In "Shark Attack," a new story in The Stranger, ace reporter Erica Barnett did the due journalistic diligence, and spoke with almost everybody involved. They even got a picture of Steffany Bell the waitress in the center of this shitzkrieg.
(photo: stefan sharkansky- why is this man laughing? -seattle post intelligencer)
The Sharkanskys public image is still in tatters.
We're still in a little shock by this big little story so totally avoidable by the Sharkanskys. That Stefan, alleged to be a smart political operative pulled this power play in the first place is astounding enough- but, Stefan, Stefan, Stefan:
a) why are you such a dick?
b) why did you ever think this would pass under the radar of the media? You're a controversial, hardball, partisan activist- your very public Web face is perused closely. If you have a Google alert on yourself- do you think nobody else does?
c) out of the other 999 ways you could have handled this, why did you pick the one you did?
d) when you're in a hole why keep digging? and digging?
After Kos picked up the story, it went viral. Wonkette got it; Facebookies came by the thousands, MySpacers hooked up. Striking a chord deeper than the one favored by the partisan chatterers we usually pander to, restaurant servers, bussers, dishwashers, students- big people in little jobs were moved by this simple narrative of power vs powerlessness.
Stefan and Irene lost in the court of public opinion- and we're afraid there are no more appeals left. A suggestion for the Sharkansky karma: this is the 21st century- you might try tipping 20%.
Can't help but notice that Barnett's article never mentions that Sharkansky is also a former Stranger columnist...
Posted by: Pete | August 30, 2007 at 06:15 PM
Don't you think we can reasonably expect a higher standard of personal conduct from an elite conservative blogger and his lawyer wife than you would a single mom waitress? If nothing else Team Sharkansksy outnumber the single mom.
Which brings up another interesting point, I can understand one person overeacting, but if you count Shark, the wife and the unnamed relative that visited the restaurant, that makes three people who cooperatively overreacted in concert with eachother. I'm surprised none of them said "wait, maybe this will look bad."
Posted by: Andrew | August 30, 2007 at 06:17 PM
Putsie, in case you haven't noticed, I don't really respond to bullies very much. Not worth the time or effort. Sorry, dear. Feel free to carry on your bullying as you wish. I always have the choice to ignore and it's a choice I exercise often. You've noticed, I can tell.
You may pursue me to your heart's content but you'll never win me. :)
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 06:20 PM
Pete says "Can't help but notice that Barnett's article never mentions that Sharkansky is also a former Stranger columnist..."
Maybe because that has nothing to do with the story.
Posted by: Andrew | August 30, 2007 at 06:20 PM
Andrew or anyone else:
People react to how Steffany was injured by her own word and deeds and end up blaming the victim -sharkansky- for revealing her own public words in defense of his family. Sharkansky didn't make anything up and hasn't recanted word one. She has.
People also conveniently forget that Sharkansky made several attempts to privately respond and when the people involved -read that Merci- escalated it to a broader audience after Sharkansky tried to get it quietly resolved, it was inevitable that Sharkansky needed to act on his own behalf. Did he invent anything? None of his facts have been disputed.
It is not a class issue. I really don't think Sharkansky et al are Bill and Melinda Gates here. Their net worth is probably a rounding error of the Gates fortune. If the kids are attending private schools, well that says something about the quality of the Seattle School System. But that is another topic altogether.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 06:24 PM
Andrew
the un-named Sharkansky relative that did the 'threatening' was the 14 year old sister. she confronted ms. bell. if ms bell received any threats that really put her in fear i would encourage her to report them to the police. i doubt the one from the 14 year old daughter put her in fear.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 06:26 PM
i understand ph(j)oanie, your just an empty pantsuit
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 06:29 PM
The sharks called her boss. You left that out. That's what this is about.
There's a lot of wealth before getting to Gates. And wealth is not the only criteria for power. Gandhi was powerful. Let's keep the argument reasonable.
