Comments on: Barry Obama and the gang http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/ XML, identity, crafting, and other tangled musings Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:15:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Eve http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32690 Eve Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:13:30 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32690 Okay, folks, enough of the potshots and the psychologizing. I've done three things in response: I've provided an update on this post that gives my perspective, I've sent mail to Barry's campaign, and I've closed the comments. By the way, right after MB's first comment, I reached out to him in private email asking what he recommended as next steps, with no response. I invite you all to engage with me in <a href="http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/welcome/" rel="nofollow">email</a> -- and to reveal your identities -- if you want to discuss anything with me further. Okay, folks, enough of the potshots and the psychologizing. I’ve done three things in response: I’ve provided an update on this post that gives my perspective, I’ve sent mail to Barry’s campaign, and I’ve closed the comments.

By the way, right after MB’s first comment, I reached out to him in private email asking what he recommended as next steps, with no response. I invite you all to engage with me in email — and to reveal your identities — if you want to discuss anything with me further.

]]> By: hapa http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32686 hapa Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:51:55 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32686 "Let’s say that one of her high friends, Wendy May or Donna Ching, became famous" This should read "one of her high school friends" not "high friends". My apologies to Wendy and Donna for the typo. “Let’s say that one of her high friends, Wendy May or Donna Ching, became famous”

This should read “one of her high school friends” not “high friends”. My apologies to Wendy and Donna for the typo.

]]> By: hapa http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32636 hapa Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:34:00 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32636 Perhaps Eve's distance from Barry socially is what made her feel that it was ok to provide entertainment to her usual blog readers by posting his senior page. When she knew that the readership had gone far beyond her blog community, that would have been the time to pull the page and decline the background interview with CNN. But instead she brags about it and her husband even makes sure she is given proper "credit" for the pictures on another website. And she didn't merely post the pictures but made snarky remarks about them and even went so far in her blog comments to state that there was "considerable overlap" in those who indulged in pakalolo and those who were "high" ("heehee" "ar ar") achievers at Punahou School. That is neither true nor loyal behavior towards her schoolmates and the Punahou o'hana. Let's say that one of her high friends, Wendy May or Donna Ching, became famous and she knew that their high school senior page might cause them some embarrassment or perhaps contained a special message to their friends and family. Would she have posted their pages on this blog? I doubt it. Do you understand where we are coming from here? It's about treating someone as you would want to be treated. Eve and Barry were kids going to the same challenging school, dealing with the pressures of fitting in and adolescence. We're talking about the Barry Obama who passed by her and her buddies on the Alexander Hall steps, did homework a few cubicles over in the Cooke library, ate lunch in the Dole cafeteria just like she did over 25 years ago. It's the hope that someone who knew you back when you both were awkward and immature kids would not take advantage of that connection. It is the special aloha and pride that Punahou alumni have towards each other, even the kids we didn't get along with in school, that keeps us connected and coming back for carnivals and reunions. In the end, it is Eve's reputation in the Punahou community, not Barry's, that will have suffered for her actions. Perhaps Eve’s distance from Barry socially is what made her feel that it was ok to provide entertainment to her usual blog readers by posting his senior page. When she knew that the readership had gone far beyond her blog community, that would have been the time to pull the page and decline the background interview with CNN. But instead she brags about it and her husband even makes sure she is given proper “credit” for the pictures on another website. And she didn’t merely post the pictures but made snarky remarks about them and even went so far in her blog comments to state that there was “considerable overlap” in those who indulged in pakalolo and those who were “high” (”heehee” “ar ar”) achievers at Punahou School. That is neither true nor loyal behavior towards her schoolmates and the Punahou o’hana. Let’s say that one of her high friends, Wendy May or Donna Ching, became famous and she knew that their high school senior page might cause them some embarrassment or perhaps contained a special message to their friends and family. Would she have posted their pages on this blog? I doubt it. Do you understand where we are coming from here? It’s about treating someone as you would want to be treated. Eve and Barry were kids going to the same challenging school, dealing with the pressures of fitting in and adolescence. We’re talking about the Barry Obama who passed by her and her buddies on the Alexander Hall steps, did homework a few cubicles over in the Cooke library, ate lunch in the Dole cafeteria just like she did over 25 years ago. It’s the hope that someone who knew you back when you both were awkward and immature kids would not take advantage of that connection. It is the special aloha and pride that Punahou alumni have towards each other, even the kids we didn’t get along with in school, that keeps us connected and coming back for carnivals and reunions. In the end, it is Eve’s reputation in the Punahou community, not Barry’s, that will have suffered for her actions.

]]> By: Puanani http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32616 Puanani Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:04:18 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32616 Eve, you really didn't have the "liberty" to post those photos on the internet unless you received permission from Barry (for his two photos), Dougie Davidson (who took the official graduation shot) and Punahou School, since it is a Punahou publication. It is surprisingly that someone who creates computer information for a living and is careful to protect such property would be so disrespectful of other people's creative work. The right thing to do would be for you to take the page off the internet immediately and write a letter of apology to Barry. Eve, you really didn’t have the “liberty” to post those photos on the internet unless you received permission from Barry (for his two photos), Dougie Davidson (who took the official graduation shot) and Punahou School, since it is a Punahou publication. It is surprisingly that someone who creates computer information for a living and is careful to protect such property would be so disrespectful of other people’s creative work. The right thing to do would be for you to take the page off the internet immediately and write a letter of apology to Barry.

