Is Kotaku in danger of shutting down?

[FlareXV]

 

 

So today lawsuit between Gawker Media and Hulk Hogan ended and they lost. They now owe Hulk Hogan 115M and that is just beginning.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35849140

Kotaku is part of the Gawker Media so there is chance that they will be shutdown.

 

Damn! That sucks. Too be honest, I don't really care Gawker Media/Kotaku but I do care about how this will affect people's lives. What do you think on this situation?

 

 

 

I know, I was pretty lazy. I promise next time, I'll be more in depth. 

 

 

source: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1198515

[ShadowStar83x]

Well, since Gawker is appealing, it likely won't happen anytime soon. It could go on for years and, in the end, they'll most likely settle.

[FlareXV]

Well, since Gawker is appealing, it likely won't happen anytime soon. It could go on for years and, in the end, they'll most likely settle.

 

That's nice to hear. I guess with this new "suing" culture going on, people and companies need to be carefully at what they do or say. 

[LetsTurnJu-On]

I honestly think Kotaku is just shit...  Any article I've had the misfortune of coming across has been bloody awful.

 

But damn, all the people that get laid off (if they do), that sucks.

[Parker]

I am certainly no fan of Kotaku (I have no idea what Gawker is) but I do feel for the people who work there and if they do get laid off I hope they find work again very shortly. 

 

 

Parker

[Remilia Scarlet]

I like Kotaku. I hope they manage to reach a settlement!

Edited March 20, 2016 by Remi Remington

[slash]

i enjoy reading kotaku since they're one of the only sites that doesn't use a number scaling for their reviews. that said, gawker got exactly what they deserved. i do hope they reach some kind of settlement just so that many lives aren't affected, but it's understandable if there isn't one. between the Hulk Hogan story and them outing Conde Nast's CFO, the way they wormed into others' privacy so nonchalantly was abhorrent to say the least. it's a shame that several other sites will feel the ramifications, even though they had nothing to do with the controversy. hoping for the best for their families. 

[MMDE]

I'm not exactly sad to hear this...

[LeiFangFan85]

It Kotaku ever shuts down, then that's one clickbait gaming journalist website out of the picture. I hate gaming journalism with a passion. 

[BooneIronshield]

Given Kotaku seems to be a joke to most gamers I don't really think it shutting down would be a big loss.

 

Not to mention that back in November (when they were trying to turn people against a couple devs because they were blacklisted by the devs for doing things they previously agreed not to do) one of Kotaku's people pretty much came out and said none of their writers were capable of using tact when criticizing something and from what I've seen it's entirely true.

 

Just to clarify too I'm not saying I want them to lose their jobs, just that I don't think the site would be missed by a rather large group of gamers, maybe the majority, I don't know, and that I think each and every Kotaku writer doesn't have the skills and professionalism that a journalist should actually have. But that's just my opinion and people are welcome to disagree of course. 

 

It Kotaku ever shuts down, then that's one clickbait gaming journalist website out of the picture. I hate gaming journalism with a passion. 

 

Plenty of gaming journalists shouldn't be doing it but there are many smaller ones who are trying to do it the right way.

Edited March 20, 2016 by BooneIronshield

[Satoshi Ookami]

Oh god, if that is true, finally!

If Kotaku shuts down, it means less baseless rumors and less crappy articles.

I just feel bad for other sites if Kotaku staff gets accepted there.

[LastPisTolman]

They can only appeal if they can prove they can afford it - although not the entire amount I don't think (escrow).  Not particularly au fait with American law.

 

I personally am saddened by this, for people completely separate to this action of the overall company to lose their jobs when they themselves have done nothing wrong is a tragedy.

 

Personal opinions notwithstanding, Kotaku perform a service that many demand, and the fact that the service will get ripped away because of this is sad.

Edited March 20, 2016 by LastPisTolman

[MMDE]

I personally am saddened by this, for people completely separate to this action of the overall company to lose their jobs when they themselves have done nothing wrong is a tragedy.

 

This may sound like a noble stand to take, and I saw several others doing the same thing, but remember, most of those people who lose their job, they're the ones who made the site what it was and wrote the shit that was on the site.

[LastPisTolman]

This may sound like a noble stand to take, and I saw several others doing the same thing, but remember, most of those people who lose their job, they're the ones who made the site what it was and wrote the shit that was on the site.

 

Even if I was to take on the discussion of the integrity of the site with you, which I won't, rarely does the worker decide the overall direction of a company.

 

A till operator does not decide a Wal*Mart marketing strategy or product choice.

 

The writers there are talented, and some are very resourceful.  

