When is it OK for a blogger to pull a fast one?
Blogger and podcaster Ed Kohler wrote on his Technology Evangelist site last week that he'd been named temporary replacement for radio host Don Imus, who was fired by CBS and MSNBC after a racial slur. Some people recognized the story as a joke, but others across the Internet bought it. Afterall, the Technology Evangelist blog and podcast present technology news and analysis in a straightforward manner -- they're not known for pranks. Kohler describes the hoax as a late April fool's joke.
"I decided to have some fun with it," he said.
Influential blogger Robert Scoble saw the bogus Technology Evangelist story, believed it, and blogged about it. Scoble's not happy.
"It makes me less likely to believe what I read on that site in the future," said Scoble.
The incident raises some interesting questions about blogging standards. You won't catch the New York Times lying on its front page for laughs, but is it acceptable for an otherwise legitimate blog to ditch the truth in the name of fun? Kohler seems to think so.
"I don't think it's going to be the end of the world for anyone," said Kohler.
Kohler's fake story didn't cause any majord damage, according to another technology blogger, Steve Borsch. However, Borsch is critical of the move.
"It's important to have trusted sources that you know are going to be steady hands on the tiller whether they're a newspaper or a blogger," he said.
