Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, September 11, 2012
Media / Tech / Theater Mike Daisey's Twitter-Fight with a New York Times Employee Didn't End Well (UPDATED: Daisey Suggests I Manipulated the Facts to "make a better story")
Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 11:43 AM
On his Twitter feed, Mike Daisey linked to a New York Times story about Foxconn utilizing shady labor issues in the production of the new iPhone, which is scheduled to be unveiled tomorrow.
New York Times theater and comedy reporter Jason Zinoman immediately took issue with Daisey's word choice:
Then another Twitter user, Jeanette607, got in on the act:
Zinoman and Jeanette607 took issue with Daisey's implication that the NYT story didn't contain original reporting when it, in fact, did contain original reporting:
Daisey gave up and issued a sarcastic-sounding retraction:
And when Zinoman tried to engage on some more of Daisey's word choice, Daisey got vulgar:
And then Zinoman closed with a vow:
UPDATE 1:05 PM: Apparently, Mike Daisey thinks that I intentionally left off "the real end of the discussion," so here it is:
That sure does change the context of the whole conversation, doesn't it? Here's what Daisey just said to me via Twitter:
I sure hope Daisey leaves me the fuck alone, now.
7
It's great that NYT is fact checking Daisey more aggressively than Romney/Ryan. Daisey needs to grow a pair and learn how to push back.
8
"Have you the audacity to doubt my veracity by insinuating that I prevaricate?" Gold, comedy gold, this post. Thank you!
10
Mike Daisey publicly accused other writers and news organizations of being indifferent to child labor issues; falsely, as it turns out.
He was called on it. He responded with dubious hand-waving equivocations about the nature of art. Fine - whatever.
That he then has the gall to take to the public square and cast aspersions on the NYT is remarkable. Remarkable that is to his therapist, and fellow artists looking for a benchmark as to the self-aggrandizement and willful myopia that is required to become a arts personality in a market like New York.
He was called on it. He responded with dubious hand-waving equivocations about the nature of art. Fine - whatever.
That he then has the gall to take to the public square and cast aspersions on the NYT is remarkable. Remarkable that is to his therapist, and fellow artists looking for a benchmark as to the self-aggrandizement and willful myopia that is required to become a arts personality in a market like New York.
11
Anything to distract people from noticing anything important happening out there.
When does the next season of American Idol start???
When does the next season of American Idol start???
12
Jason Zinoman comes off like a twit, as bad as Mike Daisey, here. If he wanted to look like a grownup, he should have used his initial tweet not to be snippy at Daisey but to emphasize the cool NYT story. In fact, reading the story, it looks like Daisey is right, and all the interesting material came from the Shanghai Daily.
14
Daisey should lie fallow for a few years. He can redeem himself, the story that semi-ruined him was that good even if it's pure fiction presented as pure journalism. But he should back off, let people stop talking about him, and come back strong.
16
Mike Daisey casting aspersions on journalists re: levels of truth and accuracy of word choice is totally fine with me and not at all hypocritical.
On a related note, I'm going to start telling people to stop drinking and fucking dudes.
On a related note, I'm going to start telling people to stop drinking and fucking dudes.
17
Faux outrage whose real purpose is to allow the NYT writer to publicly distance himself from the discredited Daisey.
18
Wow, you guys aren't fairing well in your own poll. Perhaps you should just keep your snit fits with Mr. Daisy off of Slog where apparently we don't care?
19
RE: 11@ Urgutha_Forka and 15@Will_in_Seattle
There's no point in the SLOG limiting posts to "what's important."
What is the point of that criticism? That The Stranger abandon any curatorial role and only post about things that are of interest to, say, +200M? Why"? Does the internet need another world-news aggregation site?
Mike Daisey is a local-kid gone big, and somewhat off the rails. It's local, topical, and of interest to many around here. If I want to read about Egyptians tearing up our embassy's flag, there are better places to go for that.
And Will, I have no idea what you mean by "Mitt's friends", because once again, you didn't supply a link. If I'm referring to the wrong "black flag" issue, well, that's _your_ fault.
There's no point in the SLOG limiting posts to "what's important."
What is the point of that criticism? That The Stranger abandon any curatorial role and only post about things that are of interest to, say, +200M? Why"? Does the internet need another world-news aggregation site?
Mike Daisey is a local-kid gone big, and somewhat off the rails. It's local, topical, and of interest to many around here. If I want to read about Egyptians tearing up our embassy's flag, there are better places to go for that.
And Will, I have no idea what you mean by "Mitt's friends", because once again, you didn't supply a link. If I'm referring to the wrong "black flag" issue, well, that's _your_ fault.
21
I'm sorry anybody thinks this was news—later today I may be having a bowel movement, and we can only hope Mr. Constant doesn't report that as well. This is apparently in my hands—if I tweet it, he probably will.
22
@21, if your bowel movement does wind up in your hands we will indeed poke a bit more fun at you, don't worry.
23
This definitely fits in the "yawn" category. Stranger - you've made your point. Good on you. Now let's all move on and cover things of greater importance.
24
@22—yes, that language does make that terribly suggestive. I must issue another correction.
@23—yes, like, perhaps...I don't know...the use of forced labor in the original NYT story that kicked this all off?
I mean, just as a suggestion.
@23—yes, like, perhaps...I don't know...the use of forced labor in the original NYT story that kicked this all off?
I mean, just as a suggestion.
26
@Mike Daisey: You're a public figure now. You've got to grow a thicker skin, or you're going to go insane. Part of the price of success & notoriety is having people say things, often unflattering ones, about you. Is that better than ignoring you and forgetting you?
p.s. How was Burning Man for you?
p.s. How was Burning Man for you?
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