 

I would rather have a blinded noble stance than put forth vitriol and disgusting comments that I've seen out of others.

Edited March 20, 2016 by LastPisTolman

[Parker]

This may sound like a noble stand to take, and I saw several others doing the same thing, but remember, most of those people who lose their job, they're the ones who made the site what it was and wrote the shit that was on the site.

 

They may have written what was on the site but that doesn't mean they're bad writers, they could be doing exactly what their bosses wanted them to do. Yeah, they could've applied for other journalism jobs at other companies but that is much easier said than done, especially when you have a family relying on your paycheck. You do what your boss wants if you want to keep your job. 

 

When I worked at Pizza Hut I always had to upsell items when I was taking orders. I didn't do it because I wanted to or loved Pizza Hut, I did it because my bosses told me to do it and I was in danger of losing my job if I didn't. 

 

 

Parker

[MMDE]

Even if I was to take on the discussion of the integrity of the site with you, which I won't, rarely does the worker decide the overall direction of a company.

 

A till operator does not decide a Wal*Mart marketing strategy or product choice.

 

The writers there are talented, and some are very resourceful.  

 

I would rather have a blinded noble stance than put forth vitriol and disgusting comments that I've seen out of others.

 

I wouldn't compare it to Walmart... What made the site so bad was what was written on the site, which was done by it's employees. They were part of the decision and did what reflected bad on the site. It's fair to blame them. It's not in the case of Walmart. You could blame the higher-ups at Walmart though...

They may have written what was on the site but that doesn't mean they're bad writers, they could be doing exactly what their bosses wanted them to do. Yeah, they could've applied for other journalism jobs at other companies but that is much easier said than done, especially when you have a family relying on your paycheck. You do what your boss wants if you want to keep your job. 

 

When I worked at Pizza Hut I always had to upsell items when I was taking orders. I didn't do it because I wanted to or loved Pizza Hut, I did it because my bosses told me to do it and I was in danger of losing my job if I didn't. 

 

 

Parker

 

Yes, they may be not be bad writers, but I don't really know about that to be honest. I think some of them are. That still doesn't excuse what they write about. Do you really think they don't have any say in what they write about, and specifically what they write about it? It's pretty clear that many of their employees have certain ideologies.

 

You wondered what Gawker was earlier... You may want to look into it and understand why people doesn't exactly look all that good upon the site and it's practices.

[LastPisTolman]

I wouldn't compare it to Walmart... What made the site so bad was what was written on the site, which was done by it's employees. They were part of the decision and did what reflected bad on the site. It's fair to blame them. It's not in the case of Walmart. You could blame the higher-ups at Walmart though...

 

Yes, they may be not be bad writers, but I don't really know about that to be honest. I think some of them are. That still doesn't excuse what they write about. Do you really think they don't have any say in what they write about, and specifically what they write about it? It's pretty clear that many of their employees have certain ideologies.

 

You wondered what Gawker was earlier... You may want to look into it and understand why people doesn't exactly look all that good upon the site and it's practices.

 

No they don't.  They get assignments and then they write around that.  Then an editor goes through it.  Then it goes through the editor-in-chief.  And he answers to his boss.  If the boss ultimately wants a certain thing to be output, that's what you output.  If you've ever been in a position where you have a superior you'd understand that.  

 

If any of my workers said they weren't going to do what I asked them (and it's well within the constraints of the law etc) they'd be on the path to disciplinary action and ultimately dismissed.  Same as if my boss told me to do something an I outright refused.

 

If you think they had complete freeform choice over what they wrote you're naive.  If you're glad they're out of a job you're horrible.

 

Their jobs aren't at risk here because they themselves have personally done something wrong, they have done their job yet it isn't enough - factors outside their control have wrought upon them.

 

The comparison to Wal*Mart is apt because if the actions of the CEO cause the till operator to lose their job, that's bullshit.  This is the exact same thing here, people earning an honest living ending up the losers.

 

Especially the abuse that Klepik is having thrown his way.

Edited March 20, 2016 by LastPisTolman

[MMDE]

No they don't.  They get assignments and then they write around that.  Then an editor goes through it.  Then it goes through the editor-in-chief.  and he answers to his boss.

 

If you think they had complete freeform choice over what they wrote you're naive.  If you're glad they're out of a job you're horrible.

 

Their jobs aren't at risk here because they themselves have personally done something wrong, they have done their job yet it isn't enough - factors outside their control have wrought upon them.

 

The comparison to Wal*Mart is apt because if the actions of the CEO cause the till operator to lose their job, that's bullshit.  This is the exact same thing here, people earning an honest living ending up the losers.

