I know the NZ Herald is not what it used to be. It has become a tabloid in size, campaigns, distorts, and thinks it can set the agenda. It used to be the paper of record in NZ. It is not: it is not balanced sufficiently and editorializes when it should be reporting. So excuse a little glee when they report on Gawker. For they loved Nick Denton and his trolls, and reported the scandals. And Gawker is gone. The main thing to note is that Gawker is a creature of Ziff-Davis, who write textbooks: a dying business. I don’t use textbooks to teach: they are too out-of-date.
Gawker Media has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The move comes three months after a Florida jury awarded Hulk Hogan US$140 million in damages after he sued the company for publishing excerpts from a sex tape he made over a decade ago, the Daily Mail reported.
The ruling was upheld by Florida Circuit Judge Pamela Campbell late last month, who made the decision to not order a new trial in the case or adjust the damages awarded to Hogan by the jury.
Gawker is in the process of appealing the March jury verdict but was forced to hand over a US$50 million bond after the jury verdict.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the company will now be put up for auction and that publisher Ziff Davis will make a opening bid of US$100 million, which Gawker is preparing to accept.
They are also reporting Gawker has received a US$22 million bankruptcy loan to keep the business afloat prior to their sale at auction.
Ziff Davis chief executive Vivek Shah emailed his employees about the possible purchase on Friday, saying: “There’s a tremendous fit between the two organizations, from brands to audience to monetisation. We look forward to the possibility of adding these great brands-and the talented people who support them-to the Ziff Davis family.”:
The auction is set to take place in July.
What Gawker wanted was people to converge and show their virtue. Say the correct things. Shoult at the approved rallies. Wear the required ribbons in their season: Pink for Breast Cancer, White for domestic violence (male only), red or rainbow for AIDS… to signal that you were part of an elite.
Gawker monitored this carefully. If you did not signal virtue, you would be shunned. But unrighteousness and inequality by the approved groups must never be reported. The signaling sufficed, and there was no need then for pain and reform. So Hollywood converged because it was easier to signal virtue to the progressives than become righteous.
These ribbons are akin to circumcision in Galatia, and Paul finished the book by writing the last part of the manuscript himself, so all knew it came from him.
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
(Galatians 6:11-18 ESV)
The social justice warriors do not think the laws apply to them, for their virtue is signaled. There is but one problem with that. The progressive agenda is bad for you, even the more benign parts of it. We put our young people under too much pressure.
I need not defend the law of Moses. It is profitable for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness. But even the most pedantic of the Rabbizim have nothing on this bunch of micromanaging control freaks campaigning in the name of social justice. They want to circumcise our brains. Do not let them.