Hey, I'll write about Jessamyn free of charge. January 23, 2008 9:54 AM Subscribe
Jessamyn helps a Wired reporter get redemption.
Aw man, I thought Mat's story would be a lot longer. There's a big backstory where he announced it on his personal blog and a bunch of his online friends (me, jessamyn, andy baio) talked on the backchannel of IM asking each other "WTF is he doing?!"
We even had to stage an intervention of sorts, where Andy confronted Mat in a bar and read him the riot act about how PayPerPost was killing the blogosphere. It's a shame this is such a short puff piece, I think Mat when through a ton of turmoil along the way and almost lost friendships over taking on the assignment.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:34 AM on January 23, 2008
We even had to stage an intervention of sorts, where Andy confronted Mat in a bar and read him the riot act about how PayPerPost was killing the blogosphere. It's a shame this is such a short puff piece, I think Mat when through a ton of turmoil along the way and almost lost friendships over taking on the assignment.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:34 AM on January 23, 2008
I signed up for that PayPerPost thing. Never followed up. It just didn't seem to make any sense in the context of blogging, and there was nothing being offered that I would have written about were I not paid to do so. Now I'm glad I didn't.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:42 AM on January 23, 2008
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:42 AM on January 23, 2008
Ouch. Yeah, that's a pretty brief and somewhat obfuscated expose of PayPerPost... for the shit he's doubtless taken, it would've at least have been good if he'd framed the exercise as having been an assignment, rather than just something he did to make some dough and satisfy idle curiosity. It could easily have been four times as long and remained engaging, too. La.
posted by mumkin at 10:45 AM on January 23, 2008
posted by mumkin at 10:45 AM on January 23, 2008
By the way, have you guys tried that new Pepsi Blue yet? I heard it tastes like cotton candy.
posted by burnmp3s at 10:46 AM on January 23, 2008
posted by burnmp3s at 10:46 AM on January 23, 2008
Get with the times. Givewell is the new Pepsi Blue.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:47 AM on January 23, 2008
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:47 AM on January 23, 2008
It definitely feels like a blurb of a longer, more engaging piece.
posted by yeti at 10:54 AM on January 23, 2008
posted by yeti at 10:54 AM on January 23, 2008
Jessamyn's original post about paying to have the post written and the end result
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 10:56 AM on January 23, 2008
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 10:56 AM on January 23, 2008
[this is mat]
Thanks gang. It would have been nice to explore it a little bit more in depth, agreed, because I certainly did have a bit of inner turmoil going on. But I hope it's at least an interesting read.
I've been meaning to write a longer post on my blog about the backstory, and this gives me a good excuse to now do. But I'm just back from three weeks out of the country and it will have to wait another day or two as I still have roughly 1012 emails to answer first.
FWIW: Choice mathowie quote via twitter direct when I announced I was signing up with payperpost "PPP is the motherfucking devil!"
posted by emptyage at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Thanks gang. It would have been nice to explore it a little bit more in depth, agreed, because I certainly did have a bit of inner turmoil going on. But I hope it's at least an interesting read.
I've been meaning to write a longer post on my blog about the backstory, and this gives me a good excuse to now do. But I'm just back from three weeks out of the country and it will have to wait another day or two as I still have roughly 1012 emails to answer first.
FWIW: Choice mathowie quote via twitter direct when I announced I was signing up with payperpost "PPP is the motherfucking devil!"
posted by emptyage at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
But I'm just back from three weeks out of the country and it will have to wait another day or two as I still have roughly 1012 emails to answer first.
Ooh. Metafilter's first white whine.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:12 AM on January 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Ooh. Metafilter's first white whine.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:12 AM on January 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Oooh, I was so mad! As I told Mat (several times) at the bar, I'd felt like I lost him to a religious cult. He finally took pity on me and pulled me aside to give me the lowdown, but man, that guy has the best poker face ever.