 

Especially the abuse that Klepik is having thrown his way.

 

I didn't say they got a "freeform choice", but they do decide most of what they write. Let's say you get assigned with a certain topic to cover. You do some "research" and write about the topic. Yes, it has to be approved, and they may be asked to cover it from a specific perspective. That still doesn't take away from them writing the shit. You may say they need the money, but should you be involved with such a site in the first place if you don't at some level agree with the perspective. And we do know that many of those who has or is working there has agreed. I don't really see this is a wrong strong point for feeling all that sad about this.

[LastPisTolman]

I didn't say they got a "freeform choice", but they do decide most of what they write. Let's say you get assigned with a certain topic to cover. You do some "research" and write about the topic. Yes, it has to be approved, and they may be asked to cover it from a specific perspective. That still doesn't take away from them writing the shit. You may say they need the money, but should you be involved with such a site in the first place if you don't at some level agree with the perspective. And we do know that many of those who has or is working there has agreed. I don't really see this is a wrong strong point for feeling all that sad about this.

 

You're also hamstrung with how time you're allowed to do research because you have deadlines.  You also have stuff added/removed because it creates more controversy and therefore more commentary, more clicks.  You also have your headlines tampered with, your taglines tampered with.  All because clicks are what are ultimately desired.  Not the writer's integrity, or desire to write the best of what they can.

 

Developers get this too, where their vision gets crushed by the whims of the company they work for. 

[Dr_Mayus]

No they don't.  They get assignments and then they write around that.  Then an editor goes through it.  Then it goes through the editor-in-chief.  And he answers to his boss.  If the boss ultimately wants a certain thing to be output, that's what you output.  If you've ever been in a position where you have a superior you'd understand that.  

 

If any of my workers said they weren't going to do what I asked them (and it's well within the constraints of the law etc) they'd be on the path to disciplinary action and ultimately dismissed.  Same as if my boss told me to do something an I outright refused.

 

If you think they had complete freeform choice over what they wrote you're naive.  If you're glad they're out of a job you're horrible.

 

Their jobs aren't at risk here because they themselves have personally done something wrong, they have done their job yet it isn't enough - factors outside their control have wrought upon them.

 

The comparison to Wal*Mart is apt because if the actions of the CEO cause the till operator to lose their job, that's bullshit.  This is the exact same thing here, people earning an honest living ending up the losers.

 

Especially the abuse that Klepik is having thrown his way.

But you have moral choices you can make.

 

When I worked retail I told my bosses I wouldn't upsell anything I found to be ethically wrong. They knew I gave 110% in every other part of the business so they understood that if I refused to do something it meant I was strongly against it (this was usually promotions that encouraged people to use Credit Cards).

 

But you saying "employees don't have a choice" is wrong and ill-sighted. We all have a choice to do or not do something. If you lose a job because you didn't want to devalue your ethics then good for you, you don't need to be working for that company in the first place. I mean look at Jeff Gerstmann, he didn't want to give Kane & Lynch a higher score so he left Gamespot and while I don't read his new articles, there are a lot of people who trust him a lot more than Gamespot because he chose to stand by his ethics.

 

But if you think that the "we were just following orders" line is something to hide behind...well they would have loved you at the Nuremberg trials

[LastPisTolman]

But you have moral choices you can make.

 

When I worked retail I told my bosses I wouldn't upsell anything I found to be ethically wrong. They knew I gave 110% in every other part of the business so they understood that if I refused to do something it meant I was strongly against it (this was usually promotions that encouraged people to use Credit Cards).

 

But you saying "employees don't have a choice" is wrong and ill-sighted. We all have a choice to do or not do something. If you lose a job because you didn't want to devalue your ethics then good for you, you don't need to be working for that company in the first place. I mean look at Jeff Gerstmann, he didn't want to give Kane & Lynch a higher score so he left Gamespot and while I don't read his new articles, there are a lot of people who trust him a lot more than Gamespot because he chose to stand by his ethics.

 

But if you think that the "we were just following orders" line is something to hide behind...well they would have loved you at the Nuremberg trials

 

I knew someone would try and compare war crimes to games journalism - that's really appropriate and witty and exactly in tone with the point.   

 

Gerstman is thankfully a very intelligent man who saw that games coverage was switching to a personality based affair.  He still lost his job didn't he?  So an example to say that employees have a choice - you use one where an employee lost his job to exercise that choice?  Isn't that what I said earlier, if an employee refuses to go a certain way he gets fired?

 

Again,I'm not getting into whether I think Kotaku posts good articles, although there's an obsession with drawing me into it and regrettably I have been to a degree.

