SHIFT your thinking
NU is still abuzz about SHIFT’s stick-figure chalk drawings of Muhammad, which appeared on campus on Sunday night. It appears what began as a civil debate over SHIFT’s actions has descended into a dispute over the merits of Islam. And some of it’s gotten really ugly—a self-declared Islamophobe listed off a series of hateful quotes from historical figures who weren’t particularly fond of the religion. Our fave: Juanito García de Escanzon’s comment: “Hey “Insidious Islam,” I think you need some ass. Typically people who are afraid of their own shadows find that getting laid helps a lot. Let me know if you’re interested.” We’re definitely interested.
Comments: Too many to count, but don’t let the extreme comments fool you, the Daily story prompted a robust, mostly civil debate.
Under a Trance
It seems too easy to pick on the Daily for publishing last week’s Head First, a piece where writer Ali Pechman [full disclosure: She marginally did work for us at the very beginning of the year] decides to share her experience going to Fiji to get hypnotized. But that’s what the 14 comments ripping the writer, the editor, and the publication as a whole to shreds did. While many were offended by the way the author tied sexual undertones into the story, others, like “RIP Daily” claimed that the story was an indication of the paper’s decreasing relevancy. There was even a comment by the story’s unnamed hypnotist saying he gave Pechman permission to use his name.
Our Fave: “So congratulations, Daily, you managed to write a witty article. Unfortunately, you also managed to contribute to the worst parts of rape culture. Well done,” by Anonymous.
Comments: 7 discrediting the writer; 2 discrediting the editor; 3 discrediting the publication; 1 defense on behalf of the hypnotist; 1 from NU Intel editor Kyle Berlin exposing the writer’s most egregious error.
Fresh Argument
We admit that our content was lacking this week. Call it the midterm hangover. With that said, we thought we’d backtalk (yes, it’s a verb too) a story from a couple of weeks ago, the 10 dumbest comments on the Class of 2014 Facebook group. The story only elicited seven comments, but from Intel haters and fans alike. Calling out the incoming freshman might be too easy, but the story quickly became one of our most read of all time. It’s okay guys. We don’t mind being your guilty pleasure.
Our fave: “i’m not on this, but writing this is a huge turn off to incoming freshman. so people are excited about college? who gives a shit? let them be happy. we all got into a great school and if you have to bash them to feel better that’s just as sad,” by incoming freshman. Just to be clear, this incoming freshman did not make the list, or so he/she says.
Comments: 1 Slivka hater; 1 praising us for calling out a certain Purple Book editor; 1 defending said editor; 1 confused; 1 incoming freshman defending him/herself; 1 calling out said freshman; 1 criticizing our news judgment.
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Commenters dive Head First into criticism
