http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/06/18/stupid-fucking-credulous-hacks-of-the-day-komo-staff Comments On: Stupid Fucking Credulous Hacks of the Day: KOMO Staff. by Dan Savage en-us Copyright 2009 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0800 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
When Dan uncritically passes on sensationalistic reports of pit-bull attacks, that's responsible journalism.

When someone else reports on a) drug seizures or b) sex scandals, that's hackery.

This despite the fact that Rottweilers are the more dangerous breed (accounting for 50% of fatal attacks), and that any dog can and will bite. Of the 800,000 dog bites leading to a hospital visit each year, 90% happen in the home as a result of the family dog attacking a child. The UK banned pit bulls in the 90's. Ownership of pit bulls went way down, but dog bite rates have remained the same. Cite.
Posted by BABH]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:32:50 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Barbara]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:12:43 -0700 The Stranger
$50,000,000.00 / 40,000 plants = $1,250.00 per plant

$1,250.00 per plant? Seriously?

Posted by Anonymous]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:22:29 -0700 The Stranger
At one-foot spacing, that's... 200 by 200. About an acre.

A fucking ACRE. Of plants 1-4 feet high.
In June.

So, let me get this right... come August, that sort of thing is worth $50 FUCKING MILLION DOLLARS?!?!

Wow.
I REALLY need to get me some land and some immigrant labor.
Posted by Ackham forgot his password]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:48:27 -0700 The Stranger
Class over.
Posted by Sargon Bighorn]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:21:38 -0700 The Stranger
if it was a medical grow it'd be different. i'm all for legalization, but as of right now it's against the law.

and do you really think the article should read "cops busted an illegal marijuana grow operation. authorities say the pot has a street value of 50 million dollars. the growers face X amount behind bars. NORML reps say the pot is fine, and nothing should be done because marijuana should be legalized.

taking a stand is one thing, knowing when and how to take that stand is what makes the difference.
Posted by noone]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:50:15 -0700 The Stranger Posted by platypusrex256]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:06:31 -0700 The Stranger Posted by jw36]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:43:32 -0700 The Stranger Posted by g]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:09:27 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Carollani]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:06:17 -0700 The Stranger Posted by g]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:55:37 -0700 The Stranger
This isn't so much a story as a regurgitated press release from the War On Drugs, reported without question by KOMO.

Theoretically, part of the job of an unbiased media is to question authority and to report opposing or alternative views. To cite multiple sources. Not simply repeat unquestioned, word for word, anything any government representative tells them. That's called propaganda.

You might think this is a simple report of a high profile bust. But lots of folks think the entire war on drugs is a colossal waste of time and tax money, and puts people's lives at risk, and throws people in jail for no good reason. And an unbiased media has a duty to report that. If they simply repeat the government press release, they are credulous hacks, not unbiased journalists.
Posted by Reverse Polarity]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:52:09 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Get a facelift, vagina face!]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:39:06 -0700 The Stranger
Be careful.

You're 45 and becoming increasingly boring.

Just sayin'.
Posted by DidISeeABaldSpotInAPhotoShowingTheBackOfYourHead?]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:59:10 -0700 The Stranger
It's none of the governments business if people want to put marijuana into our own bodies.
Posted by Heather]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:47:02 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Mo]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:46:18 -0700 The Stranger Posted by BombasticMO]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:38:31 -0700 The Stranger one fell swoop!!
Posted by jw36]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:24:59 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Urgutha Forka]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:10:33 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Gordon Werner]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:10:18 -0700 The Stranger
KOMO Staff, state lawmakers, and the Walla Walla sheriff's office should be so ashamed.
Posted by lizzie]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:02:51 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Mr. Poe]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:58:05 -0700 The Stranger
They bust and bust and bust... and lock people up... and spend and spend and spend... but pot remains plentiful and cheap. Go figure.
Posted by Dan Savage]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:48:35 -0700 The Stranger Posted by Reg]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:42:05 -0700 The Stranger
as for this story - the person had an illegal grow going on, it doesn't read like some protest over laws, just a druggie trying to make money against the current laws. when a bunch of stores get caught selling cigs to underage kids the "we have to lower the age" people don't get an interview, so why this time?
Posted by noone]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:35:14 -0700 The Stranger