And Lee/Swirthie- yeah, I really think the dumbs commenting on OTI will increase in number as time goes on. There are already the idiots that say, “You guys are thinking too hard,” or thereabouts. It’s only a matter of tiem before teh n00bs come n invayde. (Note: As I’ve said before, while my grammar and spelling aren’t immaculate, typing incorrectly *on purpose* is very hard for me to accomplish successfully. Sorry.)

And as much as I would like you guys to be successful, I can shamelessly say that I like this site not being well known enough to receive those kinds of comments.
I apologise for sounding incredibly selfish and priggish, but it’s true.

Also, re: comments in general, I can only assume that as the popularity of this site grows, the appearance of “FRIST PSOT” in the comments will only become more frequent.

It made me wonder whether this should be an acceptable source for any sort of story. Anyone who has ever read a series of youtube comments knows that far too many of them are completely ridiculous.

Example: After watching the “rant” on youtube, I checked the comments and only the second one down said something along the lines of “I bet that’s what he shouts when he’s beating his mum and sister”.

Yes, what a truly intellectual statement to present to the world. Let’s just ignore the fact that that would make absolutely no sense whatsoever, as well as that Bale was held for 4 hours on a VERBAL abuse charge against his mother and sister. This does seem like the sort of opinion that should be included in a national news story.

So my question (after what is probably far too much build-up) is this: Is it ok for a newspaper/news website/news channel to use quotes from comments* made on youtube or other media sharing websites to present a story? Do they need to present to us other peoples reactions and opinions to something going on, isn’t that a bit unethical? Surely these news stories are there to offer us the facts and allow us to form our own opinions, not just give us one side of the story and then tell us “this is what other people think about it, you should think this too”. And if they are going to do that, what are the limits? Can they take a quote from the wall of someone’s facebook? Can a persons myspace page be used as a source for a story?
By giving every person a voice, has the internet disrupted the news media and changed the way we learn about current events so that it is no longer possible to hear a factual, unbiased explanation of any story?

Ok so that turned in to a series of questions. I may have gone a bit over the top. But it just goes to show that once you get started on something you disagree with, it’s very hard to shut yourself up.

*On an unrelated topic, that is one of the things I love about this site, and why an open thread for you guys works – that the people who read and comment on these offer their own interpretations or opinions on the topic at hand and don’t just say things like “dis iz so not funy. u guys ar laaaame u need to get a lief. reding dis made me wnat 2 hit my balls wiv a brik as dat wud be funyer and mor fun!!!1111″ as you seem to get on so many other sites.

As for Christian Bale, the defenses for him are the same as yours. I’ve never been on a movie set, but I know how it feels to have had a terrible day and make the mistake of blowing up at someone. And his apology sounds sincere, too (and I like how he gives Michael Phelps props at the end of it, as well).

Speaking of Heroes, though, I really liked the Super Bowl commercial for the new season.

You know I’m sick of the Christian Bale story. As a guy who has spent a little time on a few film sets, I can tell you they are extremely tense places. Dude had a bad day at work and lost his temper. Throwing a tantrum surely isn’t his proudest moment, but if I had my worst days recorded and broadcast to the world, they would be a lot worse than that.

Also, actors are people whom we PAY for their poor impulse control.

I’m boycotting the Grammys this year because Bos Skaggs was snuffed last year. Ahem.

Anyhoo, _Top Chef_ pissed me off SO much. Leah’s mistakes throughout the episide (and, frankly, the whole season) demonstrate how she is NOT AS GOOD as Jamie. Now, Jamie may not have been my own favorite, but I do think she deserved to stay longer than Leah. The judges even sounded like they’d go the other way, so I was totally shocked.

And I can’t believe you left out celebrity blowups and subsequent defenses and jibes (from Whoopie to Colbert, for crying out loud).