Guardian's teenage travel blogger gets flamed
February 14, 2008
Hey! Fancy reading the diary of a fashionable 19-year-old North Londoner as he parties his way around India and Thailand?
A polite no, is it? Guardian readers feel the same. Well, except for the 'polite' bit.
Travel Weekly contributor Chris Coplans spotted Max Gogarty's blog on the Guardian's Comment is Free site, and alerted us to the reams and reams of livid comments.
Many remark upon the similarity between Max's surname and that of Guardian travel writer Paul Gogarty.
(Update: the Guardian's travel ed entered the fray to say that "Max is the son of Paul Gogarty, who has written a few travel pieces for the Guardian over the years, though he isn't a Guardian employee.")
Uncomfortable reading. I feel duty-bound to point out, though, that Max has only filed one piece, and might turn out to be good.
What? He might.
(Another update: speculation abounds in the office as to whether this is a spoof. TW Blog recalls that its was the Guardian's sister title the Observer which carried Chris Morris's 'suicide journalist' spoof Richard Geefe back in the late nineties. Let us know what you think...)
(Yet another update: the Guardian travel editor Andy Pietrasik has posted a proper response to yesterday's carnage.)
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Nathan Midgley
Martin Couzins
Comments (9)
Nepotism abounds, apparently.
Private Eye recently wrote how the young daughter of editor Alan Rushbridger had been employed by the paper, using a different surname.
Posted by Kevin May | February 14, 2008 3:36 PM
Posted on February 14, 2008 15:36
I defy him to turn in a single good post. It's not age that stands in his way – plenty of the best writers start young – he just seems not to have an original bone in his body.
Posted by matthew hampton | February 14, 2008 3:48 PM
Posted on February 14, 2008 15:48
Oh dear. I find it funny that he is trying to find a universal plug too. The challenge!
Posted by Kelly Ranson | February 14, 2008 4:29 PM
Posted on February 14, 2008 16:29
Life's tough when you're young, wealthy, well-connected and smug, isn't it? :)
Posted by Adam
|
February 14, 2008 5:04 PM
Posted on February 14, 2008 17:04
Still... I bet it sucks when hundreds of people decide to loathe you. On the same day. And the day is Valentine's Day.
Posted by Nathan | February 14, 2008 5:25 PM
Posted on February 14, 2008 17:25
You're right. He'll have to leave the country now.
Oh, wait...
Posted by Adam
|
February 14, 2008 6:12 PM
Posted on February 14, 2008 18:12
He's not a very good blogger, is he? He's not joining in the conversation as is best practice.
Posted by Andrew | February 15, 2008 11:01 AM
Posted on February 15, 2008 11:01
Kevin has pointed out that the blog's page is titled skins_blog.html, and that the second series of skins starts soon. I can has viral marketing?
Posted by Nathan | February 15, 2008 11:06 AM
Posted on February 15, 2008 11:06
How a great career opportunity can backfire!
I almost feel sorry for him. Now, when any prospective employer googles him, they will be faced with the torrent of abuse.
Still, a few years spent on local papers interviewing pensioners celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary about the secret of a happy marriage should sort him out. Not that I'm bitter or anything...
Posted by Emily | February 15, 2008 5:10 PM
Posted on February 15, 2008 17:10