This screen, mounted above the reception desk at Gawker Media's headquarters, currently displays blog posts from across the network with the most unique visitors over the course of the last hour. The names of the posts' authors are included. Earlier this week, we discussed the TV-watching cows of Russia, and suggested that, instead of pretty scenery, the cows be shown pictures of the best, most productive cows. After all, every animal likes the bellyfeel of gazing at a more successful animal. Plus, there's also a nice chilling effect! As we wrote the other day, "there's nothing more motivating than the fear that if you don't churn out enough product you're going to end up at the abattoir."
Saturday, March 27, 2010
60
Does it list arrivals and departures?
Nicely done, NAC. I wonder if you scroll down the list you also see the flatliners. And why do I also think this is not such a bad thing? Isn't Gawker a bit of an interactive game?
The idea might not be a bad thing, but the implications of success or failure in these terms are the problem at Gawker. It's a fine line between being shrewd and just being an asshole, and I think this blog knows where Denton and the screen in the picture fall.
"Gossip from Manhattan and the Beltway to Hollywood and the Valley: trying to figure out how the brain acquires and processes visual information about social status."
And would anybody be shocked when the little screen suddenly switches to the LEAST successful blog posts?
That wouldn't be passive-aggressive enough.
"Internet media can indeed seem, particularly to the gentlemanly and leisurely American magazine business, a Hobbesian environment." Nick Denton.
And during off-hours it displays your laser tag statistics.
As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives.
Third prize, you go work for Screenhead.
"Put ... that coffee ... down. Coffee's for pageview-generators only."
Bah! I should have read this... no coffee for me
ditto!
I think Denton's been inspired by Tyra displaying the weekly ANTM best picture as "digital art." Makes me wonder in what other ways he's been inspired by La Banks.
I'm imagining him taking more after RuPaul. "And now the time has come for you to blog post for your LIFE!"
Heh. But RuPaul definitely got "Don't fuck it up" from Denton.
I would like for this viewscreen to be installed in my local sports bar, please. Right next to the hockey games, thank you.
I approved this comment.
They should hang that right screen next to the revolving door.
Denton keeping his writers on their toes
Coffee is for closers.
I was just about, until I scrolled on down here, to write those exact same words (after briefly trying in vain to think of something more internety than 'closers')
you guys are more clever than I. I was trying to figure out how to make a word out of "Glengarry" or "Glenn Ross" using gawker.. I don't think any came out too well:
Gawkgerry, Dent Ross
Glengawkery, Glenn Ross
Glengawker, Jez Bot
Galopgerry, Glenn Gawk
I like your attempts, bb.
Wow, Gawker's been on a tour of the Call Centers in Bangalore. These screens are omnipresent there, albeit it's more like whose taken the most calls in an hour.
I'm assuming it's connected via wires to the corresponding bloggers' genitals, and all but the most successful receive electric shocks until such time as they overtake the leading post.
And THAT is another tip he got from Tyra.
or, you know, Joseph Mengele.
They should make Ben Wojdyla work from the Gawker offices. I'd give it 2 days, tops, before a severe instance of violence in the workplace occurred.
'Josef'
That is a faaaaaar less funny response, Goons. :(
That's conflicting motivation, isn't it?
Yeah, pretty bad.
Can't we all agree on one obscure, terrible blog post, go to it repeatedly, and get everyone we know to visit it, just to skew their stupid results?
(oh wait, we have lives)
But how to choose?
We have lives? Why did no one tell me?!
Well there's always this one, although I personally was drawn in by the headline alone.
Well played!
Can't some assburger type create an alogorythym thingy that autobots uniques.
Not to be too obvious about it, but can we find a dozen old posts of Maggie's and just click on them over and over?
You know what the key to being a successful chef is? Watching the pot boil!
Is this why the Gawker HQ appears to be full of steam?
Denton supposedly has an amazing kitchen. It apparently makes everything near it appear to have come from a "White Diamonds" commercial.
The craziest thing is I work from home and they installed one of these in my bedroom.
Again, much easier to hook-up electrodes to your genitals that way.
But... who gets to sit at the popular table?
Nobody, as the popular table is a desk for one, scattered about various one bedrooms and mother's basements across the N.America.
Does this machine display the going price of frozen orange juice futures, too?
The future seems clear. We're rating GWKR a "STRONG SELL".
I don't know, with innovative measures like this I think GWKR's more of a "DON'T BUY."
Gawd Cho, do some brackets. I'll enter. Winner gets a copy of that Gawker book from a few years ago that did so well.
Yes! Second place gets two copies. Third place, three...
I don;t even understand the true usefulness of this? "most unique visitors over the course of the last hour?" gawker publishes so frequently and randomly that I just don't understand what useful information this gives.
DID YOU KNOW THAT CBS IS AMERICAS MOST WATCHED NETWORK!!!1!!!! IM HONGRY
lol indeed
"Across the network"?
Then, it lists a bunch of Gizmodo, Deadspin and Jezebel and the real celebrations are the brief moments, when someone from one of the other blogs break into the top 10?
Jesus. Just change the fucking channel.
It's going to be a bloodbath when Madonna croaks / Lilo ODs / Lady Gaga'a peen grows back.
Denton's retirement plan is to license these to everyone with an internet connection; he'll be like the Bloomberg of blogs!
Gawker HQ: the least popular OTB in New York.