Meanwhile thousands of uninformed people around the world take his story (and the rest of the tech press) as fact and now despise Apple and picket their shops. A whole bunch of whipped up middle class frenzy for nothing.
What a croc. It seems that the shrillest, vitriolic idiots get the most attention these days and have no consequences to face. How depressing.
it wasn't just the blogs. The common man that goes to see the show is told it is based on his personal 'investigations' etc and they believe that means that he is speaking truths. Or at least more truth than fiction. It could be the case they are not.
Daisey wants folks to think that there's truth to all that he is saying because the ire about those truths is what sells tickets, what gets schools etc to want to do his little show and get him more fame.
I appreciate your point but I tend to disagree.
It was a show. At a theatre, with a stage and dramatic lighting and everything.
Anyone going to that and expecting factual reporting needs to have their head examined. He could have been more forthcoming about the fact that the story was confabulated from various sources and dramatised to the extent that it was, but I would argue the audience should have expected that and that somewhere (no doubt in tiny tiny print), he probably *did* tell the audience that. Legally however, his ass is covered simply by the fact that it was a show held in a theatre, regardless of disclaimers.
I don't necessarily know all the facts though so I'm just going to say that IMO the "tech media" is as much to blame or more so than Daisey. I still think the mistake here was in presenting this show as some kind of fact and that it was the media that took on that particular task.
Ah... the Rush Limbaugh defense. "I just make absurd comments in order to illustrate my points."
Here we have a guy that is still trying to pass his garbage off as the truth. Rush on the other hand at least admits to telling of tall tales to make a point.
In spite of his defense, he knew that what he was doing was dead wrong, proven by how he gave the wrong name of his translator and claimed her phone was disconnected. What a schmo.
This.
If he knew they were fact checking and purposely lied, trying to say "it was theatrical, not journalistic" sounds more than a bit hollow.
this American Life's Excuses for their Flub is Weak.
They call they themselves a premier news outlet and they used an 'actor' as a 'source'. That should have set up GREAT BIG red flags at once and the story should never have aired but Apple was too big a target for ratings.
Would they have interviewed thriller writers and use what they say as 'FACTS' for espionage, crime or stories on international relations? American Life's next big story on U.S response to the current SYRIA CRISIS will be based on "JAMES BOND".
I doubt that this American Life calls itself a "news outlet"---a link would be nice here. Sometimes they have "news" but they're definitely set up as an entertainment outlet. Unless David Sedaris, a regular contributor, is considered a journalist...
Definitely should have given this one a closer look before airing it as truth rather than just a good story though.
Meanwhile thousands of uninformed people around the world take his story (and the rest of the tech press) as fact and now despise Apple and picket their shops. A whole bunch of whipped up middle class frenzy for nothing.
What a croc. It seems that the shrillest, vitriolic idiots get the most attention these days and have no consequences to face. How depressing.
Frankly it is in large part due to the pressure to be politically correct. In the good old days if someone offended you, you called them out for a duel. One way or another the issue was ended. Nowadays some have this mentality that every crackpot and nutcase has a valid point of view. That is an extremely sad development in our culture.
"Daisey lied to me and 'This American Life' producer Brian Reed during the fact checking we did on the story, before it was broadcast," Glass wrote. "That doesn't excuse the fact that we never should've put this on the air. In the end, it was our mistake."
^ Taking ownership. That's something, at least. I appreciate when people admit they were wrong, particularly when it effects others.
Quote:
"What I do is not journalism," Daisey said. "The tools of the theater are not the same as the tools of journalism."
^ Not taking ownership. I understand he is an entertainer... but flat out lies presented as facts are wrong no matter what your intent, particularly when they are in regard to such serious topics.
[...]Daisey's interpreter also disputed two of "the most dramatic moments" in Daisey's monologue: his claims that he met with underage workers, as well as a man with a hand that was mangled while making iPads. [...]
I'm working on a first draft of a new stage play, and I'd like your opinions, fellow AppleInsiders!
Here are two of its most dramatic moments:
Act 1 Scene 1
(Steve Ballmer's Office, Microsoft Headquarters)
BALLMER: Nice disguise, Daisy. You make a terrible woman.
DAISEY: This isn't a disguise. I really am a transvestite.
BALLMER: Wow, really? Me too. I secretly wish people would call me "Monkey Girl."
DAISEY: Your wish is my command, Monkey Girl.
