Gawker Files for Bankruptcy, Will Be Put Up for Auction • Hacker News Board

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

#91

Post by acheron » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:27 PM UTC

mhurron wrote: post #45

cm2187 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you suggesting the Hogan suit was groundless?

The issue I have with it is that money from an external source that had nothing to do with the suit was funnelled in to use it as a weapon. Thiel had an issue with Gawker, Thiel should have taken it to Gawker.

The issue I have with it is that money from an external source that had nothing to do with the suit was funnelled in

This is incredibly common, e.g. it's basically the entire job description of the ACLU. Why is it different in this case?

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

#92

Post by partiallypro » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:27 PM UTC

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'm a free speech absolutist, but what precedent does this set that's new? The person that leaked the "Fappening" items is also being prosecuted, why should a media publication like Gawker not be held accountable? No one really seemed to have -big- issue with this until Thiel was in the picture.

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

#93

Post by cm2187 » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:27 PM UTC

axlee wrote: post #38

cm2187 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I am about as worried about gawker employees losing their jobs than I am about ISIS fighters losing their jobs. These guys are making money outing people and publishing sex tapes.

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

#94

Post by BurningFrog » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:27 PM UTC

Navarr wrote: post #61

hartator wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Free speech is the opposite of that.

Freedom of speech protects you from government persecution. That's not happening here.

The Sixth Judicial Court of Florida is part of the government.

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

#95

Post by protomyth » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:28 PM UTC

mevile wrote: post #53

I don't like Gawker, but I like the idea of a billionaire being able to bankrupt news sites that he doesn't like even less.

If Gawker hadn't acted in a manner opening themselves up for lawsuit, the billionaire wouldn't have been able to do anything. News organizations have some serious legal protections already.

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

#96

Post by sigzero » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:28 PM UTC

axlee wrote: post #38

cm2187 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Maybe Gawker should have thought of its employees then.

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

#97

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:28 PM UTC

mhurron wrote: post #45

cm2187 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you suggesting the Hogan suit was groundless?

The issue I have with it is that money from an external source that had nothing to do with the suit was funnelled in to use it as a weapon. Thiel had an issue with Gawker, Thiel should have taken it to Gawker.

[deleted]

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

#98

Post by soneca » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:28 PM UTC

IMO, Thiel did not bought the justice, it only worked out fine for him because a just judge ruled that Gawker was wrong according to the law.

And those who think he de facto bought the law; they should fight for the justice system itself to be reformed, not shaming or trying to regulate who pays the lawyers bill (although I think it could be a public information).

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

#99

Post by RandomBacon » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:28 PM UTC

jonah wrote: post #43

stcredzero wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also would be nice to see LifeHacker survive this. Hopefully the market niche of LifeHacker will be polyfilled quickly. Also hopefully, the market niche of most of the rest of Gawker won't.

Jalopnik is a pretty good car site too. Good community and more than just regurgitated press release car reviews. Hopefully it finds a new home without too much blood loss.

I like Lifehacker and Jalopnik (except for their political posts). I used to like Gizmodo years ago, but they got too political for my taste back then. It would be nice to see Lifehacker and Jalopnik survive.

I also like The Consumerist, but it was sold off to Consumer Reports and was doing okay until it was hacked. Now it's only a shell of its former self. What really made that site was the user contributions, but that died off after they closed the comments after the attack.

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

#100

Post by whatok » Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 5:28 PM UTC

axlee wrote: post #38

cm2187 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Those people knew what kind of garbage the site published and decided to hitch their wagon to it. If I join a company that is in the news for doing things that sound like it might get the shit sued out of them and they eventually get sued, should I be surprised?