]]> By: Good googly moogly http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32542 Good googly moogly Thu, 01 Feb 2007 11:23:33 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32542 <i>My point is that Eve was being naive by putting this on a blog and thinking nothing was going to happen.</i> What happened exactly? People thought it was cute. <i>Obviously she is not a friend of Obama beacause that is not a sign of loyality.</i> Well, she already said they didn't know each other. <i>If I or one of his other friends put this on a blog I don’t think he would be calling us a friend much longer.</i> Why? It's his YEARBOOK for heaven's sake. Not deviant porno he did before he got famous. My point is that Eve was being naive by putting this on a blog and thinking nothing was going to happen.

What happened exactly? People thought it was cute.

Obviously she is not a friend of Obama beacause that is not a sign of loyality.

Well, she already said they didn’t know each other.

If I or one of his other friends put this on a blog I don’t think he would be calling us a friend much longer.

Why? It’s his YEARBOOK for heaven’s sake. Not deviant porno he did before he got famous.

]]> By: MB http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32331 MB Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:10:22 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32331 Don't really know where the racism comes in either. Not sure where that person was coming from with that comment. My point is that Eve was being naive by putting this on a blog and thinking nothing was going to happen. Blogs can be pretty damning sometimes for the people involved and she of all people should know that. You say that Eve is loyal to her Punahou friends. Obviously she is not a friend of Obama beacause that is not a sign of loyality. If I or one of his other friends put this on a blog I don't think he would be calling us a friend much longer. Eve might be respected in her career field but she sounds rather immature and full of herself to me. Sorry, but that's how I feel about and that's all I have to say. Good luck. Don’t really know where the racism comes in either. Not sure where that person was coming from with that comment.

My point is that Eve was being naive by putting this on a blog and thinking nothing was going to happen. Blogs can be pretty damning sometimes for the people involved and she of all people should know that. You say that Eve is loyal to her Punahou friends. Obviously she is not a friend of Obama beacause that is not a sign of loyality. If I or one of his other friends put this on a blog I don’t think he would be calling us a friend much longer. Eve might be respected in her career field but she sounds rather immature and full of herself to me. Sorry, but that’s how I feel about and that’s all I have to say. Good luck.

]]> By: Jacob Ferkatch http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32302 Jacob Ferkatch Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:18:07 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32302 why is this racist all she did was make a mini story on Mr. Obama's high school life. why is this racist all she did was make a mini story on Mr. Obama’s high school life.

]]> By: Beth Ferkatch http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32284 Beth Ferkatch Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:30:29 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32284 Ok, at first I thought that was an apology for the name calling until I got to the Goober part! Perhaps you're right. I'm sure Eve never imagined the media attention that exploded after an innocent post on her mostly work related blog. I will point out that Barack Obama's education is public knowledge. So is his pakalolo use (he is the one that published that info.) Eve is not a Goober, she is far from naive. Eve is well respected in her career field. She is a true and loyal friend who continues to keep in close contact with her Punahou friends and with new friends. I am saddened that this has turned personal through name calling. If nothing else, in this amazing forum for the exchange of ideas, I wish we could stay on topic..... Ok, at first I thought that was an apology for the name calling until I got to the Goober part! Perhaps you’re right. I’m sure Eve never imagined the media attention that exploded after an innocent post on her mostly work related blog. I will point out that Barack Obama’s education is public knowledge. So is his pakalolo use (he is the one that published that info.) Eve is not a Goober, she is far from naive. Eve is well respected in her career field. She is a true and loyal friend who continues to keep in close contact with her Punahou friends and with new friends. I am saddened that this has turned personal through name calling. If nothing else, in this amazing forum for the exchange of ideas, I wish we could stay on topic…..

]]> By: MB http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32240 MB Wed, 31 Jan 2007 16:12:20 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32240 Ok. Maybe not mean spirited. Eve is naive though when as you put it "having fun" or a good laugh by pointing out the chooming and the choom gang. Now every kook out there is making a big deal out of this. News magazines are trying to contact me about this stuff! This will eventually fade away, but next time Eve just keep things on the down low and be cool. The choom gang had a name for people like you. Goober! Ok. Maybe not mean spirited. Eve is naive though when as you put it “having fun” or a good laugh by pointing out the chooming and the choom gang. Now every kook out there is making a big deal out of this. News magazines are trying to contact me about this stuff! This will eventually fade away, but next time Eve just keep things on the down low and be cool. The choom gang had a name for people like you. Goober!

]]> By: Beth Ferkatch http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32084 Beth Ferkatch Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:01:20 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2007/01/16/barry-obama-and-the-gang/#comment-32084 I'm surprised and a bit confused about the negative comments regarding Eve's intention and posting of Barack Obama's High School yearbook page. What I read in her comments was nothing more than someone saying, "How fun! I went to school with a man running for president of the United States," with some comments on the styles of the time and explanation for those not in the know about what 'chooming' was (how many of you other Punahou alumni have told all your friends and shared your yearbook....some of you probably even bragging that you knew him!) To the person that feels Eve is meanspirited in her intentions, I can tell you, most definitely (as her sister and admirer of hers') that Eve is anything but meanspirited. I do respect any friends of Barry's trying to protect what they feel is a tarnishing of his reputation, but I can assure you that there is not/has never been/and never will be an attempt on Eve's part to disparage him. I’m surprised and a bit confused about the negative comments regarding Eve’s intention and posting of Barack Obama’s High School yearbook page. What I read in her comments was nothing more than someone saying, “How fun! I went to school with a man running for president of the United States,” with some comments on the styles of the time and explanation for those not in the know about what ‘chooming’ was (how many of you other Punahou alumni have told all your friends and shared your yearbook….some of you probably even bragging that you knew him!) To the person that feels Eve is meanspirited in her intentions, I can tell you, most definitely (as her sister and admirer of hers’) that Eve is anything but meanspirited. I do respect any friends of Barry’s trying to protect what they feel is a tarnishing of his reputation, but I can assure you that there is not/has never been/and never will be an attempt on Eve’s part to disparage him.

]]>