How to be the most hated person on the Internet: Five role models

Dave Winer believes he is "one of the most hated people on the Internet" (full blog post). We tip our hats to him. It's quite an achievement. Considering all the trolls, jerks, and narcissists (yes, me too) who post like crazy on the Web, it's no mean feat to be hated by so many.

But there can be only one who is "most hated." And we wonder how one goes about achieving that distinction. Restricting the discussion to technology personalities who are active contributors of original content, we came up with five contenders, and what we think they are doing so well that we can all learn from.

Dave Winer
He was a big contributor to the inventions of blogging, RSS, and other key Web technologies. But to call him prickly when it comes to his place in the tech firmament is an understatement. Typical story: I wrote a how-to piece on RSS but neglected to mention his contribution, and then Winer posted a blog item in which he equated me to Dan Rather on 60 Minutes during the GM exploding fuel tank story. When I at first contacted him privately in an e-mail, he publicly demanded an apology. Winer's secret: Be smart, and then be abusive. See also: The Winer Number.

Where to find him: Scripting News. Twitter: DaveWiner.

Michael Arrington
He started TechCrunch, the right blog at the right time. Then he milked his position and growing power by bullying start-ups with threats of no coverage if he wasn't given exclusives, slamming The New York Times' ethics, and stating "If I'm first, I don't have to be...intelligent." A lawyer by training, Arrington uses a litigator's tactics: Make bold arguments that draw attention to your case but make people hate you in the process. They're less likely to forget you that way.

Where to find him: TechCrunch. Twitter: TechCrunch.

Jason Calacanis
A media entrepreneur whose big win so far is having sold the blog network behind Engadget to AOL, he has since taken to acting like a new-money rock star, publicly buying flashy cars, strutting around the conference he produced with Arrington with his two mascot bulldogs, calling his Twitter followers the "Jason Nation," and then telling bloggers he's too good for the medium, opting to write instead to a private e-mail list. His weapons of choice: arrogance and money.

Where to find him: CEO of Mahalo. E-mail list signup on Binhost. Blog: Calacanis.com. Twitter: JasonCalacanis.

Loren Feldman
In response to a now-forgotten slight, the grouchy videoblogger of 1938 Media started mocking PR consultant and social media guru Shel Israel mercilessly, via a video series featuring a sock puppet of Israel cluelessly interviewing online celebs. Feldman also registered ShelIsrael.com and put up fake posts under Israel's name. The public divisiveness of the conflict delighted many, but the mean-spirited bludgeoning offended many others. Feldman is charming in public but has a unique skill: He not only knows how to hold a grudge, he can nurse it like it's a helpless kitten.

Where to find him: 1938 Media. Twitter: 1938media.

Owen Thomas
The chief blogger at Valleywag takes stabs at anyone and everyone in the tech world. Although arguably just doing the bidding of Nick Denton, CEO of Gawker Media and his employer, Thomas' Valleywag dishes out a lot of dirt, much of it highly personal and enough of it inaccurate. Owen's talent is having no boundaries. Everything in a tech person's life, true or not, is fair game on Valleywag.

Where to find him: Valleywag. Twitter: Valleywag.

Disclosure: Thomas used to work for me at Red Herring.

One has to ask...
Is being hated always a bad thing? It's working out well for the people on this list. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

[Mr. Dee]

More like a bunch of nobody's!

[M C]

Yeah, the "A-list bloggers" forget that 99.9% of the online masses don't read the "A-list bloggers." They have no clue who started Weblogs Inc., or what Weblogs Inc. is for that matter. All this posturing and hating happens in an insular world that the vast majority of us know of or could care less about.

Mind you, that small group of people avidly reads the blogs in question and rabidly monitors news of who's doing what to whom, to the point that they can temporarily inflate the fortunes of a Valleywag or TechCrunch. But as we're seeing, there's a hard wall these sites run into called "the real world."

In fact, the idea that vastly more people know, for example, Tay Zonday than know Arrington, Calcanis, Winer, Feldman and Thomas combined probably eats them up almost as much as the fact that Zonday has done more for society than their self-aggrandizement will ever do.

[Earl Benzar]

I have no desire to read these "A List" bloggers. These are folks who are making money doing nothing more than silicon valley gossip columns. I'd rather spend my time doing something productive (creating a tech business) and avoid these techarazzi's as much as I can.

[bsmith2003]

Come on now...who realllllly cares. Cut me a break and get a real life.

[delizabeth--2008]

I'll take being a nice nobody over being wealthy, well-known and hated.

[Qwavel]

This is quite narrow - it appears to be just the most hated of the blogging community. People who blog nasty.

It leaves out all sorts of interesting people.

The most obvious is Steve Jobs. Arrogant, nasty, and obnoxious - hated by millions but adored by even more millions.

How about Larry Ellison, or Marc Cuban?

These guys are hated by a much larger number of people then the ones listed.