Seriously looking forward to the long version of this story.
posted by waxpancake at 11:23 AM on January 23, 2008
Seriously looking forward to the long version of this story.
posted by waxpancake at 11:23 AM on January 23, 2008
This shilling, is doesn't pay very well then? I'm disappointed. 5$? You can get that for posting without even selling/linking anything. Not that its really worth it to write 400+ words for 5$, either.
posted by IronLizard at 11:26 AM on January 23, 2008
posted by IronLizard at 11:26 AM on January 23, 2008
WILL BLOG FOR FOOD!!!1!!!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:31 AM on January 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:31 AM on January 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
A full three cheers for you, Jessamyn.
You have rare courage, and I am very grateful to you for your efforts.
posted by jamjam at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2008
You have rare courage, and I am very grateful to you for your efforts.
posted by jamjam at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2008
Here are all the posts in question in the article. I'm actually quite proud of some of them. Sorta. Or maybe not. OMG, so conflicted!
posted by emptyage at 11:58 AM on January 23, 2008
posted by emptyage at 11:58 AM on January 23, 2008
So it was an assignment? Or people are just hoping it was?
posted by agropyron at 12:03 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by agropyron at 12:03 PM on January 23, 2008
I can never understand why some certain sections of the media don't take bloggers seriously...
posted by i_cola at 12:10 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by i_cola at 12:10 PM on January 23, 2008
that is so crazy lol anyway have u herd about the Payless Spring Preview Sale where great shoes are up to 30% off seems like greet way to get shoes u need lol amirite
Full disclosure: this comment's author is being compensated by PayPerMetafilterComment. Learn more here.
posted by ND¢ at 12:13 PM on January 23, 2008
Full disclosure: this comment's author is being compensated by PayPerMetafilterComment. Learn more here.
posted by ND¢ at 12:13 PM on January 23, 2008
An assignment? Okay, I get it, now. You totally pulled a George Plimpton on us. Only, instead of joining the Detroit Lions, you joined a stealth PR cult, and instead of playing backup quarterback, you went on record supporting products you don't give a shit about. That's cool with me, because I'm a hardcore cynic, and I never believe anything I read, or see on TV. We all know Betty White kicks puppies when the cameras are turned off. But when you write the book about this - and we all know you're going to have to write a book about this - please consider the title: Paperless Lyin'. You can have the title for the low, low price of $10.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:24 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:24 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Oh come on, IRFH. Give the guy a break. It's all totally cool and OK because HE WAS BEING IRONIC.
posted by dersins at 12:28 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by dersins at 12:28 PM on January 23, 2008
It's all totally cool and OK because HE WAS BEING IRONIC.
Yes, but SO WAS I.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:34 PM on January 23, 2008
Yes, but SO WAS I.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:34 PM on January 23, 2008
I don't even know anymore.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:37 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:37 PM on January 23, 2008
Yeah - once the irony is turned off, I don't even trust myself anymore.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:39 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:39 PM on January 23, 2008
I don't trust any of you fuckers.
posted by never used baby shoes at 12:57 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by never used baby shoes at 12:57 PM on January 23, 2008
Also, Jessamyn is a viking in every sense of the word. EVERY SENSE!!!11!
posted by Mister_A at 1:00 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by Mister_A at 1:00 PM on January 23, 2008
IN HER DREAMS!!!1!!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:03 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:03 PM on January 23, 2008
I think posting to Metafilter indicates irony.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 1:04 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 1:04 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Sleep? That's where I'm a jessamyn!
posted by desjardins at 1:06 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by desjardins at 1:06 PM on January 23, 2008
I tried PPP once, when I got the bright idea of earning money online. I gave up when they wanted me to write about a can opener.
Then I got a job at Wal-Mart.
posted by DMan at 1:10 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Then I got a job at Wal-Mart.
posted by DMan at 1:10 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
The integrity of the blogosphere is safe. Now we can look forward to lots more interesting Apple articles and gadget AdSense. Yay.
posted by meehawl at 1:37 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by meehawl at 1:37 PM on January 23, 2008
Can opener? That's easy. Try writing about foot powder.
posted by IronLizard at 1:38 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by IronLizard at 1:38 PM on January 23, 2008
It rubs the powder on its skin, or else the toes may crack again.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:44 PM on January 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:44 PM on January 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
I have no idea what is going on.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:57 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:57 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's pretty simple, cortex.
