Apple: 1, bloggers: 0.

Macaholic · Mar 4th, 2005, 11:01 AM

Well this oughtta throw cold water on the Mac rumour sites

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate...y/11049112.htm

http://news.com.com/Tentative+ruling...3-5599671.html

http://www.macobserver.com/article/2005/03/04.2.shtml

iMatt · Mar 4th, 2005, 11:12 AM

Call me a nitpicker, but Think Secret is no blog in any sense that I'm familiar with. It's a "news" site whose sources are all anonymous insiders, and it only covers a single company. When this story broke, it always seemed to me that they were on very shaky ground legally. Isn't "news" about reporting events as they happen or just after they happened -- not speculating/spilling beans about what some company is going to do next? Just how far can the definition of journalism be stretched to suit the whims of a kid who's obsessed with a company? Personally, it doesn't sit well with me to call this guy a journalist. If we do, then ladies gossipping at the laundromat are "journalists" too. (I'm not as familiar with the others, so no comment on them.)

used to be jwoodget · Mar 4th, 2005, 11:29 AM

ThinkSecret actively encourages anonymous tips on its web site. The author (a Harvard student) is on shakey ground. Just flip the scenario and imagine a web site that was encouraging CIA operatives to divulge secrets. The web site would be zapped under the Patriot Act in milliseconds.

Macaholic · Mar 4th, 2005, 11:59 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by iMatt
	Call me a nitpicker, but Think Secret is no blog in any sense that I'm familiar with.

Okay. You're a nitpicker. I know it's a site and not a blog. But the headline was a good one (that was used by thestate.com)

iMatt · Mar 4th, 2005, 12:07 PM

Macaholic, I wasn't trying to nitpick you, so much as the original articles you pointed to.

In any case, I doubt the blog/news site distinction is really important to the case. I do understand that mainstream news outlets are using it because it's catchy meme o the day...

Macaholic · Mar 4th, 2005, 12:24 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by iMatt
	I do understand that mainstream news outlets are using it because it's catchy meme o the day...

Absolutely

Kosh · Mar 4th, 2005, 03:28 PM

I think there is a difference between a "News" site and what I call "Rumors" sites. News sites print actual facts as they are announced or as they happen, rumor sites print what they think is coming out, future speculation, etc. I don't think you can call a rumor site, a news site or consider it in the same league as a news site or newspaper. I've always classed ThinkSecret, AppleInsider, MacOSRumors, and MacRumors as rumor sites to be taken with a grain of salt.

I also think it's fair for Apple to go after then for their sources, especially if those sources broke their non-disclosure agreement.

Chealion · Mar 4th, 2005, 03:59 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Kosh
	I've always classed ThinkSecret, AppleInsider, MacOSRumors, and MacRumors as rumor sites to be taken with a grain of salt.

Some more then others.

For what it is worth, ThinkSecret and AppleInsider are more like e-zines rather then blogs. Most blogs are a mix of opinions, and a grassroot newspaper authored by usually one person. Others continue with the spirit of the internet (LiveJournal).