Biting The Snark That Feeds: Jalopnik v. TTAC v. Jalopnik
Trying to making nice. Okay, not really.
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG: NBC Universal
WELCOME to the auto blogosphere show and today we’re talking about ourselves.
No, “talking” doesn’t quite fit us bloggers. “Yammering?” Nah. What about “Pontificating?” Much too lofty for us snarky rats.
We’ll just use good old fashioned “bitching.”
The bitching started with Jalopnik’s Ray Wert.
Mr. Wert took the bold stance of defending GM CEO Rick Wagoner (in the most back handed way) by insisting that no one else in corporate nation could do Mr. Wagoner’s job better.
“While we’ve been a vocal critic of GM’s glacial restructuring effort, we’ve got to say the automaker probably should stick with the girl they brought with ‘em to the ball – no matter how ugly. Mostly because we can’t name anyone better who’d understand the product and the bureaucracy of the General.”
Right. Did Mr. Wert actually think before he wrote that? TTAC’s Justin Berkowitz doesn’t seem to think so.
“And in a twist of (yet more) unintended irony, [Wert's] editorial stinks of the sloth and corner-cutting that’s brought GM to its knees.”
Rabid as ever, Mr. Berkowitz bit harder.
“For Mr. Wert’s part, he fills the role of accomplice journalist fairly well.”
Fisticuffs must’ve been involved at some point between those two.
But then again, probably not. Mr. Berkowitz like, a few other cogs in the Politburo’s TTAC’s wheel is likely just following marching orders lest he reverse, be polite, and then summarily executed. They’re still looking for Frank Williams.
Adding to the mix of much ado, Jalopnik scribe Matt Hardigree unhelpfully offered a little jocular noise to the chorus of yucks by hooking thumbs into metaphorical overalls to announce that in the great wide history of car CEOs – John DeLorean was the best.
Some jokers can’t help themselves. And neither can the rest of us bloggers. It’s all so snarklicious.
We’ll be right back…
[Linked: SpringerTV]
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
Zarba | Dec 9, 2008 | Reply
Both TTAC and Jalopnik are sites I visit daily, though they aim at different crowds. Their somewhat incestuous relationship makes this all the more silly.
I take everything on Jalopnik tongue-in-cheek, and look to TTAC for more serious discussions. Unfortunately, one of TTAC’s less praiseworthy aspects is its willingness to engage in these stupid pissing contests with other sites. Frankly, it’s beneath them to do so.
Thanks for not participating, Gunnar.
Gunnar | Dec 9, 2008 | Reply
Well, forgive me this once, Zarba.
Regarding Jalopnik, they’ve done a very good job with a lot help from the parent co. at getting their name out there and indeed they started out in the world very funny and edgy. I think they’ve lost that some where on the connector to where they are now.
TTAC should be the best of the automotive blogsites. The real problem for them in their quest for greater recognition is that their engine runs on oily rage. Spite is what drives most of the site’s content which dissolves all pretense of journalistic fair play.
Jim | Dec 9, 2008 | Reply
Not a regular at Jalopnik and I haven’t visited TTAC is a couple of years, but the fallacy in Wert’s statement as to where else would they find someone who knows/can tame the GM bureaucracy.
Ford’s bureaucracy was as every bit as riven with fiefdoms and as much a political snake pit as GM, but Bill and the BoD went out and found Mulally and surprise surprise, Ford is the best run car company in Detroit and the only one with half a chance to make it on there own.
Gunnar | Dec 9, 2008 | Reply
New people with fresh insight can do wonders for an old company.