Gizmodo - You're Grounded! Bloggers - You're Not.

I just finished giving Gizmodo a time out, when I found out that blogger who played the prank is grounded from attending future CES events. Webware is calling this episode "Gizmodogate" and posted a reply from CEA explaining their position.

But what is disturbing is the discussion that is taking place... Bloggers who say "have a sense of humor" etc... And even blogs from my list of favorites like CrunchGear - who have valid points such as unless bloggers "are ready to act their age and use their skills, energy, and position to help consumers and not piss of PR folks, they’re also sunk." - then put a picture of a womans "douche" in the post... Yeah, really funny - I get it... And mention that "....these sophomoric shenanigans — along with rumors, rants, and fanboyism — are sadly the bread and butter of blogging".

As a mom of three boys, past technical project manager and geek I feel able to provide some motherly-geeky words to put things in perspective:

1. THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF BLOGGING?  It is true that no one does a rant better then bloggers. But isn't the "bread and butter of blogging" fresh opinions and discussions?

2. BLOGGERS ARE ALL KIDS OUT OF COLLEGE? While many bloggers are youngins out of college that have not lost their "fratboy" mentality, what about the "mature" side of that includes hobby bloggers, mom bloggers, dad bloggers, political bloggers, business bloggers, media bloggers, tech bloggers with industry experience and on and on?  Oh, and by the way, what about all of the mainstream media journalists that are jumping on the blogging band wagon? Even Walt Mossberg and David Pogue, who were mentioned in the Crunchgrear post as people who would not pull a prank like that, do pull some amazing blog posts (and are on the list of my blog favorites).

3. HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR?: Believe me being a mom requires a strong sense of humor, where just the mention of a body part sets off potty talk rants. We spend lots of time reminding our kids about manners. But get a bunch of mom bloggers at a conference together and there are lots of drunkin fun going on... The difference is that it happens AT THE PARTIES AFTER THE CONFERENCE... So, lets all have a sense of humor - but take it off the conference floor.. No matter how gimmicky they think the show is..

This single event should just be considered a prank, not a reflection of bloggers - who have earned a permanent place at events like CES.

Update:

• Valleywag posted a commenter's suggestions for more sanctions against the prankster.
• The most interesting comments on the topic were after the Vallewag post by Owen Thomas, who said that the Gizmodo blogger was at CES with a full fledged press pass instead of a blogger pass. And he happens to be selling that press pass, with a (scary) picture that shows him posing him as a booth babe wannabe...