Katie's Blog Feedback

[nbs2]

With everything else going on in the world right now, I can't believe people are upset because they don't like the style of the person giving them their iPhone info.

I really hope you aren't being serious. Under that line, with all that is going on in parts of the world, most of shouldn't be upset about anything. We should all be pleased as peaches about everything. My electric company raised their rates 50% and the state government gave them their blessing? Hey, I could be in Botswana - why am I complaining. If people be disappointed, let them be disappointed - the only goal should be to improve.

to those who thought it appropriate to criticise, may we read your better written and less pretentious work?

The point is that the blog is part of the MR community. Like it or not, the blog represents all of us who take a personal interest in the success of the community. It doesn't take an expert to make suggestions on how things can be approved, and the feeling of investment can spur a greater desire for improvement. My last year of law school, my wife helped me edit my papers. I critique and suggest improvements to agreements drawn up by senior attorneys at the company where I work. My wife isn't more adept with the law than I am; I'm not more adept than my boss is. But, she/I take an interest in my/my company's work.

I like the style of what Katie is doing.

I always enjoy sort of "letting go" and blogging in a more relaxed fashion, when opportunity permits.

I find her posts interesting and entertaining.

I don't even own an iPhone or plan to get one for a while, but this section is nice, light, and fun to read.

These points are just as helpful as the ones that point out "failures" in KT's blog. Clearly there is a large segment of people that are satisfied as is - more input for KT to digest as she develops the blog.

What seems to be happening here (and I feel like I'm falling into it while trying to fix it), is that people are more concerned with turning critics into personal attackers. I'm sure (hope?) that many of the folks with complaints would find KT to be an enjoyable and wonderful person to speak with - I know that I do. But, they can still suggest where there might be room for improvement. And a good many are making suggestions without attacking KT herself. On the flip side, when someone points out the successes in KT's blog, they aren't attacking the critics (unless they do that separately), even if the successes are being pointed out in contrast to the failures. It's as most of you can't see anything other than your shade...

I don't have an iPhone, but I second that motion. Why not be happy for her?

Who said they weren't happy for her? I said I was jealous. If you and others are not, you are better people than me. I'd love to get an iPhone paid for. When I read the intro to the blog, my jaw dropped and I started to think about how lucky she was and how I wished it had been me chosen (jealousy rears its ugly head). But, I was still glad that KT was picked. She's a kind, caring person who can be a lot of fun. I remember when KT showed up on MR - I didn't interact much, but it was amazing to watch someone become part of a family so fast. When the blog was announced, part of me felt like a proud brother.

I don't know why I'm letting this thread get under my skin so much, I never defend the other aspects of MR like this. But, it seems like KT's blog is turning into Yahweh - for good or bad, nobody is allowed to comment on it. If you have something to contribute, do it. If you want to complain abut what someone said, go write it on a piece of paper and stick it to your screen.

 

[vniow]

Ok, before I respond to the post below let me say I was a bit shocked and a little peeved about the whole deal when I first heard about it for a few reasons;

First off I thought it was a bad use of MR funds and while its not my site and I have no say in what gets spent where, it seemed a bit odd that MR would pay upwards of $2k total for an iPhone + service for a member to blog about when there are probably thousands of other MR members who blog and have already got an iPhone with their own money. If MR can afford to give a $2k+ gift to someone then they certainly don't need the $25 they get from demis. I paid $25 to support the site every year and that wasn't intended to give someone a handout like this.

Why hasn't MR paid for the time and the services of the people who covered events like WWDC or Macworld? Those were all volunteers and as far as I know, received no MR funds. The fact that MR gave someone a payout (a rather expensive one at that) screams of favouritism and is one of the several reasons I don't be giving any more money to MR ever again and don't visit the site much anymore.

Nothing against Katie here, she's doing a fine job with what was offered to her, I more object to the deal itself.

Anyway...

Not to stir the pot at all, but this quote did piss me off a bit:

skoker, its a ****ing cellphone. Its a bunch of other things, but its also a cellphone. What are you expecting, her to update it every time she makes a call? There's only a certain amount you can do with the damn thing and therefore only a certain amount that's really worth blogging about. Do you see day to day reports of people blogging about new computers they got? What about other appliances? She's doing well with what was given to her and you should give her that at least.

Is it like the most exiting blog ever? Not really but I like her style and its fun to read. So um, ****.

 

[devilot]

Why hasn't MR paid for the time and the services of the people who covered events like WWDC or Macworld? Those were all volunteers and as far as I know, received no MR funds.

