WRITE A COLUMN LIKE YOU JUST DON’T CARE …
By Will Folks || In case you haven’t noticed, this website has been featuring a lot of different voices lately – whether it’s the emergence of intrepid new FITS columnist Liz Gunn or the reemergence of Mande Wilkes. It’s all part of the evolution of this site … an effort to give you something to read beyond my incessant libertarian hyperventilation.
Evolution is a good thing. FITS has undergone (and will continue to undergo) plenty of changes as it moves forward. For example, the site has been cleaned up dramatically – and undergone several redesigns. More and bigger changes are on the horizon, too.
But the new voices excite me the most …
Why? Well, I like publishing stuff I wouldn’t think of writing about … or stuff I don’t necessarily agree with. And I love it when those perspectives and opinions come from strong, smart (and sexy) women. Like Liz and Mande.
Or like our former associate editor Amy Lazenby. Or Megan Jones. Or Sarah Nuckles. Or Mia McLeod. Or Faith Falise. Or Colleen MacMillan. Or any of the other women who have shared their opinions here …
Anyway, reactions to the recent diversification of content have been interesting …
First and most importantly, FITS traffic has been up (a.k.a. the point of all this). Second, there’s been plenty of praise for my marketing genius when it comes to broadening the demographics of FITS readers. Third, the vast majority of people I’ve heard from seem genuinely appreciative of the new content (and are, as noted, voting with their clicks).
All good in the hood, right? Not quite …
There are the commenters …
For those of you who don’t read past the end of each article (who has time for that?), FITS is …. um … “blessed” with lively comment boards. Except when I say “lively,” I mean it’s like Lord of the Flies in there.
Their take on our new leading ladies? To quote Fred Chappell, they’ve already had an “elegant sufficiency – any more would be a superfluity.” In fact several of our most obnoxious commenters seem to have made it their mission in life to chase these new perspectives away from the site.
Well, good luck with that … because these girls don’t scare easily.
The point of this column isn’t to defend Liz or Mande. They are bona fide badasses who can take of themselves – and they will address their critics as they see fit. If at all. Hell, if I didn’t know better I’d say both enjoy mixing it up.
The point is simply to say this: The only opinion that matters even remotely in this process is … well, mine . This is my ball, and I decide who gets to play with it. Moreover, I love what I’m seeing – in content, hits, buzz and yes, criticism (there’s a thin line between love and hate, people).
If you really don’t like what you see, though, remember: You’re literally one click away from never having to see it again … ever . Although I (and my bank account) certainly hope the haters will decide to continue their entertaining spleen-venting below … in 3, 2, 1 …
44 comments
What is GrandTango’s blog address again?
That’s funny right there +3
GT is the retarded version of piggy here.
Do I lose all my obnoxious commenter cred if I jump right in here, but don’t vent my spleen all over those fine ladies? I likes ’em!
It’s not your spleen your dreamin’ of venting all over those fine ladies….
Another news flash:
Summertime in Columbia is hotter than 7 Hells.
This reminds me of Las Vegas when they tried the family friendly destination thing. Just think you may get the state departments across South Carolina to stop blocking your blog on their servers.
“Well, good luck with that … because these girls don’t scare easily.”
I’ve been around long enough to know when a “manager” steps in and says something like this it’s because those people the comments are directed to are whining about what others are saying. It’s to try and diplomatically get people to stop without pissing them off, a version of reverse psychology if you will.
I like the changes and I mostly enjoy Liz and Mandy’s contributions, although intellectually they are well beyond the reach of Grand Tango and his ilk.
As for your cleaning up efforts, don’t get too carried away. There is nothing on this site that would attract teenagers, so give us adults a little bit of spice. We can handle it.
Liz has an impressionable writing style. Her words and sentences flow well with one another.
Exactly. Jeez, a little Kate Upton dancing in a micro-bikini never hurt anybody.
That we know of.
Having to dedicate a whole article to defend your new approach is a clear sign that the masses are not buying the “New Coke”.
If you are going to stick with the chicks, I might suggest you Fox News it up and give us more salacious content and sex, sex, sex!!!
“dedicate”? … “whole article”? …. “defend new approach” … “the masses”????
I am sure it took Sic every bit of 2 minutes to write this article. There has been a notable increase in comments across the site over the course of the last several weeks. Word of mouth helps with that. But mostly having the scoop and writing about it before local and state mainstream do. News reporters do monitor other websites for stories ~
Additionally, I like this website. FitsNews is kewl and has interesting stories – stories about out of control politicians and dirty deeds by the same … stories you will not often find on other ‘cowardly’ news sites. I mention the site to dozens of friends and coworkers when we might talk about how messed up South Carolina really is. They all agree, that most of the current politicians need to be canned and replaced. And this site does a fairly good job of casting light on the cockroaches. So much, that even government entities often drop in to take a peek.
Lol…so are you Mande or Liz?
Nothing could be further from the truth, Lim … I am neither them, nor Sic. Just an old warrior when it comes to public corruption.
Ah ha…Larry Marchant…you old devil you.
FITS, you set the tone for this venue with your own rants. The pruriently titillating comments and posts, the innuendo filled columns lacking in either probability, gravitas, or reasonableness, the simplistic and errant attempts at economic analysis, and the general lack of respect you give those who have no bones to pick with you or axes to grind, or responsibility for the thoughts and actions of loved ones, friends and family.
You’ve got a lot of balls (although not much self-awareness) to come to this tonight pointing your fingers and calling out those who play hardball with you, those who push back at your self-acknowledged “hyperventilation” (in reality your pompous and simple opinions), and your self-righteous indignation at reality as seen by the mainstream of society.
