I'M TORN.Pay attention.
I didn't expect the response I got from many of you; even my most ardent critics; that you missed my 415 Media rants and news and commentary. Many of you wrote to me extensive emails and comments that you liked my material for the most part and even those of you that thought I was a pain in the ass, you were deprived of your daily fix. I'm sure you didn't lose and sleep but I did. (Wink)
Frankly I don't know what to do. I'm still wondering if this is all worth it; contrary to what you think, it takes a lot of time and energy to write a daily blog. Time that I don't have a lot of now (due to another development in my life --which is good) nonetheless, writing 415 Media is a laborious task and not just as simple as you think. And I'm no longer nor at any time doing this as a hobby. Remove that from your vocabulary immediately. Those of you that have consistently donated to my site, again, I thank you. Without you, there's NO 415 Media. Then and now.
Yes, a multitude of events have taken place --the Larry Baer video (and his subsequent resignation) that you want me to write about; especially when your pansy SF Bay Area media refuses to give you the real Larry Baer in perspective. And Jeff Adachi, the SF Public Defender who died a week ago and you got the press release story. How sad, how pathetic. You deserve the truth and all you got was benign coverage, WONDERbread before your eyes and ears.
I'm coming back. Or am I? This is not a tease. But there's so many variables. For one, my time is extremely limited now but I'm a good multitask --and don't even suggest an every now and then blog. It's either all or nothing.
But again, if you want me back, you have to step to the plate. Or not, it's up to you. Those of you that have supported me in the past and present are not obligated to carry on but I'm not going to turn you away if you want a daily dose of my 415 Media. I know, it's addictive. That's not bragging, that's a fact. Read the comments. I certainly did. Which prompted this response. Simple as that. This was not some scheme to generate donations. I was ready to say goodbye and I did. And am still prepared to take a hike but I will await your response and act accordingly.
It's your call now. Or it isn't. If you are desirous of a daily media blog that goes beyond the normal placid BS that you're given every day then you know what to do now.
Or not.
Rich -
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing.
If you go down the path of a Robert Feder, where you're actually reporting the news about Bay Area media, I'm there. I would have been a subscriber a long time ago, in fact. I'm absolutely willing to pay for content. BTW, that's not to say that gossip isn't content - look at the guy in LA media who died doing meth. There was undoubtedly gossip, but it's also news.
If, instead, you define "beyond the normal placid BS" as being who you think is attractive and who pissed you off, and that's what you consider content, then I'm not interested. Borderline fantasy ("I never thought I'd be writing to you...") is not something I'm never willing to pay for.
The former is hard work, but there are, I'm sure, a lot of people who are willing to throw $25 to get information (or even legit gossip).
I agree. I think getting to meat of stuff like the Larry Baer thing would be good, especially stuff other news media is afraid to touch. And good to hear about the positive development!
DeleteIf your reincarnated blog happens it cannot be daily Lieberman diatribes against everybody who has a job and won't talk to you. People will pay for news and worthwhile content. Your effort to be the new Herb Caen didn't work.
DeleteFind news. Cover same. It is that simple. Save the gossip, fantasies and bitches for the past. Move forward, be positive, be engaging, be factual.
I removed the bookmark to your page when you said goodbye. A friend said there was a new post. So I read it. If you resume the blog with the same level of drivel, uh content, the bookmark will not be restored and you won't receive a donation from me.
Rich, I think the 118 comments (as of today) on your prior blog says it all...
ReplyDeleteWe would welcome you back with open arms. Well most of would. Welcome Back Rich!
If you're going to continue, fine. If you aren't, that's fine too. But if you do continue, let's straighten some things out now.
ReplyDelete1. If you're going to ask people to support you financially, be consistent on your ask. Stop with saying "lifetime" is $250 one week and then $199 the next.
2. Get the terminology right. It's not a subscription, it's a donation. Subscription implies access to content that non-subs don't get. That's not the case with this blog.
3. Take a couple minutes before you press post and do a spellcheck and copy edit. So many times, including in the post above, your grammar is incorrect. It's tough for people to shell out money to read something that's filled with mistakes.
4. Either stop censoring comments or stop complaining when people call you out. You can't have it both ways. And again, while I find your ramblings mildly amusing on occasion, I will never financially support a site that censors my comments.
5. Get your facts straight. Larry Baer didn't resign, as you stated above. He took a leave of absence. Perhaps he'll resign in the future, but as of now, he' hasn't.
