MetaFilter Quoted in the Press re: BBC "Office"

February 12, 2005 12:12 PM

This New York Observer article uses a Metafilter thread as its sole source of "Internet" reaction to the new American version of the BBC program "The Office." Our dear mathowie is among those quoted.
posted by lackutrol to MetaFilter-Related at 12:12 PM (25 comments total)

Nice acknowledgement of sources there, Joe Hagan.

It'll fit in great between The Apprentice and Will & Grace, oh yeah.
posted by tracicle at 12:37 PM on February 12, 2005

I've been quoted! My opinions have been validated! Ahahahah...
posted by AlexReynolds at 12:45 PM on February 12, 2005

This guy knows that Arrested Development doesn't use a laugh track, right? Or maybe nobody (sadly) watches that show. Isn't the Observer the same rag Rex Reed writes for? If it is, nobody should care what they say about anything ;)
posted by The God Complex at 1:02 PM on February 12, 2005

Next stop, Financial Times.
posted by smackfu at 1:24 PM on February 12, 2005

kudos Orange Clock!
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 1:38 PM on February 12, 2005

Wow, it's been a while since I've seen a reporter lift quotes directly from metafilter without even mentioning the source by name.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:38 PM on February 12, 2005

Its still going to stink.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 2:10 PM on February 12, 2005

Shame on Joe Hagan for not giving credit where credit is due.
posted by five fresh fish at 2:34 PM on February 12, 2005

Anybody email Hagan, since his addy is at the end?
posted by billsaysthis at 3:12 PM on February 12, 2005

What ever happened to ethical journalism? What an outrage.
posted by Quartermass at 3:27 PM on February 12, 2005

Sometimes I wish we had a goon squad like those guys on that other site...
posted by drpynchon at 4:03 PM on February 12, 2005

Maybe a blogger will expose this outrage.
posted by AlexReynolds at 4:06 PM on February 12, 2005

Maybe a blogger will expose this outrage.

I can't wait to link to that.
posted by greasy_skillet at 4:17 PM on February 12, 2005

Eh. Hagan, if he's made aware of the procedings, will be permanently held up by the irony-quicksand that is this thread.
posted by Tlogmer at 7:03 PM on February 12, 2005

Wow, is that Hitler turning the TV Knob...
posted by Dreamghost at 7:11 PM on February 12, 2005

Speaking as a some-time freelance writer for the Observer, I feel safe in saying: meh, they'd laugh in your face over this. Then they'd offer you some of whatever fine whiskey they're drinking for lunch. Then they'd probably offer you a job. Then someone would get pantsed. Then someone would start crying, and everyone would be like, internets what?

Still, odd oversight, and not super-scrupulous and all-around cool dude Hagan's usual m.o. though.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 9:50 PM on February 12, 2005

What are the general journalistic standards for this sort of thing? Should direct quotes always be attributed? What about indirect "people are saying" quotes? The latter seems okay to me.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:07 PM on February 12, 2005

I don't mind if quotes aren't attributed, but "reactions on the Internet..." could have easily been "reactions from internet boards such as Metafilter.com..."

I wouldn't write an article saying "folks on the radio are saying that..."
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:39 PM on February 12, 2005

I knew people would notice the oversight without me mentioning it directly. I was reading the print version, and thought "gee, I think I've seen these exact quotes before." Then I remembered the thread here.

I'm a loooong-time subscriber, and would be happy to email them, but what exactly are we looking to accomplish? A correction of some kind? Some sort of commitment on Mr. Hagan's part? A notice in The Transom of a star-studded meetup?

Like I said, let me know and I can send an email if people want.
posted by lackutrol at 12:51 AM on February 13, 2005

b1tr0t is a genius
posted by Jairus at 1:02 AM on February 13, 2005

I would learn how to read if they printed quonsar.
posted by Dreamghost at 1:03 AM on February 13, 2005

coming to this late, and rather completely off topic, but what happens if this thing turns out to be a hit? and they go two seasons +2 special episodes? will they start making their own plot lines? ...and I'd pay to read quonsar in there. well, actually, i'd read it on the internets for free, but...
posted by grimley at 1:41 PM on February 13, 2005

what happens if this thing turns out to be a hit?

How do I post an unattributed retraction?
posted by AlexReynolds at 1:46 PM on February 13, 2005

i know, i know... i was speculating. I've seen the pilot and do'nt think it will be, but it would be terrible if they didn't have the sense - as Gervais and Mechant did - to stop it after the specials. just sayin', not that I am going to watch it - though it does have potential FCC fodder written all over it.
posted by grimley at 1:56 PM on February 13, 2005

Writing articles based on MeFi threads is so 2004.
posted by VulcanMike at 9:06 PM on February 13, 2005