Speaking of which, here's the Apple play you paid for.
[Slaps a heavy manuscript onto Ballmer's desk.]
Read it and let me know if it's got enough slander in it.
[...]
Act 2 Scene 1
(Split set - BALLMER in a Seattle Starbucks, DAISEY seated on a toilet at a NYC transvestite bar)
BALLMER: [Shrieking into a KIN 1] DAISEY. You moron! You talked to Ira Glass?
DAISEY: [Flinching, then talking into a white iPhone 4S] Yes. Yes I did. And I almost had him.
BALLMER: Almost? You *almost* had him? We're paying you good money, Mister Drama Queen.
You were our only hope against Apple! Dammit!
(People in the Starbucks stop what they're doing, swivel their heads to hear Ballmer better.)
BALLMER: Listen up, Girly Man. No more funding for you. We're not going to buy all the tickets for your show any more.
No more fake audiences, girlfriend!
(People in the Starbucks stealthily bring out their smartphones and start shooting video of Ballmer. They're all using iPhones.)
BALLMER: What are you idiots looking at? DAMMIT!
[...]
That's just a taste for the overall concept. Of course, I have no idea if Mr. Daisey is, in fact, a transvestite. Or whether or not Microsoft paid Mr. Daisey to write his play. Or whether or not Steve Ballmer is also a transvestite.
Well this is Fox News' argument whenever they're dragged into court. They've always claimed to be an entertainment program and not a "news" program that should be held up to journalistic standards. Which always made me wonder why most people even watch most of that crap?
like msnbc, most of its programming is commentary that can be entertaining.
"What I do is not journalism," Daisey said. "The tools of the theater are not the same as the tools of journalism. For this reason, I regret that I allowed 'This American Life' to air an excerpt from my monologue. 'This American Life' is essentially a journalistic — not a theatrical — enterprise, and as such it operates under a different set of rules and expectations.
Perhaps then he should not have left the stage and gone on so many tv news broadcasts. For example, his interview on Lateline is just one piece of evidence that I personally watched where he represented himself as a journalist.
Quote:
TONY JONES: It's interesting isn't it because your own love affair with Apple really ended I suppose when you went to Shenzhen in China and you discovered how and where and who actually made these gadgets these days. Of course years ago they were made in California but then it all shifted to China. Tell us what you found.
MIKE DAISEY: Well I found the work conditions in southern China and in the special economic zone, which have been there now for a decade and have been well documented by numerous sources but are never talked about because we have divided ourselves off from how any of our devices are man fractured.
What I found were horrendous working conditions at Foxconn and the other subsidiaries that make devices for Apple and all the other technology companies. I found children constructing electronics. I found the electronics are made by hand under circumstances where people are working on lines for 14, 15 and 16 hours a day until after months and years the joints in the fingers of their hands disintegrate.…
It was a show. At a theatre, with a stage and dramatic lighting and everything.
Anyone going to that and expecting factual reporting needs to have their head examined. He could have been more forthcoming about the fact that the story was confabulated from various sources and dramatised to the extent that it was, but I would argue the audience should have expected that and that somewhere (no doubt in tiny tiny print), he probably *did* tell the audience that. Legally however, his ass is covered simply by the fact that it was a show held in a theatre, regardless of disclaimers.
I don't necessarily know all the facts though so I'm just going to say that IMO the "tech media" is as much to blame or more so than Daisey. I still think the mistake here was in presenting this show as some kind of fact and that it was the media that took on that particular task.
It doesn't matter if it was billed as a news outlet or dramatic theatre. While the latter gets a little more leeway, you can't make flat-out lies and get away with it even in theatre. It's not easy to win a suit, but it can be done. The closest relevant cases I could find in just a few seconds of searching involved movie and theatre production reviews. The relevant standard is that if the review is fair and objective, then one can't win a slander suit. OTOH, if the review is so blatantly biased and factually incorrect, there are grounds for a slander suit.
I suspect that the same thing applies here.
Not that it matters - I can't see Apple going after him. It will simply feed the frenzy and we'll see headlines like "Apple goes after its critics over China slave labor issues".
