So, is This It for Original News on Slyck?

[IceCube]

I've been trying to think of the best way to ask this, but this is the best way I can think of. There's been no shortage of speculation on this topic on my end of things, particularly these days, so I can honestly say that I'm, by far, not alone on this type of thinking. Is this it for Slyck's original news? Has Slyck published it's last article? I've personally haven't seen a drought of published content last this long on here before and it'll be a full calender month tomorrow.

There's a number of reasons for this and the biggest one is that the idea surfaced (thanks to a great suggestion by someone actually) that I find some way to pay my respects to Slyck in some way. I know some have been saying that I shouldn't be bothered one bit with Slyck, but I bear in mind the fact that if Slyck never existed, I wouldn't be a p2p news reporter at all and I agree with the train of thought that I owe at least some way to pay my respects to Slyck if something should happen to it's original news section. Second, and close to biggest reason was that a few users suggested that I at least ask if this is the end for the original news section - something I think is perfectly reasonable.

As much as I fumed and disagreed with some of the Slyck staff, I gotta respect the fact that Slyck also jump-started my e-career in p2p and tech journalism. I hope this isn't the end, but if it is, I would like to know.

[NocturnalVagabond]

Have to agree, Ice. I too have been wondering what has happened in recent times. Certainly would be disappointing to see Slyck become little more than a forum (not that they aren't entertaining).
Hopefully there is some reason for the drought of original articles, perhaps we could get some official word ?

[IceCube]

I hope so (that we got official word). This would be a great loss to the p2p community no matter how you slice it.

[TorrentMama]

I hope this isn't the end, but if it is, I would like to know.

don't you think if it was the end, there would be a fucking mother fucking goddamned annoncement? shit!

Icey, don't take this personally, I'm an equal opportunity bitch, but to your post

[multivariable]

Edit

[NocturnalVagabond]

Y'know, having been a forum stalker for a long time, I've managed to read a lot of back-and-forth crap, and since I don't know the people involved personally, and often don't have the background info on the spats, I generally stay out of them. But honestly torrentmama, don't you think that is a tad excessive? The question is a valid one, and even if there were to be an 'announcement' then there is always a 'day-before-the-announcement'.
I've personally been wondering if Slyck was floating at the top of the bowl for about 6 months, to be honest. I certainly hope not, but thats just the way it is. How is simply asking the question, and not in a nasty way, worth that shit?

[IceCube]

To my knowledge, I don't think I even had disagreements with TorrentMama. To my knowledge, I don't think I've wronged multi in any way either outside of harmless competitive fun over spamming in the past. I don't know where all that came from either.

[Fartingbob]

I dont think this is the end of original news, i think one major issue that slyck is up against is no actual news to report. Theres only so many times you can comment on the MAFIAA suing/bitchin about filesharers. File sharing has become part of the culture on the internet to the point where its just not newsworthy. Yes occasionally you'll get a big headline (a site shutdown/raided, new network protocol, legal changes), but they are few and far between at the moment.

[TorrentMama]

I said don't take it personally. i curse everyone i know. in fact, Im much more polite here. you can't see where that is coming from? come on! I can't be bothered to state the obvious.

[piXelatedEmpire]

I dont think this is the end of original news, i think one major issue that slyck is up against is no actual news to report. Theres only so many times you can comment on the MAFIAA suing/bitchin about filesharers. File sharing has become part of the culture on the internet to the point where its just not newsworthy. Yes occasionally you'll get a big headline (a site shutdown/raided, new network protocol, legal changes), but they are few and far between at the moment.

While I don't completely agree with this assessment, if it were the case, I would have hoped to have seen Slyck progress with the times. If filesharing is not the centre piece of this site (and realistically, it hasn't been for some time) then Slyck should evolve. I come here because I like to have a central place to read and discuss with like minded people (and some not so much :p) the latest news that interests me, be it filesharing, tech or other news. The community keeps me here.

I don't know what lays ahead for Slyck. In all honesty, we hardly see any of the admin crew around here anymore. If the original news on Slyck is to be no more, for whatever reasons, then so be it. It must be tough with only 1 reporter in the mix now. Besides, this site is more than just a news reporting site. Maybe it is time Slyck has a makeover, and the admin team rethink the purpose of the site?

2 cents.

[bmh67wa]

Maybe I'm not understanding the concept of "original news" here on Slyck. The Jedi crew and other staff here do an awesome job keeping up on the days events (when there are notable things to report) and things happen so fast anymore that it's pretty hard for a news source to claim to be the "original" one. If everyone else is already covering the daily topics of interest then there is really no need for someone to waste their time in rewriting what has already been said don't you think? As long as the submitted stories are accurate and pertain to what everyone here wants to see, who cares where the source came from? From a "tooting your own horn" standpoint it might make you look good for a little while but soon enough people forget about the source after being diluted with stories from all different views anyway. News is a report of what is happening, the facts, and not a bloggers opinion. It seems that people these days have a hard time telling the difference.

