That's what the title says on the main icon of Geraldo Rivera's AOL area. The newscaster has made a career out of catering to the interests of ordinary viewers. But does this pose of "accessibility" really hold up in real life? Geraldo still chooses th e news, and reports it in a one-way medium. Were the message boards just for show?
Some pranksters experimented Friday, October 3, when they found themselves with the power to re-name the folders in Geraldo's Bulletin Board area. They immediately added profanities that would never be broadcast over the air. Other folder names evoked disrespectful scatological fantasies about public figures which clearly wouldn't meet broadcast standards.
Real-world commentary conflicted with the carefully-orchestrated feedback process. But maybe Geraldo got just what he asked for. The description of the bulletin boards closed by telling their AOL audience: "We'd love to hear your comments."
Two screen-shots are below...
The security issue -- why AOL would allow this to happen -- is another question. After staffers discovered the attack Saturday morning and apparently corrected the names of all the folders -- new scatalogical names were added Saturday afternoon.