But I usually rely on Apple Insider that covered it
Fabricated claims about Apple's manufacturing prompt retraction from 'This American Life' http://j.mp/ABNJU8
I don't know if it is too soon to call this Mike Daisey performer a well meaning, or not, a scam artist or not? He is definitely a gifted performer, cause it's not a common skill to memorize so much text. He definitely knows how to talk, which is impressive, but? All his performing gifts are not a guarantee of him being a flawless human, with possible issues of his own, as well as agendas!
Non of us can read minds or hearts? But it is quite possible that Mr. Daisy's need for attention, and a desire to promote himself and his theater piece, which is a product -- all that might have taken a priority over fairness!
I don't want to hit below the belt ?, or to start analyzing Mr. Daisy! He could be just another guy with a weight problem, trying to "save the world"?, and I'll bite my tongue!!!
Again, I don't know what's in Mr. Daisy's heart, i.e. what his Real Agenda is! However, it's safe to assume that his Heart would prefer to carry less weight!!! So maybe he could focus his passions on that a bit more, rather than to take his life's frustrations on Apple, as a way of selling more tickets to his show?! But again, I don't want to hit below the belt, because being fat is not a crime, and none of us are perfect! It's just that I SMELL SOMETHING here! Maybe it's something that Mr. Daisy is hiding from us, and maybe even from himself?
I never heard of him until he got some Attention because of his Themes being related to Apple? OK, so maybe he tried to "catch a ride" on Apple's Coat Tales, but? If some Good Solid Investigation proves Mr. Daisy to be a Shameless Self-Promoter, then it those who believed him and in his cause that are "being taken for a ride", taken advantage of?. Yes, people can be taken advantage of if they are led to believe that the Cause is Great!!!
I've read a lot excellent Comments here on this Foxconn Issue and Apple! I see lots of politics involved here, that are not limited to media alone!
I agree with those who say that the fault is with Chinese Government, not Apple!!! Chinese PEOPLE Republic is supposed to be about People, about Workers' Paradise, ala the Former USSR! But, instead, they are PIMPING their PEOPLE, and then the Foreign Capitalists are expected to lead the Revolution to attain that very Workers' Paradise? How STUPID!
Today, TGIF, 3/16/12, as the Newest iPad (3) went on sale in the US, we have a bunch of Truth Seekers, Defenders of the Poor Chinese People, demonstrating in front of Apple Stores, seeking more Clicks of Attention for themselves, and whatever other Agendas they have! They single out Apple, to the Exclusion of other Tech Giants, whose products are also being manufactured by Foxconns of the world! At the same time, the Chinese are Killing Each Other for their iPhones, and there is a strong competition to even get a job at Foxconn!!!
I applaud NPR for their Retraction, and I call on All Media to Highlight that Fact and show more FAIRNESS in this situation, where it's fashionable to beat up on Apple!!!
I Applaud Apple's Efforts to shed the Light Of Truth on this situation!
Apple Alone should NOT be required to LIBERATE The Chinese, nor to Bring the Jobs Back to the USA!
ALL Apple Competitors should be held to the same standard!
Badmouthing Apple to do their Competitors' Dirty Work is a DIRTY POLITICS which have to STOP!
Manipulation Public Opinion with Half Truth, Drive By Reporting, in the name of Liberating Chinese Workers, is A LOW LIFE THING TO DO!!!
Let them REALLY Investigate the Mr. Dasiy and some others, including the Media Itself on what the TRUTH is in this case!!!! And, once they run out of topic, there is always US Health Care and other Countless Topics to really Sink Teeth Into!!!
The World has already voted for Apple with its $$$, buying their Products and AAPL!!! The JEALOUSY of Apple and it's BILLIONS of $$$ won't Liberate Chinese Workers or anyone of us?.
I am no Apple Fan Boy! I've seen Apple's Shortcomings, but overall, it's hard not to admire Apple!!!
Mike Daisey and Rush Limbaugh are beacons of rational intelligent thinking and integrity. Anybody who question their honourable intent in the context of interrogative American journalism at its finest is nothing but a atheist communist sonofabitch who should be tarred an d feathered.
I am glad they took ownership. Doesn't mean I have to respect the bad work? Path also got deleted for violating my trust. They also had a nice apology.
I say give them another chance. This American Life has a long history of awesome shows.
This retraction of the whole show is maybe bigger news than the original podcast. I hadnt looked into Daiseys show much but read articles here and there. Now Ira Glass is saying very publicly that Daisey lied to him and his staff. That gives a better insight into the nature of this Mike Daisey guy and his show.