BTW, these alien smileys are still damn ugly.

[IceCube]

For clarity purposes, I am referring to this thing.

[multivariable]

For clarity purposes, I am referring to this thing.

Perhaps Tom has had other things going on in his Real Lifeâ„¢ lately that he deems far more important than writing news articles for a website. Who knows?

He hasn't been around much in the forums lately either. Maybe he's having family issues, or perhaps he's sick. Did these possibilities even enter your self-absorbed consciousness?

btw, are you OK Tom?

[anyoldusername]

i would say that tom is fine, even that arm injury must be cleared up by now

i am what you might term a lurker, lurking as i have for 4 or 5 years now and yes it is clear that original slyck news is dead and has been dead for a long time. you seem confused icecubes but it's no surprise to me as tom has said publicly that he doesn't care for writing filesharing news anymore, he told a mutual group contact that "i've done all of these stories to death" or something of that pattern. so in a way he did announce it just not to you.

it's the community that holds this site together not 'slyck news' but thats my opinion.

I don't know what lays ahead for Slyck. In all honesty, we hardly see any of the admin crew around here anymore.

other than mrfredpfi i haven't seen any admin post more than a handful of times in years

fartingbob-- there is an abundance of filesharing news, you just don't see any here. in any event, there is more than one story a month i'm 150% on that

To my knowledge, I don't think I even had disagreements with TorrentMama. To my knowledge, I don't think I've wronged multi in any way either outside of harmless competitive fun over spamming in the past. I don't know where all that came from either.

you're trying to stir up trouble on their beloved site, that's where the hostility comes from in my opinion. if you were a genuine concerned member that would be one thing but you know very well where you are coming from. you feel that slyck hurt you and you want to dig in the blade but now is the time to let it go. you're making yourself look silly in trying to point out how the site has suffered since you left.

slyck isn't what it used to be and no amount of petty point scoring is going to improve that. you personally might find your p2p news career shortened to the point that no-one will take you for fear of this type of backlash against them if things go wrong. slyck presumably has been coming to terms with its loss of the #1 p2p news site accolade for a couple of years now, you should put it down to experience and try to come to terms with your loss too. everyone knows you didn't get the treatment you (deserved) hoped for after the huge amount of work you put in here so stick out your chest and move on

[piXelatedEmpire]

To my knowledge, I don't think I even had disagreements with TorrentMama. To my knowledge, I don't think I've wronged multi in any way either outside of harmless competitive fun over spamming in the past. I don't know where all that came from either.

you're trying to stir up trouble on their beloved site, that's where the hostility comes from in my opinion. if you were a genuine concerned member that would be one thing but you know very well where you are coming from. you feel that slyck hurt you and you want to dig in the blade but now is the time to let it go. you're making yourself look silly in trying to point out how the site has suffered since you left.

slyck isn't what it used to be and no amount of petty point scoring is going to improve that. you personally might find your p2p news career shortened to the point that no-one will take you for fear of this type of backlash against them if things go wrong. slyck presumably has been coming to terms with its loss of the #1 p2p news site accolade for a couple of years now, you should put it down to experience and try to come to terms with your loss too. everyone knows you didn't get the treatment you (deserved) hoped for after the huge amount of work you put in here so stick out your chest and move on

Very well put anyoldusername (not agreeing with your comments, but very succinct). If only it didn't take topics like these to stir up some of these kind of contributions from so-called lurkers

[Fartingbob]

BTW, i must point out that the Jedi are doing a very good job of posting news that is mostly quite interesting even if its not P2P related. Keep at it guys (and girls).

[IceCube]

Damned if I do, damned if I don't. I finally left Slyck and I get criticized for abandoning the site that has jump-started my career, forgetting my roots, etc. After some people say that I should come back to ask this question, I get criticized for not letting go and leaving a site alone or 'scoring points' or coming here with a personal agenda. At least I finally gave both camps something to think about that doesn't rely on backroom dealings that solely depends on taking my word for it.

I'm not entirely surprised at the reaction of, 'do anything on Slyck and get insulted' but no one would believe me unless something like this was public to prove the point. I didn't even want to do this, but I can only be led to assume that some (including old members here) wanted closure on this and others think it's a crime to even raise the damned question and anyone that even remotely defends someone like me bares part of the brunt of the insults. Go ahead and call me a tool, self-absorbed, etc. etc. I expect nothing less here because for the simple fact that I now work elsewhere, but seriously, others who have dissenting thought to the vocal people here shouldn't be insulted too just because they have equal concerns as me.

