I’m looking at the series of posts on Barrett Brown by Robert Stacy McCain with some amazement. Next month it will be one year since I met Stacy McCain face to face for the first time and what a year it has been.
Now in theory one could say Mr. Brown was only following Mr. McCain’s rules for getting 1,000,000 hits namely Rule 1 via links and rule 4 via his attacks on Donald Douglas and threats of legal action
Might I humbly suggest that if one his hoping for links and attention from Robert Stacy McCain it is possible to achieve that without a threat of a lawsuit.
First of all Stacy’s hit on you should have been cause for rejoicing. I presume the goal was attention, and even more importantly sympathy from others on the left, then fine. It’s well-known that if you can get someone to “punch down” so to speak then you will get those increased hits and ratings (read MSM and Sarah Palin). Stacy being a man of honor would have likely ignored you but when you hit a Donald Douglas it put his muse into overdrive. One should have taken that as a badge of honor, pocketed the increased traffic and moved on.
Instead you decide to actually threaten Mr. McCain with a lawsuit. Amazing! I don’t know if you are independently wealthy or just a kid, but Barrett take it from someone old enough to be your father; not only is it not a manly thing its a foolish thing. It makes you seem weak and shallow and tells the world that a post from a man you’ve never met is enough to make you go running and crying and has only succeeded in giving him an instalanche.
Mind you McCain’s post have no chance of hurting your ability to earn a living, if that was the case then maybe action could be considered, it’s only effect would be to give you more attention than you apparently deserve and make “D”/ “C” list bloggers (like myself) decide you aren’t worth a link in the future.
If I may be so bold as to suggest, instead of making enemies make friends. Back when the McCain/Johnson wars were in full swing Stacy announced the impending nuptials of his oldest daughter and I thought: “What a great opportunity for Charles Johnson to make peace by offering congratulations saying something like:
“Mr. McCain our feud not withstanding; let me congratulate your daughter on her upcoming wedding and wish her the best and much happiness.” Note NOT an actual Charles Johnson quote
A man like Stacy McCain would have been compelled to acknowledge such a gracious act publicly and it would have been a chance to soften the relationship so that when they disagreed they could cross link, each get additional hits and perhaps even meet socially and mend some fences. Stacy is a notoriously social animal and is very amiable to such an approach. Alas it was not to be.
Weigel joins the axis of Fedora
May I humbly suggest as a person who through a series of fortuitous events has the honor of calling Stacy friend that
the occasion of his daughter’s birthday is an opportunity for such an event. Consider sending a birthday greeting and dropping the foolish threats. Talk humbly and perhaps you can win a friend. After all when Dave Weigel was being hit all over the right side of the sphere
Stacy McCain (while disagreeing with him) stood by his friend.
Play your cards right Barrett and someday that could be you joining the Axis of Fedora.
Take my advice, although my friendship with Mr. McCain has not led me to 1,000,000 hits a year (more like a quarter million) the rewards are things that your will enjoy for a lifetime. What a gift to give yourself during this Christmas Season.
Think about it.
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