Something happened on the internet. Jessamyn was involved in some way. That means it was awesome.
posted by never used baby shoes at 2:25 PM on January 23, 2008
Something happened on the internet. Jessamyn was involved in some way. That means it was awesome.
posted by never used baby shoes at 2:25 PM on January 23, 2008
Also, Jessamyn is a viking in every sense of the word. EVERY SENSE!!!11!
What does that make the rest of us?
posted by juv3nal at 2:39 PM on January 23, 2008
So who can I pay to write nice things about me?
posted by timeistight at 2:50 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by timeistight at 2:50 PM on January 23, 2008
timeistight: give me ten bucks and I WON'T write about what you did with that sheep.
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 3:03 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 3:03 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Mary had a little lamb
Whose fleece was freshly shorn.
Though timeistight is not a ram
He's still proud of his horn...
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:14 PM on January 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
Whose fleece was freshly shorn.
Though timeistight is not a ram
He's still proud of his horn...
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:14 PM on January 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
...the rest will cost you fiddy bux
to steer me off the porn.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:17 PM on January 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
to steer me off the porn.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:17 PM on January 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
This isn't working the way I hoped it would.
posted by timeistight at 3:51 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by timeistight at 3:51 PM on January 23, 2008
Don't worry, timeistight. I'll keep your sheepfucking secret for half-price.
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:01 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:01 PM on January 23, 2008
Won't someone think of the poor little lambs?
posted by timeistight at 4:42 PM on January 23, 2008
posted by timeistight at 4:42 PM on January 23, 2008
I still have roughly 1012 emails to answer first.
One of them is from me! And hey, I am up the road at the Hotel Chancellor which has crappy wifi which is why I didn't pop in and say "thanks y'all" before this.
timeistight: he is charming and amusing and looks nothing like that south park icon he uses everyplace.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:30 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
One of them is from me! And hey, I am up the road at the Hotel Chancellor which has crappy wifi which is why I didn't pop in and say "thanks y'all" before this.
timeistight: he is charming and amusing and looks nothing like that south park icon he uses everyplace.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:30 PM on January 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
This is the first I've heard about PPP, but doesn't it seem a little hypocritical of Google to nosedive your ranking? As long as you're up front that what you've posted is pretty much an ad, how is it different than Google putting "sponsored" search results at the top of their pages?
posted by ODiV at 11:27 AM on January 24, 2008
posted by ODiV at 11:27 AM on January 24, 2008
As long as you're up front that what you've posted is pretty much an ad, how is it different than Google putting "sponsored" search results at the top of their pages?
ODiV, the problem is that people weren't upfront and weren't required to be at first. Basically it's paying someone to write a blog post about your product, and in the long tradition of journalism, that's a very bad thing for obvious reasons, but in the world of Google, it's doubly bad because Google values links and the things you say about those links.
So it wasn't just an ethically slippery slope of buying a fake testimonial about a product, it was also improving the company's standing in Google and filling Google results with fake posts extolling the virtues of the product. At that point, you're basically poisoning the well of Google search results so Google did something to score the fake testimonials as zero and let any remaining unpaid sites/links/pages about a product fill the results.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:30 PM on January 24, 2008
ODiV, the problem is that people weren't upfront and weren't required to be at first. Basically it's paying someone to write a blog post about your product, and in the long tradition of journalism, that's a very bad thing for obvious reasons, but in the world of Google, it's doubly bad because Google values links and the things you say about those links.
So it wasn't just an ethically slippery slope of buying a fake testimonial about a product, it was also improving the company's standing in Google and filling Google results with fake posts extolling the virtues of the product. At that point, you're basically poisoning the well of Google search results so Google did something to score the fake testimonials as zero and let any remaining unpaid sites/links/pages about a product fill the results.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:30 PM on January 24, 2008
Cheque's in the mail.
Did we mention he's Canadian, too?
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:49 PM on January 24, 2008
Did we mention he's Canadian, too?
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:49 PM on January 24, 2008
He's here, he's a Vancouvier, get used to it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:13 AM on January 25, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:13 AM on January 25, 2008
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posted by Miko at 10:01 AM on January 23, 2008