In life you “puts your money down and you take your chances.” If your ladies can’t take the heat, let them get the hell out of the kitchen.” After all, isn’t that what they are endeavoring to do?
Give it a rest.
If I were trolling myself that is exactly what I would have written. +2 to you, good sir … however I think my critique of Keynesian interventionism in our economy has been spot on.
Trolling may be what Will is going for, have you noticed the overwhelmingly negative comments in Mande’s latest piece on Ray Rice’s wife? Maybe she should stick to writing articles about shoes.
Wut. I totally have never, and cannot imagine a scenario where I would, write about shoes.
Sorry, that must be the other new writer offering such insightful information.
You’re the biggest dumbass on here if you can’t comprehend that people waging a war with Mande (via clicks & comments) is EXACTLY the point! Dear God -if you make 5 x as much as a blogger I’d love to know what that is. Because it clearly doesn’t take half a brain and we could all do it.
This is the best news site on the web.
The commenters who post condescending and weak criticisms of FITS’ opinions are but a minute (though not unimportant) voice of FITS’s audience. Their continual presence here is proof that Sic Willie is kicking their ass. They just can’t help but come back for more.
If they’re so much smarter, why don’t they have their own successful websites? I suppose GT has one. Well, a website anyways. But the rest of them can’t cut the mustard, so they’re holding on tight to Sic’s coattails.
I would love to mash your head if you come to another PGA event an yell MashPotato again!!!!!
Or maybe because we can do other things that pay 5x more than being a blogger.
I want to know what Mande and Liz think.
What about the “Yes means Yes” policies at universities?
Are the Republicans waging a “War on Women” or are Democrats engaged in demagoguery?
What should we do when unaccompanied children cross the border illegally?
Is Jenny Sandford being vindictive or is she entitled? Is this a private matter that Will shouldn’t report? Should this effect ones support for Mark?
Great Site Will. But tell me one thing: Why do you have a hardon for Nicci Haley? Could it be because you do now because you didn’t then?
When you clean up the language for the more… sensitive… members – I’m gone.
Will I would like to have a position on your staff as a writer since my blog isn’t generating much success. You have two ladies writing from a woman’s perspective. How about add me as a member of your staff? I could write from the perspective of a gay, transgendered, pedophile who hates f#$king liberal tarians.
So how about it?
No Thanks he already has a Tranny on staff aka Howie Rich
Sorry, not controversial enough.
Will you need to do a craziest bitch in Columbia poll. I know a couple of PR women who should be included. Maybe even a 32 bitch bracket from the 4 areas of our state. I think we all know who the #1 seeds in the Charleston and Columbia area would be.
From what I have read the “discussions” in the comments section are coming from 7-10 juvenile adults who use your site as a sparring ring for their childish mental masturbations.. No progress to be made here, move along, move along…
You hired Phyllis Schlafly and Melissa Rivers. Yay for diversity.
Melissa Rivers I get. But neither of them is Phyllis Schlafy. That’s probably as offensive to these ladies as it is to Phyllis.
Fire Man-d Fire Man-D Fire Man-D
At least have the ladies write articles on non-idiotic topics like who wore what to the football game or what the Geek Squad told her last time her computer had a virus. I mean come on Fits.
I for one am enjoying these new voices. I don’t always agree with them -especially Mande -and I’m not always interested in what they’re writing about. But as a long time reader of this blog I can say that’s been the case all the while. I’ve never agreed with 100% of the content here. I’ve never been interested in 100% of the content here. So what? The same applies to pretty much any news, entertainment or pop culture site. I don’t see what all the fuss is about. If you idiots ever picked up a paper or a magazine you’d find lots of sections, different types of content. Sports, news, money, lifestyle. It’s no different here. Why do any of you think you have the right to dictate content on someone else’s web site? Because you bring your page views and clicks? Like you’re going anywhere—where else would you go? If there was any real competition to this site Will wouldn’t be taking chances (that WILL pay off in the end- wait & see).
Ehh, the new voices are hit-or-miss, but it’s something different.
Also, if they were easily scared away by our eccentric crew of rag-tag commenters, they wouldn’t be fit to post here.
Very true, I tested both of them with a couple of troll bait comments and they took it every well.(didn’t really bite, except 1 time and it was minor)
Now I pretty much leave them alone.
I commend you FITS! I work for a marketing company and the MOST common demo for purchaser and decision makers specifically in Columbia, SC are Women 25-54. We are the decision makers not because Liz or Mande or you say so, but because the flat-out hard cold research says so. It is a smart move to open up your website to the other 60% of Columbia. I may not agree with what these ladies say all the time, I but I enjoy learning their perspectives as much as I do those written by men on this site. Keep on keepin’ on….clearly it’s working!
I never even opened up this until Liz joined the team. I bet there are plenty more out there like me, so the haters can suck it. This isn’t Leave it to Beaver…women have a voice and progressive political sites like this need to be two-sided. Smart move Fits….you’ve earned yourself a loyal reader.
The info available in the softer articles I’m sure is of interest to a number of people. I don’t personally read political blogs to find a new shop since I shop on the internet which gives me a world of shops. I don’t get the best price, cool kicks. Well best of luck Will and happy clothes shopping.
FWIW, I actually do find the best deals on the internet. I’m an internet shopping pro. But if I need something on the spot or want to try things on, that doesn’t really work – until the Amazon drones come to Columbia anyway. God, I may never leave my house.