer vid which Trump tweeted.
I'm sure their decision to focus their investigative resources into tracking down the GIF creator (rather than focusing on actual news) was for purely journalistic reasons and not at all for revenge (sarcasm alert).
Anyway, so the guy goes onto the Trump sub-Reddit that he trolls on and apologizes profusely for all of his racist, anti-semitic, etc. posts and admits that they were just him trolling to get reactions out of people (which is all that genuine trolling really is). He denounces that type of behavior, encourages others not to do it, and apologizes again for his role in all of this. He then deleted all of his posts and called up CNN to confess and apologize to them.
He asked them to please not reveal his identity for fear of death threats or other violence against him and his family because, unfortunately, that's how the internet works these days.
The trollish types of things he (and all other trolls) has posted online are reprehensible and I think it takes a shitty type of person to do such things, but he did apologize and hopefully he really has learned a valuable lesson. I'm willing to give the guy the benefit of the doubt that this might be a transformative moment for him as a person.
CNN accepted his apology and, in the same article where they reported all of this while bragging about how they tracked him down, they then proceeded to publicly blackmail him by threatening to dox him if he steps out of line:
CNN is not publishing "HanA**holeSolo's" name because he is a private citizen who has issued an extensive statement of apology, showed his remorse by saying he has taken down all his offending posts, and because he said he is not going to repeat this ugly behavior on social media again. In addition, he said his statement could serve as an example to others not to do the same.
CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change.
CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change.
Bolding mine. I thought it was an interesting article up until that point, when my jaw hit the desk.
A national "news" organization seriously just publicly threatened to dox a private citizen if he behaves in a way that they don't find acceptable, all because he made fun of them. What a wonderfully ethical, professional organization they are. No wonder they have such a stellar reputation of journalistic integrity.
It's also incredibly hypocritical given how much they've criticized Trump's alleged attempt at blackmailing the hosts of Morning Joe. They've just engaged in the same type of unethical behavior that they chided Trump for doing. All they're doing is destroying the little scraps of credibility they might still have while giving Trump and his supporters more ammo and an undeserved feeling of vindication.
I wasn't the only one who noticed and now CNN is trying to claim that their public doxxing threat wasn't actually a doxxing threat at all:
In a tweet Tuesday night, Mr. Kaczynski said CNN’s intent was “misinterpreted.”
This line is being misinterpreted. It was intended only to mean we made no agreement w/the man about his identity. t.co/9FL6EvTikx
This line is being misinterpreted. It was intended only to mean we made no agreement w/the man about his identity. t.co/9FL6EvTikx
"Misinterpreted."
Uh huh.
Stay classy, CNN.