Thanks for nothing Edmonton Oilers organization.


On Sunday, I was following the Oilers blogging on Covered in Oil and Lowetide. During the intermission, the live-blog that Pleasure Motors had been doing disappeared. In other comments threads we joked about him getting in trouble for writing about the game from the press-box. We didn't know that was actually the truth.

If you haven't already, read his account of the evening.

This is disappointing on so many levels.

As a member of the media, I am not surprised by their actions because it happens all too often.
As an oilers blogger, I am hurt that the support the oilogosphere generates seems to be ignored.
As a huge fan of the team, I am angry that they would treat such an equally huge supporter so poorly.
And as a human being, I am saddened that they feel they need to censor us.

I mentioned it in the comments over at CIO, but I'm hoping for your suggestions here. How can we spread the word about this? Should we do a blog blackout? And turn the blogs off for a week? Should we ban Oilers Nation until they abide by the same rules? Should we spam the Oilers website?

Ideas please...

For those being linked here from other blogs, here is the newest post.

Comments

Dennis said…
I am down for whatever you guys come up with.

I was contributing to Oilfans before blogging was cool and I always suspected the brass would do things like this and now they've taken that step.
Loxy said…
Oh, back in the day when I spent way too many hours at Oilfans...
andy grabia said…
One of your links is broken, darling.

Great post.
Lord Bob said…
My lack of updates and one reader (my mom) is at the disposal of whatever comes up.
marriedtotheoil said…
What Lord Bob said.
BenJammin said…
Well put. I don't know anything about how to do it but spamming sounds like fun. I'm on board for whatever is decided upon though.
Dennis said…
Loxy: No doubt. I still think OF is the precursor for a lot of what's happening now, though.

A lot of guys -- and gals -- cut their teeth over there.
stagerat said…
Stumbled across the original tale and followed it here. As a citizen of the hockey-blighted south canadia (us) I understand I have limited input here. But I would suggest something more PR, than destructive. Get the visual media involved, especially the stations that don't broadcast Oiler games and might have a bit of an axe to grind. Also, the print-bloggers might in some corporately handcuffed way get the word out as long as most of it wasn't abusive. Also get the word out on the NHL/ESPN/TSN/CBC blogs,and comments and q&a's that don't have to kiss oiler ass, and let them pester them. Let them get an earful from someone who doesn't give a ratshit about their 'golden press (kiss my) pass' and see how they like listening to someone they can't shut up... in my humble, yet all knowing opinion.
Anonymous said…
I hate to be captain obvious here, but Dave quitting his blog is exactly what "the organization" wants. Best thing he could do is to keep contributing to what has become an outstanding contribution to the 'sphere.

Following, every blog on the 'sphere should publish Dave's post. There's alot more attention to this medium than you think. Why do you think the Oiler MIB's were so insistent he stop writing something they couldn't control?
Anonymous said…
Heh heh - "contributing" should be "posting". Playing Andy's game tonight I'm afraid.
Doogie2K said…
I would suggest talking to your friendly neighbourhood MSM-blogosphere crossover players -- Staples, Mirtle, OFB -- and finding out what recourse they recommend. They, of all people, will know how to approach things in a way that won't burn bridges.
McLea said…
And as a human being, I am saddened that they feel they need to censor us.

Oh wow. Not to accuse you of being a little over dramatic, but he was live blogging a hockey game. Let's try to keep this in perspective.

And how left coast of you to propose a boycott. Maybe you bleeding hearts can hold a hunger strike too.
Loxy said…
Mclea:

So they weren't trying to censor what Dave was writing? Just because it's not the government burning books, doesn't mean he wasn't being censored.

Why is it left coast of me to propose a boycott? How am I a bleeding heart? I just want to show that this isn't cool.

Thanks for only showing up when you have something assholian to write. It's very typical of you.
amw said…
I'm printing out all the blog posts I can find and mailing them in. (yes, paper, Canada Post, etc.)
marriedtotheoil said…
stagerat & doogie2k both make excellent points, I think.
Anonymous said…
I suggest non stop phone calls to the oilers media relations department. They have to answer all calls. Talk to them about random stuff, including the blogging massacre at Rexall Place
Anonymous said…
Make a nude calendar of all oiler bloggers - then force Allan Watt to look at it.
Allie Wojtaszek said…
By our very nature Bloggers can only be censored if we allow it.

Blogging is new enough to the media scene that no one really knows what the "rules" are. Doesn't mean that bloggers should be pushed around or bullied though, especially by big organizations like the Oilers.

I suggest everyone let the Oilers know that they enjoyed the live blog and that it added to the game experience. And if they wanted to throw in the name "pinhead" a few times that would be good too.
Anonymous said…
Listen I'm a Oiler fan, and never thought I would say this but.......Mclea is right.

Take a freakn' pill. Its not that big of a deal.

And stop hacking on ON, you really aren't that different then they are.

That is all.
Red said…
From what I can tell from Dave's final posts is that he wasn't so much upset of being shut down as he was upset on how it was handled. The Oilers have every right to invite, remove or ban who ever they want from their press box. Right or wrong, they also have the right to approve or disapprove of blogging in their name.

IMO the best thing we can do is to keep on bloging. One day they will wake up and realize that blogging isn't going to go away. David S is right, David leaving CinO is, really, what they wanted. Or rather, one less pesky blogger.

Let's keep our blogs, keep our devotion to the team. They'll come around.

I didn't mean to make my comments so long... sorry.

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