I don't mean to disagree with everything that's been said about the level of commenting around here, nor do I think you're off base with your assessment of this thread's comments. I came to terms with my social position long before it was given a name (which I've embraced). But everyone should watch where their fingers are pointing, there's no need to widen the gap between the starred and unstarred commenters. If we need to cut down on toilet humor then let's break out the banhammer. No need to belittle people, just tell them they're not welcome and send them on their way.
If I may quote your work which was referenced in this afternoon's comment segregation I found a particularly poignant statement:
Racism, Classism, Sexism, and other -isms are always unwelcome. As are homophobia, xenophobia, and many of the other -phobias. No explanation necessary.
bold added for emphasis.
While I agree it's necessary to improve the quality of comments on the whole and I accept my role as a non-starred/B-Team/second rate/lower class/Minardi commenter I do not believe it warrants further degradation.
You've been put on a pedestal with your star. You've been praised by others with stars hoisted on their shoulders in adoration. You've made assertions as to proper behavior for all commenters. And you've been placed in the spotlight by Jalopnik's highest authorities. It's time to lead by example, because a do as I say, not as I do attitude will not elicit the results you seek. Gawker put the new commenting class system in place, you've named it, now you're participating in it, I find your remark highly hypocritical and uncalled for.
@TimTim [Minardi]:
Well, see Tim, that's where we'll have to agree to disagree. Because I find your considered response to be first rate.
If more people would take the time/energy/thought to write like you just have instead of making cracks upon cracks about cracks, I think I may have never felt to compelled to stand on this particular soapbox.
@Al Navarro:
Honestly, reading the brilliance put forth by starred commenters in this article is hardly an improvement. More crack jokes, dismissal of us useless Minardis, some filler, and like two reasoned comments. And can you blame anyone for making the same stupid joke that's been made by a Minardi? Nobody sees what we have to say anyway.
You know, all in one day, I get an edit button, I hear that there is going to be a spunky little Fiat 500 convertible, that might even be coming to America, and I see photos of Elle Macpherson getting her first crack.
so I have a theory for the 'new GM'. Hire Elle Macpherson as the spokesperson. The Fiat500 is a great little car, but, let's face it, it's no 8C. But with Elle stepping out, I really do suddenly want one of these very badly indeed. Now, given, it has a handicap when compared the 500, but imagine what might happen to the appeal of an Aveo if you saw her stepping out of it....hmmm....
Edited by dwegmull comments for the purpose of obscurity at 07/09/09 5:29 PM
dwegmull comments for the purpose of obscurity was starred
dwegmull comments for the purpose of obscurity was unstarred
I have really, really tried to dismiss the 500C as another too-style-conscious, astroturfed, metrosexual buzzmaker. But I can't. Even if it comes stateside and immediately becomes the flavor-of-the-week for bimbos and fashionistas, I would seriously consider that as my daily commuter. This surprises me greatly.
@Tanshanomi: Yes, it is a great looking car with a devlishly cool interior, but sadly, unless they do major upgrades to the powertrain, it's a terrible car to drive:
@dolo54 blows minds and blows engines!: No, this is a landau top, what you see above is a rollback, but manufacturers call it whatever they want. Could have been a convertible, cabrio, rollback, ragtop...
@Ben Wojdyla: I know I heard it used to describe that exact roof type (often seen as a VW bug conversion). The wiki page pretty much says it has been used to describe fake convertibles, but was also used on the Rambler to describe that type of convertible... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landau_(automobile)
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
Normally when an Italian takes her top off, I get all excited. However, I was expecting Monica Belluci, and this is wrinklier than Sophia Loren's grandmother.
Firing this surprisingly short press release through the ePRS (patent pending):
Coming to the Geneva Motor Show is the new Fiat 500C. The soft-top version of the venerable 500 will bring back 1957 styling and reliability.
We have declared the 500C is exactly the same as the base 500. Except for the roof. So, its not really "exactly the same", but we're Italian and given to hyperbole.
We are building in reliability, and constructing it with Papa John's ROBUSTO sauce for environmental friendliness.
We have a start/stop system, too! See how green we are!
These will be built in Poland, so expect some things to be backwards. There will be room for at least 2 standard-size dead hookers with easy loading potential thanks to our patented "Dead Hooker Parallelogram Loading System by Fiat".
