When faced with an awkward situation, I tend to ignore it and hope it goes away as soon as possible. Like last night, when I met blogger and SFist commenter Kay at one of Clemens free booze parties.
I haven't read Kay's blog, and I should probably be more on top of it, but her comments on SFist have been forwarded to me. Like, this one in October:
How about you write your own article, and stop giving Spots undue publicity? She's an untalented hag who gets by solely on her sad obsession :) You are enabling her.
Oh god.
Brock's got by back: Kay, your spots jealousies amuse and tell us all we need to know about you. she'll be thrilled to read your backhanded insult.
But Kay wasn't done. Homegirl hates me:
Maybe if by some unfortunate circumstance I aspired to be a talentless, obsessed and unlucky journalist wannabe, you'd be correct. But I am just annoyed at the brown-nosing and what you're turning this place into. I come here for content, but I find... this. Please remember, as a good editor, that this is SFist. Not Brockist. Bring More Rita please. She continued: A lot of things you say suggest that you just really want to be a woman. This is nothing personal even if I make it sound personal. I just want the SFist that I knew and used to love back. I think a lot of people will agree.
Oh snap. I'm just glad it's not all me who's a talentless, obsessed and unlucky journalist wannabe. She called Brock a woman. Because, I guess being a woman is bad?
Eve couldn't take it anymore. She had to fire back.
Eve: Hey, Kay, thanks for all the tips on what SFist should be about. Hard to believe my co-founders and I managed to run the site for so long without your advice! Brock is so lucky to have you. If only we'd known what an untalented hag Beth was, when we began cross-linking with her personal blog back when we started the site in 2004! I certainly would have discouraged her from being an active commenter on the site for the 2 years I ran the joint. And I never, ever would have been so impressed with her work that I would have hired her to write for us at the Chronicle. At the risk of implying that Brock hasn't brought anything new to SFist, I'd suggest that your fears that Brock is following some horrible new direction might be alleviated by actually familiarizing yourself with the site. Because the SFist you claim you used to know and love, the one where there were no links to Beth or drug jokes? That site never existed, except in your imagination.
What's up? Yeah, that's my boss bitches. Okay, so since this tette-a-tette in the famous SFist comments section, I've been keeping my eyes peeled for this Kay, ready to dive under a table lest I see hear and face her wrath of journalistic integrity.
And last night, there she was!
Eve and I pretended to examine a potted plant as I reminded her about the infamous Kay. "Well, let's go introduce ourselves."
I have found in the time that I've been friends with Eve that she is pretty much afraid of nothing. And will be glad to prove it. We marched ourselves over and I introduced myself.
"Oh, uh. Hi. I'm Beth Spotswood." We shook hands. "And this is my editor, Eve Batey."
"Hi" announced Eve. "You're a regular commenter on SFist. And I believe I've responded to some of your comments."
Oh god.
I was too terrified to remember exactly what Kay said, but it was something along the lines of enjoying stirring shit up. Oh, okay.
I call all kinds of people all kinds of horrible things all kinds of times. So, you know, I guess this is part of the territory. Carole Migden probably wants me dead. But I've found in the realm of bloggers, we tend to stick together. We go to the same events. We know the same people. We're all pretty much friends. In this world of internet nerd-dom, shitting on each other isn't cool.
Migden, yes. A fellow blogger, not so much.
Anyway, we stood there awkwardly for a minute and then Eve goes, "Well, I'm going to the bar!" And marches off. I literally ran after her into the lobby as Brock emerged from the elevator.
"Oh my god, Brock. Guess who we just met?"
Once we filled him in on our Kay encounter, Brock looked over at her and declared, "She's the one that called me a tranny."
Say whatever you want about me (or don't. That'd be good too.) But don't call Brockstar a tranny. That shit is uncalled for...
27 comments:
Taking on SFist and the Chron? How stupid can you be?
Don't pick fights with people who buy bits by the barrell, as they say. Good to hear that the crew still rolls together (though if someone had tipped me off, I would have chimed in earlier).
Jesus - I had no idea it was that bad. Attacking you was not smart. Or called for. Link removed.
hey, I remember that! I laughed my ass off at her comments. What's to be afraid of, Beth? She's a petulant twit. And if you read XKCD, you'll notice that today's strip was totally about her.
Wow. Sweet Melissa deleted her and another founder of SFist has called her out. Kay didn't know who she was fucking with. Who's the talentless, unlucky hag now?
Hi Kay,
CBS picked this up.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Signed,
Pretty much everyone
http://cbslocalblogs.prospero.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?nav=main&webtag=kpix_eyeonblogs&entry=364
CBS5 has an awesome new blog page. And clearly, they also have great taste.
(Excuse me. Pardon. Sorry.)
I'm just trying to take a front-row seat here before the fireworks commence. Say, when you get a chance, could you send the cocktail waitress over? Thanks!
