I feel compelled to comment here for some reason.
I am an atrocity tourist, a watcher of cringe. I can't help myself. Awful, unethical, low-intelligence items. They remain awful, not amusing, I am careful not to give them more of a platform by watching. The most I'll share is amongst friends in an "Isn't this awful?" spirit.
It seems DL can't help himself. I've been watching TSL on and off for years, read the Aunt Joyce blog, etc. The most benevolent thought I'll give to all this material is: It's a shame that some of the direct access to skaters couldn't have resulted in even more insightful, in-depth interviews; given the small-medium platform that TSL did have. There absolutely was a feeling approaching the scratching of an itch -- we had glimpses of looks in to things superfans have always been curious about. But never quite there.
But about not being able to help himself: I'll actually sit there and watch the very long This and That episodes through all the narcissistic, low-brow, low-value interruptions; and lately the co-host commentary that go down to the same level. I've always been infuriated by the lack of anything really material being said and the constant "mm hmm, side eye, IYKYK, (draw your own conclusion about the judgy thing I'm saying with my eyes)" crap, and all the unsaid references to juicy gossip. It's been purely awful and DL makes me very mad.
But because DL is somehow in a professional marketing position, has shown he can actually prepare interesting questions and conduct an interview that really goes in depth, and can really research (at least amongst online they-said they-said basis) -- this is why I think it's clear he can't help himself but spout off-the-cuff, uncontrolled, harmful crap. You can see him twitching, twitching, getting ready to interrupt his co-hosts with pure time-wasting negative nothingness.
On the one hand, the sport deserves better. But, it was a small-ish platform anyway. Despite my own drive-by rubber-necking, yes I think the platform should go away. There are actually some good efforts out there to scratch that itch -- they just need to be socialized more.
I also find this thread fascinating because, no, I don't believe DL made a poignant statement about predatory expensive camps, false hopes, and fundraising. I do think he just spouted nonsense about how early development athletes are somehow supposed to be psychic about plane crashes and make a calculated risk about getting on a flight to a camp and whether their potential is worth that risk. That's an obviously impossible, nonsensical statement, and he's insipid for saying it.
And I do blame the co-hosts and guests for feeding in to it. Jonathan and Neil and Jennifer debase themselves to match the level of b*tchery and probably feel icky afterwards. Megan D and Alissa C should know better.
Here's something telling about the tenuous relationship of "credible threat" or "fly in the ointment" re: USFS and the media: Recall that both Christine Brennan and Phil Hersh support DL's platform. Come on, they're very seasoned journalists. They know about the ethics of journalism, and technically, so does DL. And yet when you read their past work, they too have written uninformed, simplistic, judgemental pieces as well. But because they have quite the journalistic pedigrees, work for papers, and have credentials, that connection gives voice and force to DL. They eat it up, they tolerate it, and that's what makes USFS's treatment of DL careful. (I say this all rather obliquely -- but what I mean is that I witnessed this dynamic happening first hand at a US Nationals. A talk between CB, PH, an NBC commentator we all know, all in USFS space with them listening.)
I feel icky and need to go scrub now.
youtu.be
