News: Much ado about a chair.

The craziness of the internet is one of the reasons I find it so interesting. Everything anyone can imagine being an area of interest is catered for by one means or another. Deep, theological discussions can take place between diverse groups of individuals, with topics ranging across the whole set of human experience.

I stick to a few, fairly conservative corners of the internet, where things are quiet and discussion generally progresses at an even, measured pace.

The geekier areas of the internet are where I can talk about games, hardware and how evil Microsoft are (whilst using a whole bunch of their software). One such semi-regular haunt was Benchmark Reviews. Rather helpfully (for me), the site specializes in reviewing all manner of new or new-ish PC hardware. They also send me an email notification when a new review has been posted. How very modern of them!

It was with some surprise then, that I found myself reading a review of an office chair. Except… well… I had the unnerving impression that I was reading less a review, more an extended advert. Somewhat surprised by what I was reading, I left a comment to the effect that I was confused about whether this was an objective review, or some marketing exercise.

Well, I had no idea where that would lead. Mr Olin Coles, author of the 'review' and Executive Editor of benchmarkreviews.com decided to remove my comments (and his response) and email me. Very cordial and professional the email was, asking me why I thought his review was not giving out the vibe he intended.

Badabing-badaboom, I sit back and watch whilst Stuart Campbell, professional reviewer and owner of my favourite forum proceeds to rip Olin's work to pieces, has his personal details posted on the internet in retaliation and then suffers multiple DMCA takedown notices for his trouble. The story hits Metafilter, Slashdot (not the main page though) and even gets an honourable mention on The Register.

Myself? I get a couple more emails from Olin. One complaining about how I've personally attacked both himself and his website and another vigorously defending his copying of PR and marketing material from both the chair manufacturer and the retailer he bought it from.

The only real conclusion I have is that even bullies can run websites (issuing fraudulent DMCA takedowns as a means of censorship really does spell 'bully', in my book).

If I can cause so much trouble from arguing my opinion about a chair review, then the internet just became a lot more interesting!