I do not believe that iPads are made in sweatshops but I am happy that some workers got a pay rise that they do deserve!
Me too, but note that Foxconn workers started getting pay raises a couple of years ago, and this guy had nothing to do with it. Also note that Apple began their audits and trying to help the situation years ago, long before the New York Times pretended to scoop the story.
The bottom line for me is that although they want to claim credit for bringing this issue more into focus and help the workers, both Daisey and the New York Times have done far less for the issue than Apple themselves did when they began listing their suppliers and making their audit information publicly available on their website.
I'll repost what I said on "The Verge" regarding his "Theatrical" excuse...and then append to it.
"That’d be fine and dandy if he used a made up company representing “Big Tech” and a made up factory representing “Big Manufacturer” because right now this shit seems like it was a “Big Lie” and thankfully the truth is out though the die-hard bashers will ignore it…"
I too hope he gets punished to the full extent of the law because as someone else said he did much more harm to any true workers rights cases out there as now they'll all be looked at suspiciously.
Hopefully he also helps set a precedent that requires anyone who delivers something as news at least attempt to be factual.
this American Life's Excuses for their Flub is Weak.
They call they themselves a premier news outlet and they used an 'actor' as a 'source'. That should have set up GREAT BIG red flags at once and the story should never have aired but Apple was too big a target for ratings.
Would they have interviewed thriller writers and use what they say as 'FACTS' for espionage, crime or stories on international relations? American Life's next big story on U.S response to the current SYRIA CRISIS will be based on "JAMES BOND".
Since "This American Life" is making the apology at least as visible as the mistake, then I think they have vindicated themselves. That is the way things must be. Many journalists try to spin it into a non-mistake. (Remember Dan Rather's sudden unrepentant flameout?)
It was a show. At a theatre, with a stage and dramatic lighting and everything.
But this isn't mainly about Daisey's "show". It is about a production of "This American Life". According to this information, Daisey misled the producers of the show into believing specific "facts" and then tried to prevent them from checking up on them by providing a false name. That's enough for me. (Not that I'm giving the producers a free pass, but at least they showed integrity by retracting the mistake as visibly as they did the mistake itself.)
Comments
What a croc. It seems that the shrillest, vitriolic idiots get the most attention these days and have no consequences to face. How depressing.
it wasn't just the blogs. The common man that goes to see the show is told it is based on his personal 'investigations' etc and they believe that means that he is speaking truths. Or at least more truth than fiction. It could be the case they are not.
Daisey wants folks to think that there's truth to all that he is saying because the ire about those truths is what sells tickets, what gets schools etc to want to do his little show and get him more fame.
I appreciate your point but I tend to disagree.
It was a show. At a theatre, with a stage and dramatic lighting and everything.
Anyone going to that and expecting factual reporting needs to have their head examined. He could have been more forthcoming about the fact that the story was confabulated from various sources and dramatised to the extent that it was, but I would argue the audience should have expected that and that somewhere (no doubt in tiny tiny print), he probably *did* tell the audience that. Legally however, his ass is covered simply by the fact that it was a show held in a theatre, regardless of disclaimers.
I don't necessarily know all the facts though so I'm just going to say that IMO the "tech media" is as much to blame or more so than Daisey. I still think the mistake here was in presenting this show as some kind of fact and that it was the media that took on that particular task.
Ah... the Rush Limbaugh defense. "I just make absurd comments in order to illustrate my points."
Here we have a guy that is still trying to pass his garbage off as the truth. Rush on the other hand at least admits to telling of tall tales to make a point.
In spite of his defense, he knew that what he was doing was dead wrong, proven by how he gave the wrong name of his translator and claimed her phone was disconnected. What a schmo.
This.
If he knew they were fact checking and purposely lied, trying to say "it was theatrical, not journalistic" sounds more than a bit hollow.
this American Life's Excuses for their Flub is Weak.
They call they themselves a premier news outlet and they used an 'actor' as a 'source'. That should have set up GREAT BIG red flags at once and the story should never have aired but Apple was too big a target for ratings.
Would they have interviewed thriller writers and use what they say as 'FACTS' for espionage, crime or stories on international relations? American Life's next big story on U.S response to the current SYRIA CRISIS will be based on "JAMES BOND".
I doubt that this American Life calls itself a "news outlet"---a link would be nice here. Sometimes they have "news" but they're definitely set up as an entertainment outlet. Unless David Sedaris, a regular contributor, is considered a journalist...
