Photos From Egypt
Iason Athanasiadis is another journalist I know here in Istanbul. He was arrested in Iran in 2009 and spent three weeks in Evin Prison, prompting this kind of discussion among his friends in Istanbul:
My colleague described her personal assessment system: "If something happens to me, are my friends going to mock me and say I deserved it?"
We rely on the same system! It's more effective at preventing you from doing stupid [expletive deleted] than listening to overprotective employer-funded security firms. It's crowd-sourced security! Using this system, we elected not to conduct field tests in random neighborhoods in Rawalpindi and came home safely, having suffered no mocking (for that particular activity, at least).
A variation on this conversation also occurred in Istanbul while our Greek journalist friend was held in solitary confinement in Iran on espionage charges for three weeks. Even though he was doing something important and fun (covering the Iranian election), how much sympathy did he deserve for getting into the jam in the first place? Some argued that, since he knew the risks going in, not much. (Iason, we'll let you know who we're not going to call first if we ever get kidnapped by the Taliban).
(I'm not going to link to the blog in question, even though it's very funny, because I did that once before and prompted an editorial crisis--the language is not appropriate for Ricochet.)
Anyway, he was released safely and we were all much relieved. Now he's in Cairo. I was resolved that I would not spend too much energy worrying about his safety, because obviously he has some kind of strange nine-lives juju on his side. But then I looked at the photos and decided maybe I ought to start worrying about him again.
Great photos, Iason. And I want you to know your cynical, world-weary friends here in Istanbul are thinking about you and again trying to decide exactly how much to mock you if you get yourself killed.
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Oct '10
Re: Photos From Egypt
"...(I'm not going to link to the blog in question, even though it's very funny, because I did that once before and prompted an editorial crisis--the language is not appropriate for Ricochet.)..."
Oh, puh-leeze, Editor(s), can't you find a way to make life simple for those adventurers among us who can deal with out of bounds language when it resides out of bounds? A caveat, perhaps, as TV stations warn of upcoming graphic language, perhaps up front, perhaps in a post-click popup?
Re: Photos From Egypt
No. People here are paying for a vulgarity-free environment. We had this debate about this very link before, and determined that it was inappropriate for Ricochet. That said, if you're determined to expose yourself to profanity, Googling the quote should work nicely for you.
Edited on Feb 4, 2011 at 4:29amDec '10
Re: Photos From Egypt
High risk can result in high reward - awesome photos!
Sep '10
Re: Photos From Egypt
strange nine-lives juju on his side
I like the guy already.
Jan '11
Re: Photos From Egypt
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
No. People here are paying for a vulgarity-free environment. We had this debate about this very link before, and determined that it was inappropriate for Ricochet. That said, if you're determined to expose yourself to profanity, Googling the quote should work nicely for you. · Feb 4 at 4:28am
Edited on Feb 04 at 04:29 am
I'm not paying for a vulgarity-free environment - but perhaps I'm the only one who feels that way. I don't mind the odd bawdy if it means I get to the truth a little more efficiently. Gratuitous, purposeless? No. If it's relevant? Go for it.
Then again, we established in another thread that this is a conversation-circle at some party I'd never be invited to or attend, so have at it however decency dictates.
But what's the point in going on about it - dancing around it, having to deal with a question, then referring to it again - while saying how improper it is?
Do it or don't mention it - the rigmarole is silly.
May '10
Re: Photos From Egypt
Those photos are, well, roiling. I'd seek a balcony and a G&T. Can't stand crowds. Something that caught my eye were those lions on the bridge. Got a definite Trafalgar look to them. Wonder if the Brits left em there.
Consulted Emily Post on the etiquette of death mockery. Much depends on the circumstance. If you dare a bulldozer to flatten you, and it does so, then it's appropriate. If you're pushing your way through a crowded square capturing cool action shots of dramatic events, then it's less so.
Re profanity, I propose we replace all expletives with random nonsense words, like Mad Libs ("It's more effective at preventing you from doing stupid [turnips] than listening to overprotective employer-funded security firms.")
Sep '10
Re: Photos From Egypt
I'm not paying for a vulgarity-free environment - but perhaps I'm the only one who feels that way.
On the surface, it seems like a valid point, but for those of us older folks who've been on the internet for going on 20 years (its painful to type that) it unfortunately has a pile on effect and eventually civil discourse goes down the sewer. You're free to have those types of discussions offline, but take it from someone older, wiser (and dare I say better looking? I dare not.) if the price of being on here is a latte once a month and a no cussin' requirement, then I'm in. Once you get used to it, I think you'll enjoy it.
Re: Photos From Egypt
Matthew K. Tabor But what's the point in going on about it - dancing around it, having to deal with a question, then referring to it again - while saying how improper it is?
Do it or don't mention it - the rigmarole is silly. · Feb 4 at 5:58am
Fair enough. The truth is that I couldn't figure out how to give the background on that one without mentioning that post. And I knew from experience it wasn't appropriate. Yet I still wanted to draw attention to Iason's work--and to the risk he's taking and to the mixed feelings one has when a friend does insane but brave things. So I kind of went for the middle solution. Imperfect.
Jun '10
Re: Photos From Egypt
I think it is overreaching to enforce editorial policy when it pertains to material outside of Ricochet. Warnings inside Ricochet of uncivil or profane material in links should be sufficient. Omitting reference to or actual links due to controversial content, again, outside of Ricochet, seems wholly unnecessary.