“Drill Baby Drill,” our cover story on gas and oil drilling in residential areas, sure struck a nerve. As of this writing, there are about two dozen comments, most of them long and heated, from a few very interested readers.
In this corner we have “NEOGAP,” a poster obviously representing the Northeast Ohio Gas Accountability Project. And in this corner we have “samanthasam,” who has unusually strong opinions on the issue — and time to express them, repeatedly — for someone who just lives in “an Ohio residential neighborhood” and is “proud that our community is producing some of our own energy.”
Sure enough, through the magic of Google we determined that samanthasam was posting from the IP address of — can you guess? — the Ohio Oil and Gas Association. (Another likely industry shill, TelltheTRuth, at least had the sense to post from home. That IP address is owned by a cable company.)
So the supposedly lying tree-hugger propagandist from NEOGAP freely identifies his or her affiliation, while industry hacks attacking NEOGAP, and reporter Erin O’Brien, hide behind the easy anonymity of the web (samanthasam, whom I’ve already outed in the comments, is probably re-registering to post under some other name). Take from that what you will. — Frank Lewis
This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 6, 2009.
when they spell grease like “greese” you know who you’re dealing with
the facts are still there and the journalism is one sided. people like samanthasam and neogap are bias of course they make a living on it(and people are trying to take away their livlihood). the point of blogging is to express your opinion. journalism on the other hand is suppose to be much more thorough than Erin’s article. and as for Frank Lewis instead of spending time tracking ip addresses why dont you sort through the facts and the lies and report on that to try and resolve the matter. the oil and gas industry is getting screwed right now by all these environmentalists who wont be happy till we revert to living like pilgrims(small carbon footprint). and lets face it for some reason the associated press and most media outlets are biased to the left wingers as proven time and time again by this kind of shotty reporting.
For the last time Industry Hack- NEOGAP is NONPARTISAN, many of us want drilling in ANWAR in addition to the many that are environmentalists and prefer alternative energy. We are also UNBIASED (many of us are in YOUR industry) – we agree oil and gas needs produced- we simply ask it be done safely and reasonably. For example, it is legal to drive and legal to drink but protections are put in place to ensure people do not abuse these by drunk driving. Using your extreme logic, you’d say anyone that thinks DUI laws are a good idea means they are against Americans having a right own and drive cars.
Many states already have the same o&g protections in place, why should Ohio lag behind? Thanks to Frank for outing the far end extremist industry folks who are posting here.
wow,
Looks like you have a new best friend, Frank.
I bet you will now be on Neogaps Christmas card list.
If I was Erin or your superiors at Cleveland Scene, I might not be so happy though.
There was a spirited exchange of ideas and information,,,, for a while.
Between your “internet tough guy act” and your “internet Inspector Gadget act”, you single-handedly shut down the discussion.
That whole exchange would have easily gone on for days!!
ok, one more time, as you seem to be a little slow on the uptake: you clearly did not want to debate or discuss. you made baseless accusations, easily refuted, and expected to be taken seriously. when you weren’t, you pouted about being picked on. you’re still pouting. it’s rather sad, frankly. I see now why you won’t identify yourself.
I read a great quote the other day. It came from Charles Blow at the New York Times.
“Beligerence is the currency of the intellectually bankrupt”
Most papers, magazines, etc. are interested sellling readership, subscriptions and advertizing.
Thats how they pay the bills, keep the lights on and pay the heating bill( bet yours is natural gas).
BY being the new “internet sheriff in town”, Frank, and chasing everyone away, I doubt if your employer will be selling anymore subscriptions or advertising to any extraction industry people. YOu just chased away a large segment of society that “isnt buying what Frank is selling.
Most “for profit” publications would have set back and revelled in the spirited debate and exchange.
Journalism 101,,,, never may yourself the story.