[Earl Benzar]

> The most obvious is Steve Jobs.

Oh please let this not become yet another Apple versus Microsoft thread.


> How about Larry Ellison

I have one for the list: Fanboys of any stripe. They, along with spammers, are the most obnoxious trend on the web.

[Get_Bent]

Earl Benzar> Oh please let this not become yet another Apple versus Microsoft thread.

Qwavel didn't say anything of the sort. _You_ made that association all by yourself.

I'll second the opinion that Steve Jobs is arrogant and self-important, but I think he has a way to go to qualify as one of the most-hated people on the Internet.

[lisacast]

It's important to be honest and it's smart to be controversial.

[Hep Cat]

Winer is an incredible whiner. But as you proved with your column about moving from Windows to the Mac, you're a wanker too.

[mediathink]

Rollo May said the opposite of love isn't hate. It's indifference. Web content and its associated audience illustrate that well. Another axiom worth quoting in this context (though I'm sorry I can't source it) is "Mean people suck".

[rafe]

Indeed, one could argue that on blogs, the more hated you are, the more influential you are. Which I hate.

[dargon19888]

Sorry but none of the names were of anyone of consequence.

Try Spamford Wallace as one of the more notorious spammers. And also Dave Linhardt a spammer who sued Spamhaus.org.

Two names, forever hated, yet only a techie knows the story.

[JoeF2]

I was expecting the name Darl McBride...
But of course, that story is also only known to techies.

[cynthiaholladay]

Is being hated always a bad thing? It's working out well for the people on this list...

This question is a bit like the old PR question -- is all publicity good publicity?

The bigger questions to ask - the list and the ones who hate them (or not) - is, "What do you stand for?" Then follow it with, "Why are you doing this?"

If the subsequent answers do not line up with the first, there is fragmentation - the road to eventual suffering. If, in the end, it's all about "me" - the purpose is not sustainable. Focus on purpose - not about who hates you or who likes you.

[thegravity]

ahhh, this is what i love about the internet.

comments like backsides, everyone has one.

[fugawe]

Yeah, you can't spell whiner without winer.

[cprincipe]

Loren sounds like a bit of a jerk. I can't believe he spends so much energy attacking one guy.

[interval1066]

I read Arrington's blog, and I enjoy it, but again, probably belongs in the "no consequence" category. If he bullies companies, well, his bad. But in the big scheme of things to come, big deal. Never heard of the other 4. I'm rating this column a big fat 10- not worth reading. I was hoping to read about people I could really hate.

[interval1066]

I read Arrington's blog, and I enjoy it, but again, probably belongs in the "no consequence" category. If he bullies companies, well, his bad. But in the big scheme of things to come, big deal. Never heard of the other 4. I'm rating this column a big fat 1- not worth reading. I was hoping to read about people I could really hate.

[jasoncalacanis]

I wouldn't argue that these folks are the most hated, I think that the issue is that the web--and specifically blogs--allow the hate to manifest itself in a very real way.

I've got the same 10 trolls following me all over the web posting harsh comments. Some of them are people I fired, others are mentally unstable people. The web creates a lack of empathy in people and they lash out at folks that creates this false perception.

Are there a dozen (or five dozen) folks out there who hate each of the folks above? Sure... let's say there are. There are tens of thousands of folks who love the folks above. I know I travel around the world, get invited to an infinite number of dinners and parties, and my social schedule is filled with delightful moments constantly.

This "most hated" meme is nonsense. I experience almost no hate in my life--except when I read blogs. Which is why I got out of the blog game--it's filled with hate and a lack of empathy. I've never once had one of the cowards who flame me online come up and say anything hash to my face. In fact, when I meet some of the folks who have said something harsh the FIRST thing they say to me is that they are sorry for what they said online! That has happened a couple of times.

So, hate on....

.... and I didn't buy the Tesla because it's expensive... I bought it because it's a) sexy, b) green and c) really F@#$%king fast!!! :-)

best jcal

[rafe]

Jason, I respect you and what you've done, but you do act like a mini-Trump some days.

Props to you for not being an outbound hater, but if you want to live the blinged-out life, you're going to get flack for it. And while get it about the Tesla, I also remember people in the audience at TC50 groaning when you talked about your Lexus.

[daveyclarkey]

the computer is a wonderful cloak for some people (i.e. your proverbial haters). this is, in fact, one of the social drawbacks of the web - everyone rolls much harder than they are or need to be when it comes down to it (gangsta, eh?)... but that's another story.

idea: we should have a "most hated web role models" competition. bear grylls, mike rowe and survivor man take participants out into the nunavut. they prep the participants (distribute swords, twine and duct tape), then they peace out in a heli. first participant back to LA or SF or wherever becomes "super awesome lebron james king of the internet." we'll hold a coronation.

[nwjerseyliz]

I admire what you've accomplished but you name drop to an obnoxious degree. Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous & conspicuous consumption in this day & age are insensitive & tacky. Revel in your celebrity contacts privately.

