People Wait For Tomorrow's UWS Apple Store Opening
Giuliani Livid Over Bringing 9/11 Trials to NYC
Oreo The Dog Is Dead, Blame Game Is Not
FIT Students Busted For Drug Dealing Get Probation
Pregnant Woman And Two Men Shot In Clinton Hill Drive-By
Ah, the end of the year. A time to look back and reflect on the things that have happend. Also, a time to get wasted. But that's neither here nor there (ok, it's a bit here, but it's ok to start drinking past noon, right?). We've already looked back at the year as we wrote it, but what about the year as you commented on it? Seems a reasonable enough request. So without further ado, we bring you, the Top 10 Commented Gothamist Posts of 2005:
10. December 2, 2005 - Note to Hipsters: Leave Homeless People Alone.
9. November 17, 2005 - Lindsayism to Photographers: F-U!
8. June 23, 2005 - Foie Gras Follies.
7. January 25, 2005 - Gothamist Visits Per Se
6. December 15, 2005 - Maybe Transit Strike Eve.
5. February 18, 2005 - Body Parts Found in Subway.
4. August 24, 2005 - Saw Something, Said Something.
3. July 18, 2005 - Charlie and the Broken Social Contract
2. December 20, 2005 - The Most Inconvenient Commute Contest!
And the most commented story of 2005 was:
1. January 24, 2005 - Hot 97 In Hot Water.
So go back, enjoy the memories, maybe even comment a little (if the comments are still open, see our comment policy). Is there a particular comment thread you loved that didn't make the top 10? Remind us in the comments section.
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I laughed. I cried. I firmed my opinions of foie gras. I learned the meaning of nut meat.
Funny, on a website that mostly posts stories about white people (unless it's about crime or sports), somehow the top story of the year is centered around a black radio station. Maybe the racist message spewed by the black hostess, and the subsequent outrage and debate sparked here should alert the gothamist editors that this city has a bunch of very unresolved race issues.
But more importantly, New York City is MULTI-RACIAL/MULTI-CULTURAL and any website claiming to be about new york should reflect that.
You guys post more "cute animals" on this site than you do people of color (unless it's about sports or crime).
That's b-llshit. Half the people in New York are non-white, but you post like 90 percent of New York is white and that's what we should be reading about. I used to really like this site until I realized how white-washed it is. Please try to make a change in 2006 to reflect the reality of New York City.
As someone who is not quite white (part Asian) and looks as if they may be Hispanic or Italian or Jewish, etc.; I can tell you this, there are some subtle questions asked if to see you are part of the group of the asker. (Apparently the question of the Hispanics is "Are you Spanish?") There is a bit of ethnic stratification in addition to the racial. On the up side I don't look out of place in a lot of areas of the city.
As for the Gothamaist staff, they are mainly white. People write about what they know and from their point of view.
Does the Gothamist staff reflect the make-up of the city? No.
But what about the readership?
My guess is also no.
Muticultralism is a good thing, provided that it is organic and not rammed down your throat or done as an act of appeasement.
There is a problem with race relations in the city, but part of the problem is those who claim to be the spokespeople for the various communities who have a vested intrest in keeping tensions. (Lets all hope that Al Sharpton's TV is a big hit and that it films in Los Angeles.) Another part of the problem is people who don't try or want to see the other sides view. Hell, just ask people of various backrounds about the Diallo shooting.
What about the (still unsolved!) maple syrup smell?
Mixed Up,
You chose a great name if you really think that a signficant portion of the readership of gothamist isn't people of color. WTF is that?? Do you think this is Oregon or New York? It's New York, most people use a computer, be it from home, work, or school. This is one of the primary blogs about new york on the Internet. I assure you, Gothamist has a significant readership that is not white. But the fact that I have to actually say that to you speaks volumes.
James,
I do not dowbt there is a significant readership among people of color, but I was going with the itdea proportions of racial/ethnic groups that make up the city when I was talking about readership. So let me rephrase:
My guess is that the readership of Gothamist is not proportionately representative of the racial/ethnic makeup of the city.
The non-white readership may be significant, but it may not be proportional when compared with the make-up of the city.
Based on the 2000 Census, the racial makeup of the city is 44.66% White, 26.59% African American, 0.52% Native American, 9.83% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 13.42% from other races, and 4.92% from two or more races; 26.98% of the population is Hispanic of any race. Does the readership break down that way? My guess is no.
If we break it down to ethnic group a found on the on the Census web site, 8.7% of the readership should be of Italian ancestry, 6.9% should be of non-Hispanic West Indian ancestry, 5.3% of Irish ancestry, and so forth.
One can hope for a diverse audience, but the odds of getting the same proportional demographics as the city is wishful thinking.
"Does the readership break down that way? My guess is no."
Again, you've given no good reason "why" the readership "would not" break down that way. All you have to offer is your "gut", versus the fact of real numbers in New York. I prefer to leave your gut on the sidelines and pay attention to numbers. In this age of cheap computers everywhere, and internet access everywhere, there is NOTHING to suggest that Gothamist's readership is not roughly the same as the city's racial make-up. IF this website was Slashdot, or ever Slate, sites that cater to a particular demographic, then maybe there might be an argument. But this website site is as general as and demographically non-specific NY1 (the tv channel). I'm sure some of you might want to 'think' that gothamist is special (thus making you special), but it's really a very general website that is extremely easy to read and follow for almost any class of New York resident. This site is not the New Yorker, it's more like The Daily News. And if you know anything about New York publishing demographics, then you know that the Daily News readership is VERY VERY diverse, and the content reflects this most of the time. Gothamist needs to step up and get in line with reality. As do you.