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 06:30 PM
didn't mean to leave it out, they did talk to her boss
just like you would in that situation. How would it work in your line of business -not that you would and I do know that you wouldnt do that let me be clear/fair- but lets imagine if you had been blogging about the parents/kids by name in your class. Commenting on their parenting skills/liklihood of being a child beater/calling the kid a monkey.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 06:36 PM
I'm spending time at schick schadel
I'm coiler
I'm an empty pantsuit
All in the time frame of a day or two . . . what do you call bullying? Hmm?
You are a malicious, over-posting, superficial bully. Your attacks don't even connect to anything I've said or done. You are simply a name caller. Just as are most of the right. You overreact with viciousness. Just like the Sharks.
That's probably why you are able to relate so well to them. Sad, isn't it putsie.
And lately I have stopped reading or am skimming your posts. They just aren't interesting anymore. So, if you want to characterize my lack of interest in your posts as "skedaddling" - I say fine. Your posts reflect on your intellect, not mine.
Anything else?
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 06:36 PM
You don't know what I would do. You don't have a clue.
That is why I leave you to the others to engage. You are arrogant and presumptuous.
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 06:40 PM
first off, your right about the schick shadel comment.
i appologize for that. facetious comment to a fellow annonymous poster - but not nice on my part.
second, sorry, i didn't realize being outed as coiler was an insult to you. sorry about that.
third, you do realize the inherent logical conflict in your last two posts? that is a put on, right?
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 06:47 PM
Andrew: re "If nothing else, team Sharkansky outnumber the single mom." By the same token, team left far, far outnumbers team right in this region. And over at the stranger and SP blogs, some vow to poison our food with spit, toenails, etc. in an apparent effort to further reduce our numbers.
Isn't it time for to back off this attack of the powerful versus the weak?
Posted by: wutitiz | August 30, 2007 at 06:48 PM
people have asked why i come on this website and fight uphill on this issue. let me tell, the first thing that bothered me was ms. bell's description of the interacial child as a monkey coupled with the fact that when asked to describe to describe mrs. sharkansky the first words was in regards to her race. why is that?
was the race really important to the discussion? wouldn't mrs. sharkansky's conduct be important? yet it was the very first word out of ms. bell's mouth. that coupled with the 'monkey' reference to the interracial child really didn't set well with me.
to be fair, it's not enough to say it is intentionally or overtly racist but it certainly is a subtext.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 06:50 PM
PuugetSound: nice job in digging up the deleted parts of the interview. When I first saw this story, I thought it was crazy to make such a big deal of it--my first reaction was 'what did the 5-yr-old know, and when did he know it'
However, the whole story has been a revelation in exposing the inner workings of the moonbatosphere, and thus worthwhile.
Posted by: wutitiz | August 30, 2007 at 06:57 PM
yep, agreed.
and dontcha know it is killing ph(j)oanie in not being able to respond. :)
if you read her postings it is almost like a put on, but i think she is actually serious.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 06:59 PM
She meant monkey in the context of disorderly behavior. I think you're racist for imagining otherwise.
As for describing the wife as Asian, aparently she is. To say that this observation was intended to be derogatory is another invention by you.
She did not say "those mixed kids are monkeys" or "asian ladies don't tend to their children", and you inferences to that effect are your own inventions.
I think Joanie's right, you do post waaaay too much and your dumfounding tenacity is only matched by the Sharks themselves.
Posted by: Andrew | August 30, 2007 at 06:59 PM
andrew
i just said it lent itself to a subtext. my wife is asian and my children are mixed race. perhaps being in an interracial marriage i may be a little more cognizant. maybe too cognizant of race. but i didn't say it was overtly racist, but there was a subtext to it that i found disturbing. you had asked me before why i was posting on this. i am just explaining why i followed this. i didn't use it in breaking down the story but it explains my motivation in seeing the story discredited.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 07:03 PM
PugetSound: I have wondered why the racism angle wasn't even brought up by either Merci in his interview, or Barnett. Racists, whether left or right, should be exposed and treated accordingly. I have noticed that the left reserves its worst venom for minorities who don't toe the line, such as Clarence Thomas and Condoleeza Rice.