6. Finally, and this will be the reason you censor this comment... cop to the fact that you're using a free blog service which means you're not paying for server space, a vanity domain, or monthly traffic fees. Yes, your time and effort is of value, but please stop acting as if you have some crazy overhead to continue this site. Try being a bit more honest and transparent.
It also might help you to go through your twitter and unblock all the people who critiqued you. Believe it or not, some people actually use critique to get better.
Personally, what attracted me here was Rich's take it or leave it approach.
Delete1. The blog platform is as "free" as everything your wife did for you while raising your kids. It takes hours invested in learning the software, troubleshooting problems, researching changes made regularly by Google that can bring things to a screeching halt.
2. Rich has transitioned to https, a feat in itself, but one that makes his blog more secure.
3. AdSense, Google's ad service, provides the ads seen on Blogger and it is another layer of complication for the administrator. There's a lot I could say about AdSense and making blogging profitable, but Google swears you to secrecy and has measures in place to punish those who talk about it.
4. If your comment didn't appear, Rich might have had nothing to do with that. There are any number of things that can go wrong between you pushing the publish button and the comment appearing in the comment section.
5. It is always amazing to me that anyone has time to write anything for a blog after dealing with all the technical aspects involved in producing one, let alone nitpicking spelling and grammar.
6. If you think it is so easy, why aren't you writing a blog instead of just reading one?
Great comment. On #4, if it's spam like from those bots that crawl the web, it'll get binned or reported as spam.
Delete(Sigh & Eyeroll) I guess there's a little Tom Sawyer in all of us.
ReplyDeleteRich
ReplyDeleteThis was a public relations stunt and you know you gas bag. Go back to your job no one wants you here you are not welcome on the internet anylonger.
Come back buddy!
ReplyDeleteMr Lieberman KQED does a better job of begging for money.
ReplyDeleteRich, please come back. I’ve donated before and will do so again. I don’t care what you say or how. You are informative and entertaining. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteYou’re no longer welcome. Don’t come back. We never want to hear from or about you again.
ReplyDeleteI love the blog Rich. It's smarmyness and TMZ like stories pull me in. Would never pay for such drivel. But free? Why not. An entertaining read to go along with my monster tacos from the Walnut Creek Jack in the Box. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeletePlease come back to talk about how bad Mary Lee is.
ReplyDeleteAll these comments are irrelevant. You WILL be back by the end of the week. Guess I can take it or leave it.
ReplyDeleteHere you go Rich, I'll start it off. Welcome back...even if it is limited.
ReplyDeleteAdvertising, that's the only way you'll make it, I don't know one person, incl me, who pays for a blog...good luck.
ReplyDeleteDarya showed up at the gym with zero make up, (butter face) no bra, (super saggers) and a motor mouth. She was all over some poor nineteen year old frat boy who says Pero is sick and tired of shelling out all the dough for Darya's million dollar bras.
ReplyDeleteGrow up.
DeleteSomeone I follow seems to indicate mr. Baer had a problem at the Ross retirement party in December. Nice guy.
ReplyDeletePeople come here...looking for "Hard news" and analysis?
ReplyDeleteHELL NO!
WE WANT GOSSIP. WE WANT DIRT.
We can get all that other boring stuff on other "legit news" mediums. But nowhere can we get the REAL stories...behind-the-scenes stuff.
I WANT MY GOSSIP AND INNUENDO BACK! I'll be other boring analysis and commentary on NPR or KQED.
Rich. You have the blue box and you know it. Or you don't and you know it. Who else can say that? Come back.
ReplyDeleteHey Rich, make a deal with you. Don't censure my comments for one month and I will pay for a year.
ReplyDeleteYou really don't have to post daily. In fact, you're at your best when you do longer, more involved postings like once or twice a week. Kind of like how people used to wait all week to read their favorite reporter in the Sunday paper. Maybe you could post a large article on Sundays and breaking news or commentary once during the week? It would lighten your workload considerably and allow you to put your time and effort into an awesome, engaging Sunday post once a week.
ReplyDeleteAnd sure, let everyone back into the comments. Fresh start. It can be fun when we have the various viewpoints. That is when everyone isn't Trump this, Trump that, Republicans this & that, Radnich this, Radnich that (looking at Stan and the German guy). Quit allowing trolls to attack half your viewing audience which then gets the other half defending themselves and attacking back. A never ending cycle. Keep politics out of it for the most part.
Glad you are back! And I will definitely donate again.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely thrilled that you are back Rich. Your column is one of the best reads on the Internet.
ReplyDelete