<!---------------BALL DROPPED: Ron Paul on Slashdot---------------!>

[stevenstremciuc]

Here is the URL to a slashdot interview released today with the Ron Paul Campaign: http://interviews.slashdot.org/interviews/08/02/05/1511225.shtml

For those who don't know, Slashdot is one of the most popular tech blog sites of all times. It has been around for over 10 years and when you sign up today you get a 7 digit user id (millions of users). I've personally been reading the site for about 7 years and dozens of my tech friends have been as well. As most people who have worked in IT know, a lot of tech workers are small l libertarians.

That's why it is a huge disappointment to see hundreds of thousands of tech people given this sorry excuse for an interview. I can understand readers of this board not knowing what slashdot is, but for whoever is responsible for handling interviews with media to not know, is so depressing. Sometimes I think Ron Paul surrounds himself with a bunch of shut ins who don't know anything outside the mises.org world. The kind of guys who at a party would be huddled together in the corner content to ignore everyone else.

 

[Korey Kaczynski]

Who cares? Slashdot isn't very political nor is it as important.

 

[Jae0]

Yeah i've never heard of the place.
I dont know why Digg is so important either. I've never been there.

 

[AlexMerced]

we already got the internet crowd, and the interview is fine

 

[billjarrett]

Yeah i've never heard of the place.
I dont know why Digg is so important either. I've never been there.

Slashdot is HUGE. I check the site several times a day, as do most of my friends.

It is big enough that it gets http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slashdot_effect named after it.

 

[aravoth]

Dude, the only people slashdot competes for readership is the New York Times, or USA Today. It is a big deal.

 

[bc2208]

Uh, what is your problem with the interview?

 

[Gadsdenfly]

Who cares? Slashdot isn't very political nor is it as important.

It is very big in the techie community. They cover many political issues especially having to do with electronic freedom. I have read Slashdot for years and there is a definite libertarian bent.

 

[stevenstremciuc]

Who cares? Slashdot isn't very political nor is it as important.

As important as what? Slashdot's viewer numbers rivals that of established MSM papers. Whenever you get a chance to get your message out and represent yourself to hundreds of thousands of voters, it's not unimportant.

And to the people that have the "I don't go to that site so it's not important" mentality: So you don't go to that site? That's probably cause you're not in the target demographic. Get over yourself.

 

[Jae0]

I dontk now anyone who goes to Slashdot.

 

[billjarrett]

Uh, what is your problem with the interview?

I'd say first of all, Slashdotters are readers. They link some pretty long technical articles off of that site sometimes, and the people there read them (well, alot do.. theres always those few that start posting comments off the title)...

I think the Slashdotters expected more than a few sentences per answer.

 

[MayTheRonBeWithYou]

Pretty pathetic.

Ron needs to support NASA. A strong case can be made that it relates to national security. It's one of the few gov agencies that actually does great things!

 

[stevenstremciuc]

As far as why the interview is bad, look at question #3 (of 5). The question asks why marijuana users are the enemy in a war on drugs. And Ron Paul's answer is "I oppose federal laws outlawing marijuana and I oppose federal interference with state medical marijuana laws.". When you answer what amounts to 1/5th of your interview with a 1 sentence answer, on a topic as controversial as the war on drugs, you're doing the readers a huge disservice. He could've written paragraphs on how he feels the role of government is not to tell individuals what they can or can't do and how he is pro individual responsibility and the slashdot crowd would have lapped it up like hungry kittens. Same for the other questions. Instead, the answer really says "I don't think this interview is important".

 

[jblosser]

Mod me up and I'll do what I can: http://interviews.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=442666&cid=22308656

 

[HenryKnoxFineBooks]

Um, he answered it in a clear, concise, straight answer, like the question #2 asked why they couldnt get one. I actually think the questions from the site were weak, poorly phrased, leading, and unimaginative.

 

[tonyr1988]

I'd rather have a more extensive interview with better answers, although it's nice that they actually responded.

And you people you don't think /. is important - it is *HUGE.* Much bigger than Digg ever dreamed of being - plus, for the most part, /. has more mature, consistently voting, readers than Digg and other sites.

 

[Zolah]

Are Slashdotters suddenly unable to research Ron Paul themselves?

 

[stevenstremciuc]

Um, he answered it in a clear, concise, straight answer, like the question #2 asked why they couldnt get one. I actually think the questions from the site were weak, poorly phrased, leading, and unimaginative.

I don't argue that the questions weren't that great. What you don't do in that situation is dismiss the interview, not if you care about the readers. He could've written as much as he wanted detailing his positions, and the typical Slashdot reader would have read every word. I've read hundreds of interviews on Slashdot, and oftentimes the typical interviewee will write a couple paragraphs per question. This is what is expected.

Now I know there are RP supporters on Slashdot (i'm one of them) that will try and do damage control in the comments, but this is one that is impossible to salvage. Immediately the comments started turning into this:

I'm overwhelmed by RP's insight and commitment to these issues, and can't wait to put him into a leadership position.</sarcasm>

None of the answers say anything.

etc.. and they're right.

 

[jumpyg1258]

Ive been reading slashdot for at least 8 years and yea whoever wrote the responses in that interview did a poor job.

 

[stevenstremciuc]

Are Slashdotters suddenly unable to research Ron Paul themselves?

It sounds like you are suggesting that the campaign strategy should be "Let the voters research the candidates and issues and decide for themselves without our help. Otherwise we don't want their votes." Here's a hint, when someone asks you what you think about issues and you are campaigning for office, you don't say "Go research it, you're not worth my time to explain things"