Beth,
Since I don't consider myself a "blogger" just because I have a blog, I don't feel that we have much in common, thus the "we stick together" mentality does not really apply. I'm sorry my criticism stung, I will admit I was probably too harsh with my word choice, but this was some time ago (almost half a year?) and I thought we've since made amends. At least it seemed that way when you reached out with your "Oh c'mon let's be friends" message on Yelp. I don't like to hold grudges, but if you do, that's your business. I'm entitled to my opinion as you are to yours. It's not like you weren't perfectly aware of what I said way back then, I wonder, why bring it up now? Since then, I've found out we have an acquaintance in common and I've tired to be nice. Whatever.
I'm thrilled to hear that your people have your back, but sorry to say, I'm not engaging in an e-fight over something I said in October because I have absolutely nothing against you anymore, no matter how much you rail on a politician I happen to support.
I guess you can retaliate by calling me bad at what I do, go for it.
Incidentally, I didn't call Brock a tranny - that's taking things out of context. He said he liked my earrings and I said I think he wishes he was a woman. Because my earrings are great, but a man just couldn't pull of chandeliers.
Whoa.
1. Beth didn't call you bad at what you do. At all.
2. Beth wasn't holding a grudge, per se. She was telling a story about what she did last night. She does this every day.
3. Beth sent you a message saying "Let's be friends." And by the way, that was a classy thing to do considering you called her a talentless hag! Did you send anything back? Did you explian your rant? Have you e-mailed Beth? I'm guessing not, although Spots, please correct me.
So Kay, on your imaginary high horse, no one's asking you to engage in an e-fight. Beth just told us what it was like to run into someone who called her names on the internet. And it was funny. As usual.
Get over yourself.
-Lauren
What? No e-fight?
Oh well, it's getting late anyhow. Check please!
Mess with the best, die like the rest.
Oh Kay, so sorry, but you just got the beat down.
Boo hoo.
Go whine your apology/excuses to those that care...
And you don't get an opinion. Not here anyway...
no matter how much you rail on a politician I happen to support.
... Its 'cause Kay is prettier and younger too huh Beth? dum dee dee dum... lame.
" i strive to positively influence my environment. i generally don't reject things i haven't tried, and i try not to judge things i don't know. " -- excerpt from Kay's About Me on blogger. ha. ha. ha.
What politician does Kay support while Beth bashes? My bets are on Matt Gonzalez (but that's just because I've dubbed myself the token Matt Gonzalez supporter of this here blog).
I was all set to go to that party but a power outage made me so far behind on a deadline I had to stay at home and work. and look at what I miss!
I always find it funny when people rank on bloggers, since the magic of the internet is that if you don't like one blog, there's plenty of others to choose from, and one need not be scarred for life, as such.
Hey Beth,
As an unbiased non-friend (more's the pity!) and devotee of the blog purely on the strength of your hilarious writing, I'd like to say that I will continue to read your blog daily and, needless to say, will not be reading Kay's. Mainly because you know the difference between wit and satire and plain old, unattractive nastiness. And it's a good thing Kay apparently doesn't aspire to be a journalist with SFist because she'd have to learn that calling someone an "untalented hag" when it's not fair, true, or justified is not exactly what should pass for true "criticism", not to mention the fact that blogging and loftily declaring herself "not a blogger", or writing a thin defense of her actions whilst pretending to be above engaging in an "e-fight" is neither clever nor convincing.
by the way, I hope you had a great 30th!
As a former commenter "That chick" on SFist I can say this.
BROCK ROCKS he is doing a lot..he's everywhere on SFist.
BETH ROCKS MORE as everytime I read her posts I laughed outloud.
EVE ROCKS MORE AND BEST as editor of SFGate.com and one of the founding editors of SFist.
I don't rock at all because now I don't post on SFist(have one of my own blog for my campaign) and I don't work for the ultra cool communication firm in ess eff. I am just plain lame because I think I want to serve my community.
Oh and Kay...YOU DO NOT ROCK.
"i'm a person of simple tastes (but complex pairings)."
Having just reviewed her incredibly self absorbed flickr page(s), I'm inclined to agree.
The complex pairing of false modesty and self absorbtion really is delicious. Try it with the malbec.
Oh Jesus Brett -- that was lovely.
Kayisms that killed me....
"I've tired to be nice"
"Practically 6 months ago" Come on Beth -- Britney's hair has grown back at least 3 inches since then.
"Way back then" cuz, like, October was so last year already. (As are chandelier earrings btw)
For everyone that wants to continue the nastiness, go on with your bad selves if that makes you feel good. Please scrutinize my internet persona (like my flick page. Seriously? I'm not a photographer, what do you expect in it, exactly? That's right, pictures of me, big old deal) all you want.
Beth and I resolved things. Sorry to rain on your parade. :)
"For everyone that wants to continue the nastiness, go on with your bad selves if that makes you feel good."
Actually, that's exactly what makes me feel good. I can't speak for everyone here, obviously, but I for one revel in being petty and small. So I definitely appreciate both the opportunity and the permission. Thumbs up Kay!
I'm getting concerned that we're giving a stupid girl undue attention. I liked Spots' story about meeting "Kay" but I am not interested in hearing anymore about her.
Does no one remember "please_stop"?
Oh, Kay...now we just feel sorry and embarrassed for you.
No nastiness intended. Really, I am embarrassed for you...
I wonder if "please-stop" and Kay are one and the same. They commented around the same time period, didn't they?
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