 

My overall point is being missed:

 

For someone to lose their job over something that they did not do, is shit.  That was my point, that is all.  But so many are so blind, so fueled by this hatred that that point is missed.  We're not talking about losing their jobs because they themselves did something wrong - as I said. 

 

If each one of them all crowded round the computer and posted this video and were posting links to it and celebrating it everywhere they go.  But they didn't.

 

I have no idea why that's so hard for you to fathom whilst celebrating the loss of people's livelihoods.  That is the royal you, to all the miserable fucks who revel in people's misery when they definitely don't deserve it.

 

So you, DrMayus, celebrate this if you like and think that it's just.  I, will not, and will continue to feel bad for those who are affected that really shouldn't have been.

 

There was a demand for Kotaku, hence its existence, so it couldn't have been all bad.  People enjoyed going to that site, whether you believe it to be worthy of you or not, a lot of people did.

Edited March 20, 2016 by LastPisTolman

[Dr_Mayus]

I knew someone would try and compare war crimes to games journalism - that's really appropriate and witty and exactly in tone with the point.   

 

Gerstman is thankfully a very intelligent man who saw that games coverage was switching to a personality based affair.  He still lost his job didn't he?  So an example to say that employees have a choice - you use one where an employee lost his job to exercise that choice?  Isn't that what I said earlier, if an employee refuses to go a certain way he gets fired?

 

Again,I'm not getting into whether I think Kotaku posts good articles, although there's an obsession with drawing me into it and regrettably I have been to a degree.

 

My overall point is being missed:

 

For someone to lose their job over something that they did not do, is shit.  That was my point, that is all.  But so many are so blind, so fueled by this hatred that that point is missed.  We're not talking about losing their jobs because they themselves did something wrong - as I said. 

 

If each one of them all crowded round the computer and posted this video and were posting links to it and celebrating it everywhere they go.  But they didn't.

 

I have no idea why that's so hard for you to fathom whilst celebrating the loss of people's livelihoods.  That is the royal you, to all the miserable fucks who revel in people's misery when they definitely don't deserve it.

 

So you, DrMayus, celebrate this if you like and think that it's just.  I, will not, and will continue to feel bad for those who are affected that really shouldn't have been.

 

There was a demand for Kotaku, hence its existence, so it couldn't have been all bad.  People enjoyed going to that site, whether you believe it to be worthy of you or not, a lot of people did.

No I think more people need to stand up for what they believe in so that those in charge can't put unfair practices on us. I think by turning a blind eye and letting those in charge do what they want because they have the power is a horrible existence.

 

Also I think consumers should expect more out of our corporations and media. I think most music and movies are terrible nowadays and I love when co-workers bring up "well it can't be bad if enough people go to see it" to which I bring up "So just because something is popular it makes it good...you know just 10 minutes ago you were criticizing Donald Trump but he is extremely popular right now so he can't be all bad"

 

Usually things that are popular are actually bad for us and I think more people need to stand up and start breaking down some of those barriers. This goes for journalism, music, movies, games, politics, or unfair work practices.

 

I agree it is sad people are losing jobs, but maybe if those people had stood up for what they thought was right earlier then this wouldn't have happened to them. Maybe if some of them had said "if we keep posting slanderous articles and sex tapes of people...they might one day come after us and we will be out of business" But no, they all went along with it, drinking the Kool-Aid, and are now paying the price.

[Parker]

I wouldn't compare it to Walmart... What made the site so bad was what was written on the site, which was done by it's employees. They were part of the decision and did what reflected bad on the site. It's fair to blame them. It's not in the case of Walmart. You could blame the higher-ups at Walmart though...

 

Yes, they may be not be bad writers, but I don't really know about that to be honest. I think some of them are. That still doesn't excuse what they write about. Do you really think they don't have any say in what they write about, and specifically what they write about it? It's pretty clear that many of their employees have certain ideologies.

 

You wondered what Gawker was earlier... You may want to look into it and understand why people doesn't exactly look all that good upon the site and it's practices.

 

Just for clarification, my comments about the writers not being bad were specifically for Kotaku, it seems Gawker is far worse than that. I really don't feel like looking them up (because I'm about to leave for a two+ hour trip) but from reading some comments here it seems like they are TMZ in print form...

 

 

Parker

[LastPisTolman]

No I think more people need to stand up for what they believe in so that those in charge can't put unfair practices on us. I think by turning a blind eye and letting those in charge do what they want because they have the power is a horrible existence.