Posted by: wutitiz | August 30, 2007 at 07:10 PM
third, you do realize the inherent logical conflict in your last two posts? that is a put on, right?
No, I don't And this is an example of your problem. Insinuation as well as name calling. You can't speak straight. You don't know what you are talking about. You can't make a point.
Even the coiler response was another misinformed malicious comment. That's who you are. So, putsie, you will have the last word because you need it. I am done.
Still love you in spite of your faults, sweetheart. But, don't expect any more engagement than I've been giving. Just not worth it.
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 07:13 PM
My wife is polynesian and I'm not the least bit offended or suspecious. It's an obvious physical characteristic that comes with any casual description of a person. It's so innocuous, I can't say more about it. You are waaaaay to sensitive, and PC. You NEED a prescription for medical marijuana.
Side note; given your rate of posting I was sure you had no family to tend to, much less a job or a formal sleep schedule.
Posted by: Andrew | August 30, 2007 at 07:17 PM
i think it was a latent deal and so i am willing to cut her slack on it. but when i first read the article my reaction was like 'wow, what does her race have to do with anything.' it was like a one word description as if that entailed all. for those that say, well she was just being descriptive of a physical appearance i would say she didn't mention anything about height or weight. just race as a physical characteristic. that coupled with the monkey comment on the interracial child set me off. it was probably not meant as an overtly racist comment. so i only included it later as a partial explanantion as to my motivation to see them defended. the biggest reason was that the story was easy to pick at the seems and watch it fall apart like a cheap suit.
but i do agree about rice and thomas and also to a lesser degree colin powell. the venom they get is harsh.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 07:18 PM
andrew
side note: just taking care of some family obligations at home so i took a little vacation time to tend to 'em. that is why i was housebound.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 07:20 PM
The race issue was not brought up because there isn't one. Even the Sharks had the sense to realize that despite have so little sense otherwise.
Posted by: Andrew | August 30, 2007 at 07:20 PM
joanie i am retiring the ph(j)oanie after that last one
LOL
gotcha. too easy.
does anyone believe that joanie won't be posting again in response?
trust me, i am willing to roll the dice on that one. LOL
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 07:23 PM
I have wondered why the racism angle wasn't even brought up by either Merci in his interview,
Maybe because you're the only ones who see race and racism behind every tree.
Oh dear! Did I say "tree?" Uh-oh! Is that "racist" - I mean monkeys climb in trees. Now, I'm a racist.
Well, what d'ya know. I'll have to tell my friends to abandon me. I'm a racist!
Get real, you guys.
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 07:23 PM
andrew
i am just giving you my motivation. question, do you have any children?
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 07:24 PM
andrew,
you do realize that i wrote the above in that fashion as i knew that joanie would not be able to resist a reply despite numerous statements that she wouldn't.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 07:28 PM
Changed my mind . . . now, how can you maliciously characterize that? Well, I need only wait to find out.
Please don't retire my special name. It is so you. And I love knowing it requires extra effort to constantly type all those upper-row keys. I've been enjoying knowing that you spent that time on me.
Funny, isn't it, how you are always the only way to credit yourself with getting (gotcha) anyone.
And wutitis, you should be ashamed. You post as if you have some common sense as well as intellectual capacity. But, after this absurd "racist" tangent, I think you might well be a good friend to putsie.
Hmm, let's see, the right on this blog is represented by putsie, klueless, nevetS, wutitis and chucks.
Chucks, you're the leader, As much as I hate to admit it, you do make more sense and can finish a thought better than any of the other three. I annoint you leader of the pack.
I know you'll appreciate that reference. :)
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 07:35 PM
not malicious, just illustrative joanie.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 07:41 PM
Joanie--how do you know there was no racism angle? It wasn't even asked about by either Merci or Barnett. SB appeared to be focused on Sharkansky's wife's race, and called the child a 'monkey.' I would have at least asked her about it. The obvious reason for not asking is that they were afraid of what the answer might be.
