Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction

wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 566 posts

Re: Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction

#31

Post by princeb »

nostromo wrote: post #18

Gawker may have been terrible, but we should all be a bit concerned at the precedent this sets. It's sort of like defending the free speech of terrible groups like the KKK. We do it because we treasure free speech, not because we support the KKK. I generally have positive feelings about Thiel, but his actions here make me very uneasy. I worry that the aristocracy will now use this method to try and close down unfavor…

what precedent?

that if you say something, you stand by the consequences, financial and all?

that people take responsibility for what they say is not a new development.

new journals are free to start up and take the place of gawker. nothing here stops them from doing so.

Re: Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction

#32

Post by badloginagain »

Cant read because of paywall, but I have been following along with this "dramady." I wonder what form of invasive media will fill the void in Gawkers wake. If anyone thinks this is the end of Gawkers distasteful form of journalism they are very wrong.

Gawker worked. It was nasty, but it worked. Companies will form and fill the gap; but they'll be more resilient because they'll remember how Gawker fell.

Re: Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction

#33

Post by pcurve »

cm2187 wrote: post #23
nostromo wrote: post #18

Gawker may have been terrible, but we should all be a bit concerned at the precedent this sets. It's sort of like defending the free speech of terrible groups like the KKK. We do it because we treasure free speech, not because we support the KKK. I generally have positive feelings about Thiel, but his actions here make me very uneasy. I worry that the aristocracy will now use this method to try and close down unfavor…

Are you suggesting the Hogan suit was groundless?

It wasn't, but the damage amount is excessive.

Re: Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction

#34

Post by nailer »

cm2187 wrote: post #16
geerlingguy wrote: post #3

Some context, for those who haven't been following: - Peter Thiel, Tech Billionaire, Reveals Secret War with Gawker[1] - Hulk Hogan awarded payout over Gawker sex tapes[2] - $115M verdict in Hulk Hogan sex-tape lawsuit could wipe out Gawker[3] [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11774588 [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11315985 [3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11318100

In your context, you forgot the step before those: - Gawker outs Pether Thiel

Also missing from the timeline:

- Gawker publishes a person's sex tape without their consent.

Re: Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction

#37

Post by jshevek »

nostromo wrote: post #18

Gawker may have been terrible, but we should all be a bit concerned at the precedent this sets. It's sort of like defending the free speech of terrible groups like the KKK. We do it because we treasure free speech, not because we support the KKK. I generally have positive feelings about Thiel, but his actions here make me very uneasy. I worry that the aristocracy will now use this method to try and close down unfavor…

I like this precedent. Even celebrities have a right to some privacy.

Re: Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction

#38

Post by axlee »

cm2187 wrote: post #23
nostromo wrote: post #18

Gawker may have been terrible, but we should all be a bit concerned at the precedent this sets. It's sort of like defending the free speech of terrible groups like the KKK. We do it because we treasure free speech, not because we support the KKK. I generally have positive feelings about Thiel, but his actions here make me very uneasy. I worry that the aristocracy will now use this method to try and close down unfavor…

Are you suggesting the Hogan suit was groundless?

I think the damage was not worth putting tens (hundreds?) of people out of a job, most of them who had nothing to do with the Hogan fiasco but are still being punished for it, putting their livelihood in jeopardy for the emotional comfort of a billionaire. The people responsible for the piece should have been personally held responsible.

Re: Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction

#39

Post by draw_down »

nostromo wrote: post #18

Gawker may have been terrible, but we should all be a bit concerned at the precedent this sets. It's sort of like defending the free speech of terrible groups like the KKK. We do it because we treasure free speech, not because we support the KKK. I generally have positive feelings about Thiel, but his actions here make me very uneasy. I worry that the aristocracy will now use this method to try and close down unfavor…

Yes, I agree. This is a worrying sign of what the future holds.

But also I hated Gawker, so, difficult to feel too sorry about this particular development.

Re: Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction

#40

Post by hartator »

princeb wrote: post #31
nostromo wrote: post #18

Gawker may have been terrible, but we should all be a bit concerned at the precedent this sets. It's sort of like defending the free speech of terrible groups like the KKK. We do it because we treasure free speech, not because we support the KKK. I generally have positive feelings about Thiel, but his actions here make me very uneasy. I worry that the aristocracy will now use this method to try and close down unfavor…

what precedent? that if you say something, you stand by the consequences, financial and all? that people take responsibility for what they say is not a new development. new journals are free to start up and take the place of gawker. nothing here stops them from doing so.

Free speech is the opposite of that.
Post reply on HN