 

Also I think consumers should expect more out of our corporations and media. I think most music and movies are terrible nowadays and I love when co-workers bring up "well it can't be bad if enough people go to see it" to which I bring up "So just because something is popular it makes it good...you know just 10 minutes ago you were criticizing Donald Trump but he is extremely popular right now so he can't be all bad"

 

Usually things that are popular are actually bad for us and I think more people need to stand up and start breaking down some of those barriers. This goes for journalism, music, movies, games, politics, or unfair work practices.

 

I agree it is sad people are losing jobs, but maybe if those people had stood up for what they thought was right earlier then this wouldn't have happened to them. Maybe if some of them had said "if we keep posting slanderous articles and sex tapes of people...they might one day come after us and we will be out of business" But no, they all went along with it, drinking the Kool-Aid, and are now paying the price.

 

To you that might be the case, but some people just want an easy life.  They don't want to take a stand for the greater good.  Not everyone is a crusader.  They want to do their job, and enjoy their free time.  

 

These people did their job.  Now they potentially don't have it.  There is no through line of justice there.

 

For something to be popular, people must garner enjoyment from it.  If you're so far elevated everything that's popular that you see beyond the veil and only seek your entertainment from Mozart and Shakespeare then good for you.  The vast majority are not like that.  They don't want an uphill battle.  They want their entertainment easily pushed in front of their face via Facebook or Twitter.  Kotaku gave that enjoyment to them.

 

Good is subjective.  What you find good is not what I would find good.  You can apply a qualitative marker to good if you choose, but that betrays how most people will apply it.  Some people just like to enjoy themselves.

 

I bet your co-workers love your smartass replies and smugness.

 

Paying the price, are you mental?  They would have lost their jobs sooner.  They kept their head down, and unfortunately for them their boss took it too far.

[Dr_Mayus]

To you that might be the case, but some people just want an easy life.  They don't want to take a stand for the greater good.  Not everyone is a crusader.  They want to do their job, and enjoy their free time.  

 

These people did their job.  Now they potentially don't have it.  There is no through line of justice there.

 

For something to be popular, people must garner enjoyment from it.  If you're so far elevated everything that's popular that you see beyond the veil and only seek your entertainment from Mozart and Shakespeare then good for you.  The vast majority are not like that.  They don't want an uphill battle.  They want their entertainment easily pushed in front of their face via Facebook or Twitter.  Kotaku gave that enjoyment to them.

 

Good is subjective.  What you find good is not what I would find good.  You can apply a qualitative marker to good if you choose, but that betrays how most people will apply it.  Some people just like to enjoy themselves.

 

I bet your co-workers love your smartass replies and smugness.

 

Paying the price, are you mental?  They would have lost their jobs sooner.  They kept their head down, and unfortunately for them their boss took it too far.

Shakespeare and Mozart are popular...their music has lasted several hundred years...that means they were popular. Musicians like Drake and Ellie Goulding won't last a couple of decades...not sure what your point is? Also I don't ever remember mentioning I like Shakespeare or Mozart but then again I did write like 10 lines of text so I can see how that would be a lot to read.

 

Also your view on life that is if anything is slightly hard then it isn't worth doing? Listen the world is going into a scary place. People are getting dumber and dumber and that is why "journalism" now is slide shows with a couple of words on it and a lot of pictures. People aren't actually interested in doing real investigating. They see a real news site post something and then quickly either copy/paste it or write up their own 140 character "article".

 

Also you keep saying we should feel bad about these people losing their jobs but every time I bring up examples you dismiss it. I said the Nazis just did what they were told but that doesn't mean they were right and I brought up Jeff doing what he wasn't told and is doing great now. You can't just pick and choose what fits your blanket statement. You have to understand that these people are part of a company and if they chose not to make their voices heard...then they deserve the outcome they got.

 

I brought up an example earlier about standing up for my ethical beliefs at my job. You know what happened to me? I was promoted 3 times in 9 years because my bosses knew I had integrity and I was a hard worker. They knew they could trust me because I didn't just blindly go along with everything and that I could be trusted with giving advice because I actually thought about what I was doing and didn't just "follow orders"

 

At my job now, I have now been promoted twice in under 2 years because once again I speak my mind and look for ways to A) Better the company B ) Save the company money and C) improve antiquated ideas that were only done because "that is how it was always done". I am now above people who have been there for 2 decades because they are happy just "doing their jobs" and I decided to shake the cage a little and progress myself.

 

So anyways I am done with this. I have made my point as clearly as possible. If you want to feel bad for people you don't know because they lost their jobs because they were posting libellous statements and misleading click-bait posts...then go ahead.