Definitely should have given this one a closer look before airing it as truth rather than just a good story though.
Meanwhile thousands of uninformed people around the world take his story (and the rest of the tech press) as fact and now despise Apple and picket their shops. A whole bunch of whipped up middle class frenzy for nothing.
What a croc. It seems that the shrillest, vitriolic idiots get the most attention these days and have no consequences to face. How depressing.
Frankly it is in large part due to the pressure to be politically correct. In the good old days if someone offended you, you called them out for a duel. One way or another the issue was ended. Nowadays some have this mentality that every crackpot and nutcase has a valid point of view. That is an extremely sad development in our culture.
"Daisey lied to me and 'This American Life' producer Brian Reed during the fact checking we did on the story, before it was broadcast," Glass wrote. "That doesn't excuse the fact that we never should've put this on the air. In the end, it was our mistake."
^ Taking ownership. That's something, at least. I appreciate when people admit they were wrong, particularly when it effects others.
"What I do is not journalism," Daisey said. "The tools of the theater are not the same as the tools of journalism."
^ Not taking ownership. I understand he is an entertainer... but flat out lies presented as facts are wrong no matter what your intent, particularly when they are in regard to such serious topics.
[...]Daisey's interpreter also disputed two of "the most dramatic moments" in Daisey's monologue: his claims that he met with underage workers, as well as a man with a hand that was mangled while making iPads. [...]
I'm working on a first draft of a new stage play, and I'd like your opinions, fellow AppleInsiders!
Here are two of its most dramatic moments:
Act 1 Scene 1
(Steve Ballmer's Office, Microsoft Headquarters)
BALLMER: Nice disguise, Daisy. You make a terrible woman.
DAISEY: This isn't a disguise. I really am a transvestite.
BALLMER: Wow, really? Me too. I secretly wish people would call me "Monkey Girl."
DAISEY: Your wish is my command, Monkey Girl.
Speaking of which, here's the Apple play you paid for.
[Slaps a heavy manuscript onto Ballmer's desk.]
Read it and let me know if it's got enough slander in it.
[...]
Act 2 Scene 1
(Split set - BALLMER in a Seattle Starbucks, DAISEY seated on a toilet at a NYC transvestite bar)
BALLMER: [Shrieking into a KIN 1] DAISEY. You moron! You talked to Ira Glass?
DAISEY: [Flinching, then talking into a white iPhone 4S] Yes. Yes I did. And I almost had him.
BALLMER: Almost? You *almost* had him? We're paying you good money, Mister Drama Queen.
You were our only hope against Apple! Dammit!
(People in the Starbucks stop what they're doing, swivel their heads to hear Ballmer better.)
BALLMER: Listen up, Girly Man. No more funding for you. We're not going to buy all the tickets for your show any more.
No more fake audiences, girlfriend!
(People in the Starbucks stealthily bring out their smartphones and start shooting video of Ballmer. They're all using iPhones.)
BALLMER: What are you idiots looking at? DAMMIT!
[...]
That's just a taste for the overall concept. Of course, I have no idea if Mr. Daisey is, in fact, a transvestite. Or whether or not Microsoft paid Mr. Daisey to write his play. Or whether or not Steve Ballmer is also a transvestite.
But hey, artistic license, right?
Well this is Fox News' argument whenever they're dragged into court. They've always claimed to be an entertainment program and not a "news" program that should be held up to journalistic standards. Which always made me wonder why most people even watch most of that crap?
like msnbc, most of its programming is commentary that can be entertaining.
"What I do is not journalism," Daisey said. "The tools of the theater are not the same as the tools of journalism. For this reason, I regret that I allowed 'This American Life' to air an excerpt from my monologue. 'This American Life' is essentially a journalistic — not a theatrical — enterprise, and as such it operates under a different set of rules and expectations.
Perhaps then he should not have left the stage and gone on so many tv news broadcasts. For example, his interview on Lateline is just one piece of evidence that I personally watched where he represented himself as a journalist.
TONY JONES: It's interesting isn't it because your own love affair with Apple really ended I suppose when you went to Shenzhen in China and you discovered how and where and who actually made these gadgets these days. Of course years ago they were made in California but then it all shifted to China. Tell us what you found.