Perhaps some of you are forgetting my comments on Kazaa that clearly state that Kazaa being lost would be a loss for the p2p community. Don't you think that my train of thinking of 'a loss is a loss' is relevant here and now? Besides, I only even asked because I was convinced by people OTHER THAN ME to do so. I really don't feel like commenting further in this thread.

[Renegade]

Icy, I think most of the posts in this thread are entirely right, you are here to stir up trouble. You know very well that things are intended to be progressing in new directions, that much was discussed before you left. The site as far as I am aware has not given up on posting new news articles, however as people have rightly pointed out, only SlyckTom is left as a writer here atm. The other point that there isnt really much news of significant interest is also true, perhaps there is more locally in Canada?

Either way, of course the site has been on the wain over recent years, again, as pointed out in the thread, p2p lawsuits etc just aren't news anymore, and with the rise of Kontiki based services such as the BBC iplayer (4OD etc) in the UK, and similar services elsewhere, the media are finally beginning to adopt filesharing (albeit with DRM). The subjects for news are shifting, p2p only holds periphery interest amongst many now, even among the oldest members who have been through many incarnations of filesharing.

You can never predict the future, and things will always change. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not, however as long as the community still exists things will move on (and hopefully for the better, due to their feedback).

If you seriously have anything constructive to say, feel free to share it, but if you are merely here to provoke and to bask in the fact there has not been a new article in a month, then kindly go and share such thoughts with your new community at ZP, and try not to stir up trouble on these forums.

Much appreciated.

[curzlgt]

i am what you might term a lurker, lurking as i have for 4 or 5 years now and yes it is clear that original slyck news is dead and has been dead for a long time.

Danny, you have been saying that for a long time now, even before you quit posting under your original user name. Perception is reality as they say.

you seem confused icecubes but it's no surprise to me as tom has said publicly that he doesn't care for writing filesharing news anymore, he told a mutual group contact that "i've done all of these stories to death" or something of that pattern. so in a way he did announce it just not to you.

I'm sorry but second hand quotes that could of easily been misinterpreted, both by the party that shared them with you, and by you yourself are not going to convince many here that that was what Tom meant. Hopefully he will elaborate. And sharing what was probably private exchanges publicly is a deplorable habit in my opinion.

it's the community that holds this site together not 'slyck news' but thats my opinion.

I do agree that that assessment.

fartingbob-- there is an abundance of filesharing news, you just don't see any here. in any event, there is more than one story a month i'm 150% on that

Agreed again, unfortunately. Just look what TorrentFreak has been putting out there..............

you're trying to stir up trouble on their beloved site, that's where the hostility comes from in my opinion. if you were a genuine concerned member that would be one thing but you know very well where you are coming from. you feel that slyck hurt you and you want to dig in the blade but now is the time to let it go. you're making yourself look silly in trying to point out how the site has suffered since you left.

I gotta say ice, I can see why a lot of people here would think this way. Sour grapes stink weather intentionally left to rot, or not.

All that said, I do have a few comment to make on the subject.

First off. Tom's original news writing is what personally brought me to Slyck. His coverage of the Grokster case was one of the only truly objective takes on the matter, and kept me coming back time and again.

Second. Very few p2p writers are able to maintain true objectivity, when covering a topic so closely related to their areas of interest. Far too many are of the "this is a good verses evil conflict", "the MAAFIA vs. the poor innocent persecuted file sharer". Is Jon Newton objective? Is anyone who writes for ZP? Granted, thats just on "our" side. Most of the "main stream" media is clearly on "their side" and their writing clearly exposes their subjective bias. TF is the only other site that comes close to Slyck's objectivity, but they are not there yet imo.

Tom however has maintained objectivity. That is far more important that output. While his sometimes lack of output does at times disappoint me, I don't blame him. I could see how the topics do get old, been there done that kind of thing. Also, he does have a real life, which should take precedence. Cut him some slack.

Lastly, Slyck is fine, there has been no "downfall". This is Ray and Tom's party, ands a rockin' one its been. They have been throwing it for what? 6 years now? If they want to take a break from the party its their progative. I think of all other users here a guests on their good will. If you think you can throw a better party, or find a better one else where, go for it.

[multivariable]

^ Yeah. What he said.

[LANjackal]

Discussions here are still lively without being overwhelming (like Slashdot) or mostly inane (like Digg). Works for me.

[HEAT84]

Well SlyckTom finally ended the drought of original news. I wonder if this thread had anything to do with it. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I miss IceCube around here.

[curzlgt]

Well SlyckTom finally ended the drought of original news. I wonder if this thread had anything to do with it. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I miss IceCube around here.

I miss him too. I just wish he would come back as a regular commenter and forget the rest of it. Though it would take a very big man to be able to do so, I think very few would be capable of it actually.

[IceCube]

I am sorry to everyone.

[bluebird]

Why don't you start posting again...it looks like you are missed??