That's just it... that's just "as far as you know."

 

[tk421]

...There's only a certain amount you can do with the damn thing and therefore only a certain amount that's really worth blogging about...

You're right. After a photo of an iPhone by a cake, what more information could we possibly desire?


If you have criticisms that you think are valid, maybe others can too.

Edit: To be clear, I liked the photos. I have no problem with Katie's posts. I would just like, you know, some more. More information and more frequent posts.

 

[Silentwave]

That's just it... that's just "as far as you know."

Devilot, she knows enough to have some ammunition there.

I honestly don't care much, i bought my own iphone anyways, and i went to WWDC anyways because I *had* to see Steve, but MR didn't in any way shape or form reimburse me for anything. Do I care? Not really. I was going to WWDC anyways, and though it meant more work and more stuff, I was fine with it. Would I do it again? Believe it. Will I? If I can afford to go to MWSF and WWDC08, you can count on it if arn needs someone on scene. Will I want compensation? No, it doesn't matter to me in the least. I get my own personal satisfaction from doing what I can for the mac community.

But she does have a point.

p.s.
I <3 KT!

 

[zach]

That's just it... that's just "as far as you know."

oh jesus christ, quit the bullcrap... i'm all for mods and admins being appropriately mysterious, but don't deliberately try to mislead people/put other people down by misusing your authority. that's just juvenile.

 

[devilot]

I fail to see how I was being so mysterious. I'm confident that Arn has worked out details with different individuals. He doesn't have to disclose anything publicly.

 

[janey]

That's just it... that's just "as far as you know."

afaik MacRumors hasn't yet. Did you see arn asking anyone if they want an all-expenses-paid trip to WWDC07 (arguably ~2k in worth for the ticket alone)? No, he asked if anyone was going to WWDC, and certain people provided amazing coverage, without being paid for it. Same with all previous MacWorlds and WWDCs. Why didn't he ask for people who already had iPhones instead of purchasing one for Katie including the plan? Nothing against Katie, I think she's doing a great job so far, but it's how she got the phone that irks me (and yes I am jealous and pissy about this, understandably, so are a lot of other people).

 

[zach]

I fail to see how I was being so mysterious. I'm confident that Arn has worked out details with different individuals. He doesn't have to disclose anything publicly.

you're obviously completely missing my point, but whatever. i don't suppose there's any point in trying to get it across.

 

[Blue Velvet]

...but it's how she got the phone that irks me (and yes I am jealous and pissy about this, understandably, so are a lot of other people).

OK Janey, if you're so informed about what really happened, how did she get the phone then?

 

[janey]

OK Janey, if you're so informed about what really happened, how did she get the phone then?

what does that matter? the point is that MR purchased an iPhone for Katie's use for blogging on the iPhone blog while there's a gazillion users in the iPhone forum alone who could have done it, and quite a few regulars as well, without MR having to pay for any phone or service.

MacRumors has never reimbursed or paid for anything to this extent for anyone else doing things like covering keynotes, which is albeit a short event, but still something people go out of their way to do for MacRumors for free.

Like I said, when's the last time MR paid for someone's WWDC ticket? Or even just to get an appropriate media pass for such an event?

 

[vniow]

That's just it... that's just "as far as you know."

I think I do know considering I met and drove around a bunch a few people who went to WWDC, one of them being the one who provided the photos and the internet connection.

I fail to see how I was being so mysterious. I'm confident that Arn has worked out details with different individuals. He doesn't have to disclose anything publicly.

zach's point ---------> *whoosh*
your head

 

[Blue Velvet]

what does that matter?

It matters because:

...it's how she got the phone that irks me (and yes I am jealous and pissy about this, understandably, so are a lot of other people)

If you have the courage of your convictions and claim to speak for a lot of other people, then front up.

 

[janey]

If you have the courage of your convictions and claim to speak for a lot of other people, then front up.

Is it not clear that MR paid for Katie's iPhone?

 

[Blue Velvet]

OK, given the hooha... 30-min timeout. If you're bothered, report this post and request for the thread to be unlocked, with a reason mind.

Thanks.