MIKE DAISEY: Well I found the work conditions in southern China and in the special economic zone, which have been there now for a decade and have been well documented by numerous sources but are never talked about because we have divided ourselves off from how any of our devices are man fractured.
What I found were horrendous working conditions at Foxconn and the other subsidiaries that make devices for Apple and all the other technology companies. I found children constructing electronics. I found the electronics are made by hand under circumstances where people are working on lines for 14, 15 and 16 hours a day until after months and years the joints in the fingers of their hands disintegrate.…
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/conte...1/s3334201.htm
And he has misrepresented himself many times over. http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...04l304l3-1l1l0
I appreciate your point but I tend to disagree.
It was a show. At a theatre, with a stage and dramatic lighting and everything.
Anyone going to that and expecting factual reporting needs to have their head examined. He could have been more forthcoming about the fact that the story was confabulated from various sources and dramatised to the extent that it was, but I would argue the audience should have expected that and that somewhere (no doubt in tiny tiny print), he probably *did* tell the audience that. Legally however, his ass is covered simply by the fact that it was a show held in a theatre, regardless of disclaimers.
I don't necessarily know all the facts though so I'm just going to say that IMO the "tech media" is as much to blame or more so than Daisey. I still think the mistake here was in presenting this show as some kind of fact and that it was the media that took on that particular task.
It doesn't matter if it was billed as a news outlet or dramatic theatre. While the latter gets a little more leeway, you can't make flat-out lies and get away with it even in theatre. It's not easy to win a suit, but it can be done. The closest relevant cases I could find in just a few seconds of searching involved movie and theatre production reviews. The relevant standard is that if the review is fair and objective, then one can't win a slander suit. OTOH, if the review is so blatantly biased and factually incorrect, there are grounds for a slander suit.
I suspect that the same thing applies here.
Not that it matters - I can't see Apple going after him. It will simply feed the frenzy and we'll see headlines like "Apple goes after its critics over China slave labor issues".
NPR show pulls Foxconn story, says 'partially fabricated' | Electronista http://j.mp/FOlmZW
But I usually rely on Apple Insider that covered it
Fabricated claims about Apple's manufacturing prompt retraction from 'This American Life' http://j.mp/ABNJU8
I don't know if it is too soon to call this Mike Daisey performer a well meaning, or not, a scam artist or not? He is definitely a gifted performer, cause it's not a common skill to memorize so much text. He definitely knows how to talk, which is impressive, but? All his performing gifts are not a guarantee of him being a flawless human, with possible issues of his own, as well as agendas!
Non of us can read minds or hearts? But it is quite possible that Mr. Daisy's need for attention, and a desire to promote himself and his theater piece, which is a product -- all that might have taken a priority over fairness!
I don't want to hit below the belt ?, or to start analyzing Mr. Daisy! He could be just another guy with a weight problem, trying to "save the world"?, and I'll bite my tongue!!!
Again, I don't know what's in Mr. Daisy's heart, i.e. what his Real Agenda is! However, it's safe to assume that his Heart would prefer to carry less weight!!! So maybe he could focus his passions on that a bit more, rather than to take his life's frustrations on Apple, as a way of selling more tickets to his show?! But again, I don't want to hit below the belt, because being fat is not a crime, and none of us are perfect! It's just that I SMELL SOMETHING here! Maybe it's something that Mr. Daisy is hiding from us, and maybe even from himself?
I never heard of him until he got some Attention because of his Themes being related to Apple? OK, so maybe he tried to "catch a ride" on Apple's Coat Tales, but? If some Good Solid Investigation proves Mr. Daisy to be a Shameless Self-Promoter, then it those who believed him and in his cause that are "being taken for a ride", taken advantage of?. Yes, people can be taken advantage of if they are led to believe that the Cause is Great!!!
I've read a lot excellent Comments here on this Foxconn Issue and Apple! I see lots of politics involved here, that are not limited to media alone!
I agree with those who say that the fault is with Chinese Government, not Apple!!! Chinese PEOPLE Republic is supposed to be about People, about Workers' Paradise, ala the Former USSR! But, instead, they are PIMPING their PEOPLE, and then the Foreign Capitalists are expected to lead the Revolution to attain that very Workers' Paradise? How STUPID!
