A Conversation with Rob Malda - Part One of Three (Video)

Slashdot's Glorious 15th Anniversary (link to bad fireworks video) is coming up in October, so Jeff 'Soulskill' Boehm and Rob 'samzenpus' Rozeboom decided to have a chat with Rob Malda. Back in 1997 Rob founded a website named Chips & Dips that later morphed into something called Slashdot, which has been (as the saying goes) "often imitated but never duplicated." Since leaving Slashdot, Rob has been doing this, that, and the other, but we'll let him tell you what he's doing in his own words. Note: This is an audio interview with some semi-interesting photos laid over it as a slide show, so you might want to listen to it rather than watch it. Parts Two and Three of the interview will be along in the next few days.

Comments

Sorry, Did Not Listen

[Anonymous Coward]

Why post an audio interview without a transcript? Way to know your audience.

Who?

[jfengel]

Oh, it's all so 2011.

Re:Who?

[jokkebk]

I have to say I'm not certain why all these "Rob Malda gets a job" and "Rob Malda discusses Reddit" articles that have appeared since he resigned from Slashdot are relevant news for nerds. I've been following the site since the nineties, and with the exception of few posts (like the proposal mentioned earlier), the editors were never a focus in the posts, but the news instead.

I would assume the people who wanted to follow CmdrTaco more carefully could, like, follow his personal website or something. At least to me, the Slashdot culture has never centered around any figureheads, but the community and commenters (and of course Rob Malda was an integral part of both for a long time).

At least this three-part interview series could've been timed to occur more closely with the 15 year anniversary, now it just feels like free PR push.

Transcript, please.

[heptapod]

Enough with the video.

Re:Transcript, please.

[avandesande]

Yeah, like you were going to RTFA anyway ;-)

What does it mean 'what would it become'?

[roman_mir]

I mean what do you think /. is? Maybe it's something that I don't understand at all, it's a forum, it's an advertising platform, it has themes that are supposedly geared towards technology (but also plenty of flaming... well, that's an advertising technique).

But I don't get it probably, what does Malda mean by 'what it will become'? What could it become, except diluted over time? It's like a newsgroup, maybe it's IRC with memory, but what is he talking about?

Re:Questions to Rob Malda (anyone can answer)

[dkleinsc]

Because it was Valentine's Day, he wanted to do something both geeky and romantic, he knew Kathleen would see it, and she said "yes".

Re:Will there be meetups like we did for 10?

[Fnord666]

And should it be limited to people with slashdot ID's of 4 digits or fewer?

Yes it should. Just be sure to schedule it in time for the early bird specials and wrap it up before 8pm so everyone can get to bed on time.

Re:Will there be meetups like we did for 10?

[TheRaven64]

Thanks for that one /sarcasm ...from now until the end of time, Google is going to be aware I searched the android market place for 'grindr' and think I'm a queermo.

So, which of the following are the reasons that this worries you?

• You're in the closet and don't want to be accidentally outed by Google.
• You're violently homophobic and frightened of anyone thinking you might be gay.
• You are worried by the thought that Google's database about you may contain errors making it less valuable when they sell the use of your personal information to advertisers.

Re:Will there be meetups like we did for 10?

[Anthony]

Naturally yes. I like the early-bed time, but the sun never sets on Slashdot.