The other ‘Carpetbagger’

December 8, 2005

To follow up on yesterday’s post about the New York Times movie blogger who shares my pseudonym, I thought I’d give readers an update.

I contacted the NYT’s David Carr to share my concerns. I’ve since heard from him, and his editor, both of whom wrote gracious emails. I’ll spare you the details but it appears this is an issue that will work itself out fairly soon — Carr’s “Carpetbagger” will close up shop in February, coinciding with the Oscars. If there is any confusion among blog readers, it seems likely to be temporary.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank all you for the support and willingness to back me up on this. I received a surprising number of notes from readers — including a handful of you who know a quite a bit about trademark law — in addition to the encouraging remarks in yesterday’s comments section. The support means a great deal to me.

And now, back to the news…

I’m glad it worked out amicably, except for the fact that their blog is closing up shop in a few months, of course. But then again I never understood why things like newspapers are setting up blogs. It seems to reflect a misunderstanding of the nature of the form. You’d think it was easy enough for them to publish online already.

  • On why you chose CarpetBaggerReport, when you were still anonymous, and I first occassioned upon this excellent site, I had a quick mind-fog that perhaps the real identify was Hillary Clinton. Unless I’m mistaken, couldn’t she be considered somewhat a reverse CarpetBagger in her role as NY Senator.

    Which put me into a dilemna – it it WAS her, I would have had to re-gauge my opinion of her. Luckily, it was not.

    Whew! 🙂

  • …I had a quick mind-fog that perhaps the real identify was Hillary Clinton.

    Wow, I never thought of that. I had a couple of fun guesses about my identity while I was anonymous, but never that one!

    As for the story behind the pseudonym, I’m afraid the backstory isn’t as entertaining a story as I’d like. In historical terms, I’ve taken the opposite of the traditional carpetbagger route — I was born and raised in the south (Miami, Fla.), moved to DC for grad school and various political jobs, and then ended up in New England.

    I’m in an area where you’re considered an outsider unless your grandparents were born locally, so the “carpetbagger” nickname just kind of stuck. That, and from a marketing perspective, it seemed to be a memorable enough name to help the blog community keep track of who I am. (There are just too many Steves out there in the ‘sphere already….)

    Like I said, not an entertaining story, but that’s the scoop.

  • I’m glad you decided to “come out,” Steve, because none of my friends would believe me that you were the Carpetbagger. Inbetween devastating setbacks, which we won’t speak of in this forum, you’ve made your mother very proud.

    So you’re giving the big city boys three months to ruin your fine reputation, assuming that they are men and women of good will and honor? Compromise with the devil is never an advisable path, my son. Slippery slope and all that…

  • Inbetween devastating setbacks, which we won’t speak of in this forum, you’ve made your mother very proud.

    Look, I can appreciate the fact that you’re kidding around about my parents, and I don’t expect readers who don’t know me personally to have any insights into my family, but the truth is my father died a few years ago.

    Could we please try to end this line of kidding? I’d appreciate it.

  • Wow. I really am a dad of three sons — two in their 20’s and one still in high school — and have enjoyed my life as Dad immensely. I’ve been posting comments on dozens of blogs for over a year now as The Dad, and no blog host until now has felt the need to point out that I’m not their dad. After I got silly with you on this silly topic, I first assumed you were being dryly humorous. But it’s clear that you were not. So I will stop. I’ve been reading you daily for about six months, and you are one of the best in this not-quite-profitable business.

  • Steve-

    I am ET’s said friend from Atlanta. I never cringed-just emitted a shriek at levels only my dog could understand whenever your blog name was mentioned. Finally worn down by ET’s insistence that yours was one of the more intelligent/thoughtful/insightful blogs (as usual she was correct) and now it is a daily must read. Even if the name threw me for a loop for a while there.

  • …just emitted a shriek at levels only my dog could understand whenever your blog name was mentioned.

    Welcome, sleigh, I’m glad ET convinced you to gave the ol’ site a look. As a native Southerner, I certainly never intended to make any of my friends south of the Mason-Dixon line cringe.

    Thanks for the support.

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