Lauren Weinstein: If MTV Calls, Hang Up

Lauren Weinstein writes "Usually when one gets a call to participate in a news-oriented television program, subterfuge isn't a worry. But in the brave new world of 'newsertainment' -- a blurring of news and entertainment -- you really need to watch your back. Herein is the sordid tale (posted last night to Dave Farber's "IP" list) of what recently happened to me -- and my narrow escape -- when Viacom/MTV Networks came calling, asking for my help to educate the world's youth about important topics (in this case, the scourge of spam). Be warned. It could happen to you!"

Comments

coward

[mabu]

Even if the whole thing was a fraud, it should have been an experience to participate. Having known it was a setup, this would have been a great opportunity to spin things back on the hosts and have some fun.

I would have loved an opportunity like this. I would have actually showed up and pretended once they started taping, that I was actually an anti-SPAM (the food from Hormel) advocate, or something equally goofy. At least you could have stood up in front of the studio audience and made a nice speech denouncing the quality of tv programming and how out of touch Viacom is with honest and decent programming.

Instead you just bowed out... hell you didn't even let them send the car. Think of the potential. You could have called up an enemy and sent him on the show, or found a homeless guy and told him he could get a free meal and a ride for participating. The possibilities were endless.

Re:coward

[mabu]

It doesn't matter. The studio audience would be LIVE.

If I were in that situation and I felt it was a trap, I'd say F*CK every other word. Let them try to edit that out.

You could pull a "Tim Robbins" and wear a t-shirt that says "This TV show is a SHAM" or some other really nasty image/saying. Let them try to edit that out!

You could call up the local obnoxious radio morning crew and tell them of the plan and work with them to cook up a dirty counter-trick. There's a pair of those sleazeballs in every area that live for this kind of stuff.

ENDLESS POSSIBILITY FOR FUN... and it was all blown.... too bad.

I hope they punk Ray Lewis

[gelfling]

Serously, I will cheer that Assston tries to punk a real badass like Ray Lewis or Allen Iverson and it ends in a quadruple homicide, high speed car chase, dead innocent civilians and a billion dollar lawsuit against MTV.

MTV...

[dark404]

makes -1 flamebait look +5 insightful

Re:For those that would like to read the article

[stonecypher]

You appear to have lightning reflexes.

E-mail address listed?

[babba]

Am I the only one who cringes at a Spam expert letting his/her e-mail address be posted unprotected on a site?

Re:Punk'd?

[mfh]

> Why on earth would you think you were important enough to punk?

Yeah only the most important people in the world get Punk'd, you know, the scientists, greatest of politicians and the humanitarian philanthropists. /sarcasm

> I love how you have revealed your secret fantasy of being important enough to be punk'd, but having the brains and wherewithal to escape their set ups!

I aim to please.

Re:I want to join the fun

[dasmegabyte]

Of *COURSE* Bush never made any mistakes. If he had, he might have to change his mind on a policy, and we can't have that. We all know that the reason we aren't supposed to vote for that unpatriotic John Kerry is that he has a histroy of flip flopping on issues. Such a terrible thing. I mean, here he was, supporting the Vietnam war...then he goes there and decides it's bullshit? What's that all about? Getting wounded and seeing your friends killed shouldn't be enough to make you change your mind on policy. Somebody should tell Kerry that if you feel yourself starting to change your mind in politics, you should just walk away. Relax a bit, go golfing. Ride your snowmobile through a protected national forest. Hang out on your ranch in Texas. And only when you've become reassured that your non working programs are the way to go should you even THINK about going back to work.