BV

 

[sananda]

The point is that the blog is part of the MR community. Like it or not, the blog represents all of us who take a personal interest in the success of the community. It doesn't take an expert to make suggestions on how things can be approved, and the feeling of investment can spur a greater desire for improvement. My last year of law school, my wife helped me edit my papers. I critique and suggest improvements to agreements drawn up by senior attorneys at the company where I work. My wife isn't more adept with the law than I am; I'm not more adept than my boss is. But, she/I take an interest in my/my company's work.

when you review agreements drafted by your colleagues, you have something useful to offer. when i practised law i very much enjoyed the process of taking advantage of the huge pool of knowledge, experience and intelligence in the firm. but this isn't law. it's writing. and i really don't think the critics are coming from a position of actually knowing much about writing; they just find the blog doesn't suit their particular needs. it just isn't the case that the blog is badly written or pretentious.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Let's pick this up again but please try to avoid attacking Katie or MacRumors in a venting manner. If you have a criticism, then please try and make it constructive and relevant. That way, genuine feedback can be useful for us and others.

Merely saying you're annoyed is more useful for you, than perhaps us.

Onwards.

 

[fistful]

I personally think she is doing a decent job although I could do without the thorough detail as to what she ate for lunch although I just gleam over those parts anyways. Even though I realize she does have a life outside of her blogging obligation I would have expected more entries by now for someone who is basically being paid to do so.

I can see how some contributors are miffed how the money was spent but when it comes down to it they knew ahead of time they have no control how the money is spent. I think the fact that she was given an iPhone could have been a little less transparent as members are generally not aware how the money is spent in other instances.

 

[EricNau]

I really like the blog, and Katie does a great job.

To be honest, I never would have suspected her, but now I know why she was chosen for the task.

It's really unfortunate that each entry isn't longer and there aren't more of them!

PS - I thought I should give some actually feedback:

I really like the style of the blog so far, but more technical details would be nice. For example, in the last entry, iPhone iPod: What's wrong with you?!, the phrases: "Don’t use EDGE! What, are you in Abilene? Problem solved! I can sleep again! Hooray!" didn't mean much to me. ...Perhaps that conversation could go into more detail?

Smaller blog entries would also be nice for simple things like thoughts on the iPhone restore experience.

 

[jsw]

oh jesus christ, quit the bullcrap... i'm all for mods and admins being appropriately mysterious, but don't deliberately try to mislead people/put other people down by misusing your authority. that's just juvenile.

I was going to just delete this for being insulting, but I think it's best to reply to it.

This was not an example of devilot being mysterious and misleading people. Her point is simply that Arn and whomever he has compensated are the only ones who know of it, with the one exception, obviously, being KT. It's not like there's some big moderator thread where we all laugh about the perks we get and then hide them from everyone else. KT was obviously compensated. That does not mean she was the only one in the history of MR to ever receive anything from Arn. If anyone else has, they haven't gone public with it. The fact that you all know people who were not compensated isn't sufficient proof that KT is the only one who ever was.

It's Arn's site and Arn's money. If he decided to make KT the first ever paid MR member, fine. If others have received compensation before, fine. KT's signed up for a two-year stint at a pay of about $3/day, all told. It's not exactly like she's yachting with the Sultan now.

The people who know the full details of the arrangement are Arn and KT. Not the rest of us. She's got over 700 days before the contract runs out. Perhaps by then, you'll have more to criticize than the simple fact that Arn bought her a phone and she hasn't posted a lot yet.

 

[macjackpro]

As a fellow early adopter, I've been enjoying reading Katie's blog with her delightful comments and insights, getting some glimpses into her life and how her new iPhone is now a part of that life.... Probably the ones who are nitpicking and grumbling are just full of sour grapes because they don't have an iPhone.

My guess is that they have an iPhone, but have no life.

 

[XNine]

Why doesn't everyone just **** and fight already? Quit with the talk, let's see some fists flying.

 

[zflauaus]

I'm going to break the spell of evil real quickly and give my comments.

I think Katie is doing a great job on her blog. She is doing the best she can while still working. She is putting her real-world experiences on here. If you know Katie from the forums, you would know that all the little, what you may say, "unnecessary" details are just part of her character. She has no reason to all of a sudden shape up into this hardened tech journalist.

She gives a perspective that hasn't been seen much: that of an average person. Ok, maybe not sooo average, but you get the idea. She is writing in her style that she sees fit and that she likes and if arn had a problem with it, I'm sure he would have told her by now.

Once again Katie, congrats with landing this awesome privilege and look forward to reading your future work.

 

[Silentwave]

My guess is that they have an iPhone, but have no life.

Hey, I have an iphone and no life but you don't see me nitpicking kt

Let us not forget that KT has to work around both work and uni.

 

[siurpeeman]

katie, i think you're doing a fantastic job. i like that your experiences and impressions are like my own, and i'm sure it's a lot like everybody else's, too. keep up the good work.