Posted by: wutitiz | August 30, 2007 at 07:48 PM
Joanie--how do you know there was no racism angle?
I don't. The point is, neither do you. So why not let the Sharks speak for themselves? If they haven't taken it as a racist act, why should you?
You have enough to add to the conversation without "digging" for dirt supported only by ass-umptions and guesses. Don't go there. You don't know and never will. That's a cheap shot.
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 07:58 PM
wutitiz
i think the sharkansky's didn't go there because they had enough on their plate to readily put the move the story to the fiction shelf.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:07 PM
correction
wutitiz
i think the sharkansky's didn't go there because they had enough on their plate to readily move the story to the fiction shelf.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:08 PM
You are right--I don't know and presumably neither do the Sharkanskys. All I am saying here is that either Merci, or big-time-journalist Barnett should have addressed this, given that the first thing SB mention about Irene was her race, and then called her child a 'monkey.'
Posted by: wutitiz | August 30, 2007 at 08:10 PM
wutitis
you can see why the people that supported the ms. bell story would want to shy away from that angle.
so they dismiss it out of hand.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:13 PM
PS: exactly--that's all I'm saying, why not address the issue, and if there's nothing there, we've gotten rid of it. Certainly the comments by SB raised more than enough of a red flag to warrant asking the question, if not by merci then by big time Erica.
Posted by: wutitiz | August 30, 2007 at 08:20 PM
wutitiz
i think your right. but its a hot potato. besides it doesn't fit into the 'template' after all conservatives are supposed to be the racist ones. but it should be easy to raise and dismiss in the article by Erica. it is a natural question. why is the only one you described by race the one who happens to be a minority? why did you refer to her child as a monkey?
would be easy for ms. bell to clarify.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:24 PM
Here you go Joanie (better get on board wutitiz)
All Hail Leader Chuck
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all prior allegiances that I will support and defend the word and deeds of Chuck against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Chuck; that I will bear arms on behalf of Chuck when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by Chuck; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:28 PM
No, they shouldn't have addressed it if there's nothing to address. You don't make up issues where they don't exist. That's the whole point.
Andrew is right. You two are the racists to have to invent racism.
putsie: i think the sharkansky's didn't go there because they had enough on their plate...
Another ass-umption. You see, wutitis, he continues to build his whole argument on one ass-umption after another. You know, if that's the way you think, there's no logic to it. It will be a flawed analysis based on assumptions. What's the value of that?
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 08:30 PM
joanie
that isn't what Chuck said...
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:31 PM
Joanie
How would it work in your line of business -not that you would- but lets imagine if you had been blogging about the parents/kids by name in your class. Commenting on their parenting skills/liklihood of being a child beater/calling the kid a monkey.
How would that work out then if you had been 'outed' by an alert parent and asked to quietly retract the story and instead you had blown it off.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:36 PM
OMG these guys are forming a militia of some type ("bear arms on behalf of Chuck") right in front of our eyes. Joanie, are there any bunkers at your hideaway vacation spot?
Posted by: jeeramya | August 30, 2007 at 08:38 PM
Joanie sez:
"Hmm, let's see, the right on this blog is represented by putsie, klueless, nevetS, wutitis and chucks. Chucks, you're the leader..."
All right Chuck, you've been annoited. you are officially the tallest midget in our group. Go forth and lead.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:40 PM
I miss the days when even Duffman knew when to shut up...
Posted by: SuperSoul | August 30, 2007 at 08:41 PM
supersoul
the topic is shark attack. bring it on.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:42 PM
Don't worry, jeeramya. It would be the F Troop of militias. Just stay where you are a hope you don't get shot by accident.
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 08:42 PM
Sorry SuperSoul, I will cease and desist.
Posted by: joanie | August 30, 2007 at 08:44 PM
so why are you so reluctant to answer the question on the subject matter of this post joanie.
Posted by: PugetSound | August 30, 2007 at 08:45 PM
No, it's not you....
Posted by: SuperSoul | August 30, 2007 at 08:45 PM