[jasoncalacanis]

Rafe: But I don't own a Lexus, and frankly a Lexus is like 1/4 or 1/3rd the cost of Tesla. Who cares? Larry and Sergy and countless others have jets... who cares. I was broken five years ago and now I've got a modest amount of scratch to buy a fast car. Yawn. My nest egg is about the size of the number of shares Google CEO sells in an average *day* on autosell.

I'm not going to suddenly shut up and not be honest with my friends and fans because my life is better now. I'm the same person just with a faster car and I get invited to fancier parties. Really... who cares. I think it's more honest to share what it's like on the inside since I've been an outsider for so long.

If people think that me being honest is showing off, well, that's their issue.

Also, nwjerseyliz, while I understand your point, frankly I don't care if it's the great depression out there... I think folks should be honest at all times. If I go to Sundance or Tokyo for a conference why shouldn't I blog it? Again, I think it's important to be honest... not sure why I think it's so important, but I think it's because as beat journalist I was trained to tell it like it is. I'm not going to stop telling it like it is just because of something as insignificant as money.

on the realz.... jcal

[tracyswedlow]

The problem with technology blogging is that it's blogging: it's not journalism. One takes a big risk when one conveys their opinions about people's businesses in a superficial way and does not factcheck. One takes a risk when one blogs about one's life outside of technology coverage because you invite criticism about your lifestyle (deserved or undeserved) ultimately obscuring why people were following you in the first place. Are you a blogger about your life or a journalist blogger about a subject and reporting? The blurring of the lines stirs anger. When one states that they won't accept anything other than exclusives and that they will print outside of NDAs as Arrington said he would, he's going to make a lot of professional enemies because he's pushing his weight around and changing the rules of the press game and smaller businesses feel that weight, too, and rail against that kind of pressure ultimately finding ways around it or to someone else or something else. Ultimately, though, Arrington and the rest of this crowd are still bloggers and their products is their personality or is it? CrunchBase is a great product, but TechCrunch is a "bloguct" (my word). Don't forget that. They have weight, but not the weight of objectivity. Blogging may be the "new" journalism, but people have to remember that blurring the lines on the steppes of the Web invites the digital Huns to invade...and they will. This time, they smell blood.

[divisionbyzero]

I have to admit I'm not impressed with blogs. So, I guess it's not surprising that I don't recognize any of the names on this list. I wonder if it bothers them that I never knew they existed until now and couldn't care less? Probably not as I'm sure that they would consider it a sign of my cluelessness. Oh well, I'd rather be clueless than waste my time on some inane blog.

[Inconnux]

Never heard of any of them.

#1 Steve Balmer - does anyone think this man is competent to run the worlds largest software company

#2 Darl McBride - SCO's lovable leader. Products who need products when you can sue for profit!

#3 Spamford Wallace - love those junk emails.

#4 Larry Ellison - our database is unhackable...

and last but certainly not least!

#5 Bill Gates - for abandoning us to #1

[aMUSICsite]

/\ A much more logical list of people.

Whoever came up the the articles list obvoiusly needs to get out and meet some real people, no one has ever heard of any of them...

[MadLyb]

Do I have to live in or near the valley to even know these people?

Didn't even vote.

[tomws]

I don't think you necessarily have to live in the vicinity, but you do need to have your head crammed up your own brown-hole and spend your whole day convincing people that blogging is a real job.

Hmm... now that I type that out, I guess it does pretty much cover tech in the valley.

[Regac]

But where is Scoble?
I hate him just as much as any of these guys...

[mf_1234]

I have one to add to the list: Rafe Needleman

Hatemonger. Grow up.

[rafe]

After I wrote this story, I took private notes on how I thought the men I mentioned would react. Here are my predictions, and how I did on them...

Winer: Will be offended and complain publicly. Totally wrong. He took it in good humor and even hugged me (on Twitter) after the post: http://twitter.com/davewiner/statuses/1150768257.

Arrington: Story will get under his skin, and he'll find a way to get back at me later. Wrong on the "later" part. He posted this item slamming CNET today: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/26/report-steve-jobs-is-in-the-office-today/

Calacanis: Will love the story, and link to it. Pretty close. He sent this note out to me and all the people in the story: "***?? How am I in third place in voting on this?!? :-)" He also posted a comment.

Feldman: Will laugh it off. I assume accurate. Haven't heard from him.

Thomas: Won't care. Wrongish. In an e-mail to me with the subject line, "Honored, of course," he challenged the claim I made in the story that any of his articles mentioning someone's personal life was inaccurate.

Scoble: Will complain he wasn't included. Just kidding, Robert! (But he was on a plane all day, so there's still time.)

And with that, I will return to covering technology and products, not my compatriots and competitors.

[JSRoman]

Rafe,

Now look what you caused. Bad Rafe!

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/technology/5287691/citing-threats-techcrunch-founder-taking-a-break/