Is there a price for being an asshole on the web?

Chuck Olsen and i share the same birthday, June 4th.
He's also a good friend and an inspiration to me with all the work he's done on his uber-work, Blogumentary. He emailed the Videoblogging Group today with some fucked up news.

He says some movie producer named John Hart is threatening him with legal action because he wants to use the name for HIS documentary on bloggers that is not even made yet.
A long list of A-list bloggers have signed on to be interviewed by John Hart.

After Chuck emailed him about the real Blogumentary that is already a DVD, been publicly screened in several cities, John Hart sent Chuck some nasty emails belittling his work.
Read Chuck's account HERE.
John Hart says:

You say it would cause "confusion" about your project. Just who would be confused?  Readers of your blog?  Your parents?   While you're at it, why don't you complain to the 60 million users of the word "weblog" or "blog" or "journal" since you have one. Blog readers might get "confused" when reading yours, thinking that it resembles a real blog. Please don't bother me with this bullshit nonsense.

See, this kind of behavior doesn't fly right in this our world.
You may be able to get away with this behavior in Hollywood because it works that way...
but in the blogosphere, people talk to each other.
We know each other.
Reputation is important.
And i hope the list of bloggers ,who agreed to speak with John Hart, research what kind of man they are dealing with.

Comments

[Nathan Peters]

Well, I emailed about 30 or so of the people on the list and at least 3 have said they may back out because they didn't know what he was up to and he has been "shady" when dealing with them.

[Dooser]

I hate having to deal with stupid people like that. A teacher of mine made a stupid choice in class one day, wanted to take an ego trip. Smiling at me. I wrote a letter to the principals and superintendent. The athletic director somehow got the letter and called me in for a lecture. I tried to have a conversation with him. But his interruptions and complete ignorance to comprehend anything I was saying (or anything I wrote in the letter for that matter, even though he did have things highlighted) caused me to have to just shutup and wait for him to be done.

Asshole. You are correct.

[ryanne]

this aint no HOLLYwood.

[jonny goldstein]

Reputation does matter, and this fella has defecated in the waters of his rep. Ick.

[Chuck]

this ain't no CBGB!

[clark]

I think he's just going to have to find a new name, that Mr. Hart. !!! clark, zipzapzop.com

[Shel]

Wow. That Hart guy seems troubled.
He sounds pretty venomous... I don't think I would want to be involved in any kind of project with him. Those are people to avoid in ANY business. Hollywood is no excuse to be rude and thoughtless.

[Michael Meiser]

Personally I'm very please with the way the vlogosphere has responded and we should not relent until the matter is resolved or some public apology is given. Besides the insults this guy has made very specific threats, legal threats among others, that still stand. Propriety demands he take these statments back.

Nathan's efforts were amazing. Contacting 30 people. That's a lot of work..

We also must realize though that people make mistakes, second chances should be given. If he apologizes we should accept his apology. Let's face it, who hasn't come home after a long day at work and flamed someone on a blog, or a bboard, or in an email response. When I rant I do it publicly and with great thought on my blog. (mostly against faceless bureaucratic companies or products) If I'm out of line I want people to let me know. But many people don't have that sort of outlet. It could be this guy just lashed out in a rare incidence, and it's not pretty but it happens and this time he got taught quite a lesson about blogging and life.

That said if he doesn't apologize, screw em! :)

[Raymond M. Kristiansen]

Speaking from a political / PR / business-wise point of view, this guy has seriously pissed against the wind with this behaviour towards Chuck Olsen and Michael Verdi.

The way he treats individuals might work in Hollywood, where producers, directors and studios break someone's heart every day, but it sure as hell won't work in the vlogosphere. It might work in the blogosphere too, but it sure as hell won't work in the vlogosphere.

Chuck Olsen might be a mere B-blogger (HAH!) in the blogosphere, but his work as a videoblogger and his work with Blogumentary has inspired more than a few people among us, myself included.

John Hart might get his movie made, "despite criticism", and he might make the zillions of dollars he so obviously wants to make out of this, but it sure won't give him a lot of fans among those of us who know just how much work Chuck Olsen made into Blogumentary.

John Hart is, in my point of view, the arche-type of the worst part of Hollywood, and you, John Hart, are welcome to sue my Norwegian butt over this libel. Get your lawyers to translate your legal letter into Norwegian and see just how well it works out here. It seriously interests me.

And yes, I say this as a private person, not representing my Norwegian political party or my software company. Just in case you wondered.

Raymond M. Kristiansen
Norway, Europe

[paul]

If you Google Blogumentary, not only does Chuck have the Top Spot, he has the first five pages.

If I had a nickel for every asshole on the internet...

[renegade]

WTF is that guy Hart thinking? Did he forget that this is the blogoshpere? His rules don't apply here. Never heard of him. Chuck rules.

[Andrea]

Looks like the guy took down the list of bloggers. Now there is no list and just a small paragraph or so asking for money erm I mean an "investment". Guess all the bloggers letting him know what they thought helped.