For the final word of the Dandune vs Cox battle, Swizzle and I weigh in on who won. Feel free to skip this, I understand.
For the final word of the Dandune vs Cox battle, Swizzle and I weigh in on who won. Feel free to skip this, I understand.
What side of the Dandunes/Cox Pulpmx Show battle are you on?
Matthes- As you people that listen to the show know, there was a battle between moto media peeps Steve Cox of Motocross.com and Dan Lamb AKA Dandunes of Motoxaddicts.com. I’ll spare you all the details and you’ll have to listen to the show to hear their respective beefs but I’m not sure you can declare a winner here.
There were two sides to everything and as much as I would like to crucify Dan for apparently lying about being at a bunch of races, I can’t. He’s apologized and I suppose does it make a difference if he lies about one race of four? “I don’t know your honor, I did shoot the man and one bullet entered his heart and killed him but I did also put four more into him”. Like, does it really matter?
On the other hand Cox was going on about the fact that he’s on the road going to the races, paying his dues (and expenses) and that guys like Dan aren’t putting the same effort as him. To that I say, phooey.
The work that one produces stands above everything else and if it’s good, creative and thorough it will rise above. And in my opinion, going to the races gets you the best work. So yeah, not sure where I stand on this thing. Both guys are good guys and I see some fault with both sides. Dan for his work and Steve for being, well, Steve.
Swizcore- Firstly, as far as I am concerned integrity isn’t something that swings on a hinge or fluctuates. You either live by a code of ethics that you don’t waiver from or you flirt with the edge and eventually step over it.
Listening to the show the other night it became clear that Dan was only going to admit to the deceptions which he was called on and as the show went on more of those came to light and his integrity took a catastrophic hit in my eyes. Think about it, in the online world you are essentially in total control of your representation. If in that microcosm you are revealed as dishonest, that says something about your ethics.
I was hoping Dan would simply admit guilt and apologize. Instead he followed up the admission of guilt with excuses. Excuses like, “I got too big too fast”. Really? In what way? Because his Twitter followers were growing exponentially? Because Vital members were pumping him up in his spam threads? To me, “too big too fast” would equate to making money somehow so I don’t see the benefit of lying about being at a race when it’s not going to affect your income. Even if it were going to have an immediate effect on your income, the longterm repercussions on your “journalistic integrity” would be such that it would still be incredibly stupid.
I don’t doubt that Dan is a very likable guy but his warped view of self-importance, as evidenced by him thinking Cox is intimidated by him, basing his popularity off of Twitter and Vital(which are fractions so minimal its laughable), make me shake my head. Dan had one thing going for him in the on-air argument and that was exactly the thing meant to destroy him. I’ll hit that after Matthes’ next “stand”.
Matthes- You’re biggest argument is that Dan lied and I agree that it’s not cool to do but I like to think that it was error of commission and passion, not of purposely trying to be deceitful. This show had everything you could ask for, the Brotocross guy calling in, the transcriptionist backing Cox (although if you asked me, her giving Dan’s work to another media member is not cool and Cox did gloss over this point in my opinion) and even GuyB, the soothing voice of reason on the internet weighed in with his opinion.
It was a fascinating look at the sport from a couple of different sides and one that I don’t have a real opinion about. Both guys were wrong about different things but Dan does seem like a nice guy who is trying to break into the sport. Yes, he did it in about as bad of a way as a guy could but hey, he’s trying right?
Did he change interviews (which was Cox’s biggest complaint)? I would probably think so. Did he change them so much that the intent of the story was changed? I don’t know. I do know that Cox seemed to care way too much about this deal and sure a few Tweets here and there are funny but the all out assault that Wordnerd did to Dandunes was a little much. Again, like I was saying the work of Dan speaks for itself and if he kept on changing interviews (as Cox professes he did) then eventually it would all bubble to the surface.
Swizcore- Well, because the lies were initiated out of “passion” doesn’t excuse them, a thought process was made resulting in the decision to lie.
Now, extending on your point, yes, Cox is an abrasive SOB. Before I knew him I used to be like, is this guy for real? Seriously, the biggest knowitall, argumentative guy ever and that’s how most people seem to view him. This view of him often times, monday night being one of those times, leaves many people jumping ship from Cox’s side regardless of his opposition’s argument. It’s something he has no control over, it’s like his air. He thrives on making a point into a foundation of bedrock and then building a skyscraper on top of it that reaches to the clouds. Meanwhile, those watching the construction are like, “yeah, ok, two-floors would have been plenty”.
This happened on the Pulp Show. Cox made the points about broken ethics but then made some other points more related to him personally and professionally which didn’t resonate with most. Then, as the Dirt Snark does, he continued mixing mortar and stacking bricks until he was essentially all alone the top of his skyscraper looking around wondering where everyone was. He talked them right to the other side. You can’t argue that Dan wasn’t unethical but when confronted with a Dirt Snark on “11” you’re powerless against it’s repelling strength.
In Cox’s defense, he doesn’t take himself even remotely as seriously as those who are turned off by him. He’s great at baiting and reeling you in, you’re fighting all the way. While you are fighting and trying to get off the hook he’s just laughing at the struggle.
Dan’s angle of Cox being a stalker was weak, laughable at best. Cox was getting his facts straight and using his contacts/resources to assure he knew what he was talking about. In the greatest twist of irony Dan, who thinks Cox is a stalker, asks Cox for his phone number. Classic!
Matthes- Some good points in there but the best point I can make to shut you down is to channel my inner Kenny Watson and say that I can’t believe we effing wasted over a thousand words talking about this stupid thing once again!
