As far as it being unfair to fans, all I have to say is that there are ways to express support that don't intentionally take whacks at people who put a lot of themselves out there. In fact, there are adult ways for people to express themselves. That they chose to behave like adolescents is their problem, not mine.

And this is my blog. I get to be self-serving here. Without apology.

Need to first recognize that social real time web space is going to be anything but civil and deal with it. It's going to get worse in real time than it is on twitter. Google wave is said to show keystroke. You're not going to necessarily have people being able to edit that much in real-time.

And it's interesting to call out less than civil behavior by fans and respondents when the podcasters in question are dropping f-bombs and arbitrarily cutting off shows. Or others are continuing to bait people to get a good story or “interesting” reaction.

Mike wouldn't have people saying dumb things if he wasn't a popular figure that does what he does. He choose that. You're never going to get rid of the dumb people that say dumb things when Mike is a dick, without considering the issues.

As far as Steve, I heard Steve laughing. I don't know him well enough to say what is what. Personally, it kinda looked like he thought it was all joke, then stopped when it got serious. But I can maybe see how some might think he was siding with Mike somehow. Steve brought up the question, then Mike jumped in. I don't think so, but I can see how some conspiracy theorists would suggest it was a planned “attack” on Leo for lack of a better work. I don't think that, but I can see how others would.

Just the same, nobody told him to go on a streaming show including popular figures with fans and starting laughing. Nobody told Mike to bait Leo or suggest he was unethical. If Mike and/or Steve wanted to bring up a Palm Pre marketing theory (discussed idea previously?), Mike didn't need to attack Leo or suggest he only got it cause he would kiss butt. There's other ways to talk about Palm's marketing. Did Mike and Steve really not know before hand Leo had the Pre? Sounded to me like one of those dumb late night pre-questions that get asked. Was this all discussed to talk about after the memorial of the Google guy? Give me a break. They totally come off butt hurt over their egos and directed it at Leo.

If the content was for you and your group then why publish it to the public? If you don't like that he pulled content down, blame Steve? or blame Mike? Don't blame the fans for reacting to watching something Steve decided to put there. Blame Steve or Mike.

You're sounding somewhat self-serving with this post.