Today, TGIF, 3/16/12, as the Newest iPad (3) went on sale in the US, we have a bunch of Truth Seekers, Defenders of the Poor Chinese People, demonstrating in front of Apple Stores, seeking more Clicks of Attention for themselves, and whatever other Agendas they have! They single out Apple, to the Exclusion of other Tech Giants, whose products are also being manufactured by Foxconns of the world! At the same time, the Chinese are Killing Each Other for their iPhones, and there is a strong competition to even get a job at Foxconn!!!
I applaud NPR for their Retraction, and I call on All Media to Highlight that Fact and show more FAIRNESS in this situation, where it's fashionable to beat up on Apple!!!
I Applaud Apple's Efforts to shed the Light Of Truth on this situation!
Apple Alone should NOT be required to LIBERATE The Chinese, nor to Bring the Jobs Back to the USA!
ALL Apple Competitors should be held to the same standard!
Badmouthing Apple to do their Competitors' Dirty Work is a DIRTY POLITICS which have to STOP!
Manipulation Public Opinion with Half Truth, Drive By Reporting, in the name of Liberating Chinese Workers, is A LOW LIFE THING TO DO!!!
Let them REALLY Investigate the Mr. Dasiy and some others, including the Media Itself on what the TRUTH is in this case!!!! And, once they run out of topic, there is always US Health Care and other Countless Topics to really Sink Teeth Into!!!
The World has already voted for Apple with its $$$, buying their Products and AAPL!!! The JEALOUSY of Apple and it's BILLIONS of $$$ won't Liberate Chinese Workers or anyone of us?.
I am no Apple Fan Boy! I've seen Apple's Shortcomings, but overall, it's hard not to admire Apple!!!
Theatrically speaking, of course
Props to Ira Glass and the rest of his team on This American Life for delivering a full-episode-length retraction. That's professionalism.
Agreed. Too bad the New York Times doesn't have the same integrity.
Thompson
I am glad they took ownership. Doesn't mean I have to respect the bad work? Path also got deleted for violating my trust. They also had a nice apology.
I say give them another chance. This American Life has a long history of awesome shows.
This retraction of the whole show is maybe bigger news than the original podcast. I hadnt looked into Daiseys show much but read articles here and there. Now Ira Glass is saying very publicly that Daisey lied to him and his staff. That gives a better insight into the nature of this Mike Daisey guy and his show.
I do not believe that iPads are made in sweatshops but I am happy that some workers got a pay rise that they do deserve!
Me too, but note that Foxconn workers started getting pay raises a couple of years ago, and this guy had nothing to do with it. Also note that Apple began their audits and trying to help the situation years ago, long before the New York Times pretended to scoop the story.
The bottom line for me is that although they want to claim credit for bringing this issue more into focus and help the workers, both Daisey and the New York Times have done far less for the issue than Apple themselves did when they began listing their suppliers and making their audit information publicly available on their website.
Thompson
"That’d be fine and dandy if he used a made up company representing “Big Tech” and a made up factory representing “Big Manufacturer” because right now this shit seems like it was a “Big Lie” and thankfully the truth is out though the die-hard bashers will ignore it…"
I too hope he gets punished to the full extent of the law because as someone else said he did much more harm to any true workers rights cases out there as now they'll all be looked at suspiciously.
Hopefully he also helps set a precedent that requires anyone who delivers something as news at least attempt to be factual.
this American Life's Excuses for their Flub is Weak.
They call they themselves a premier news outlet and they used an 'actor' as a 'source'. That should have set up GREAT BIG red flags at once and the story should never have aired but Apple was too big a target for ratings.
Would they have interviewed thriller writers and use what they say as 'FACTS' for espionage, crime or stories on international relations? American Life's next big story on U.S response to the current SYRIA CRISIS will be based on "JAMES BOND".
Since "This American Life" is making the apology at least as visible as the mistake, then I think they have vindicated themselves. That is the way things must be. Many journalists try to spin it into a non-mistake. (Remember Dan Rather's sudden unrepentant flameout?)
Thompson
I appreciate your point but I tend to disagree.
It was a show. At a theatre, with a stage and dramatic lighting and everything.
But this isn't mainly about Daisey's "show". It is about a production of "This American Life". According to this information, Daisey misled the producers of the show into believing specific "facts" and then tried to prevent them from checking up on them by providing a false name. That's enough for me. (Not that I'm giving the producers a free pass, but at least they showed integrity by retracting the mistake as visibly as they did the mistake itself.)
Thompson