In an automotive first, we will be offering an electrically operated soft top. Given our reputation for reliability and fantastic engineering, we do not expect any issues with it. Furthermore, being Italian we will not allow you to combine a body color and roof color that will clash.
We are hoping that our innovative and wonderful car will help to save the world from the Carpocalypse and we hope Chrysler gets that $3 billion from the US government so we can sell it in the US to people who don't remember that Fiat stands for Failure In Automotive Technology.
07/09/09
How many "crack" jokes need to be made before the funny wears off. Uhm, one? Tops.
07/09/09
I don't mean to disagree with everything that's been said about the level of commenting around here, nor do I think you're off base with your assessment of this thread's comments. I came to terms with my social position long before it was given a name (which I've embraced). But everyone should watch where their fingers are pointing, there's no need to widen the gap between the starred and unstarred commenters. If we need to cut down on toilet humor then let's break out the banhammer. No need to belittle people, just tell them they're not welcome and send them on their way.
If I may quote your work which was referenced in this afternoon's comment segregation I found a particularly poignant statement:
Racism, Classism, Sexism, and other -isms are always unwelcome. As are homophobia, xenophobia, and many of the other -phobias.
No explanation necessary.
bold added for emphasis.
While I agree it's necessary to improve the quality of comments on the whole and I accept my role as a non-starred/B-Team/second rate/lower class/Minardi commenter I do not believe it warrants further degradation.
You've been put on a pedestal with your star. You've been praised by others with stars hoisted on their shoulders in adoration. You've made assertions as to proper behavior for all commenters. And you've been placed in the spotlight by Jalopnik's highest authorities. It's time to lead by example, because a do as I say, not as I do attitude will not elicit the results you seek. Gawker put the new commenting class system in place, you've named it, now you're participating in it, I find your remark highly hypocritical and uncalled for.
07/09/09
Well, see Tim, that's where we'll have to agree to disagree. Because I find your considered response to be first rate.
If more people would take the time/energy/thought to write like you just have instead of making cracks upon cracks about cracks, I think I may have never felt to compelled to stand on this particular soapbox.
07/09/09
Honestly, reading the brilliance put forth by starred commenters in this article is hardly an improvement. More crack jokes, dismissal of us useless Minardis, some filler, and like two reasoned comments. And can you blame anyone for making the same stupid joke that's been made by a Minardi? Nobody sees what we have to say anyway.
07/09/09
What a country!
07/09/09
07/09/09
/slips hi-res into the "special" folder
07/09/09
also testing pictures.
EDIT:
OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MAN, OHW JUESUZUAAWKERJALKWERAWLKRJAWLK...,XY897W234R583ASKDLF
WE HAVE AN EDIT BUTTON!!!!!
07/09/09
I mean the car, not, Ell.. Wait, no, bring them both here!
As an off topic aside: the ability to edit my comments is great! It even works in Chrome.
07/09/09
07/09/09
Fiat 500: First Drive
07/09/09
07/10/09
Abarth!
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
For a supermodel: someone's pinching the pennies.
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
02/16/09
02/16/09
Coming to the Geneva Motor Show is the new Fiat 500C. The soft-top version of the venerable 500 will bring back 1957 styling and reliability.
We have declared the 500C is exactly the same as the base 500. Except for the roof. So, its not really "exactly the same", but we're Italian and given to hyperbole.
We are building in reliability, and constructing it with Papa John's ROBUSTO sauce for environmental friendliness.
We have a start/stop system, too! See how green we are!
These will be built in Poland, so expect some things to be backwards. There will be room for at least 2 standard-size dead hookers with easy loading potential thanks to our patented "Dead Hooker Parallelogram Loading System by Fiat".
In an automotive first, we will be offering an electrically operated soft top. Given our reputation for reliability and fantastic engineering, we do not expect any issues with it. Furthermore, being Italian we will not allow you to combine a body color and roof color that will clash.
We are hoping that our innovative and wonderful car will help to save the world from the Carpocalypse and we hope Chrysler gets that $3 billion from the US government so we can sell it in the US to people who don't remember that Fiat stands for Failure In Automotive Technology.
02/16/09
And I was always partial to "Fix It Again Tony" for insulting FIAT acronyms.
02/16/09
02/16/09
02/16/09
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02/16/09