You might remember this post three years ago in which I laughed at a woman on a Segway pushing a baby stroller for being lazy. Well, I’m a giant asshole, and I want to apologize to Melissa Hofstetter. I’m sorry Melissa. More »
I Am Very Sorry, Segway Stroller Lady [Apology]
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@Jason Chen
I salute you for manning up and being a real man.
–Core–
Classy move, Jason.
Those commenters questioning Jason’s sincerity should be the ones wearing his pointy hat.
Brian: Cogito Ergo ZOOM!
that may not be funny, but this is
e30m3
I’m not sure I would say class act, but it takes a person of character to bring attention to their fault and attempt to correct it. Especially when it would have gone on forgotten and ignored.
80toy
This might be the best Jalopnik article ever.
Kerc 2.0 beta
Giz,
Pony up a Segway Centaur and call it the day.
Melissa will approve !
aec007
@mtfmuffins: I applaud your reasoned discourse, and have promoted accordingly. And while I agree with much of your comment, I have to ask, is what she was doing really that unsafe? Would it have been safer spending 5 times as long in the intersection, hobbling along on an artificial leg? As far as I can tell, she’s on a crosswalk. Any car that comes “barreling along” most likely shouldn’t be doing that. Do we automatically absolve the driver of all responsibility? I certainly wouldn’t! Being an avid pedestrian myself, I’d opt for getting out of the street as quickly as possible.
FredicvsMaximvs
Just goes to prove, context is everything. What the given context lacks (information about this woman’s disability), our brains fill in with assumptions (she’s able and thus creatively lazy in a funny way).
DarthSnuggles
Just as a reminder, the technology that the Segway was born out of was, in fact, a wheelchair. Wired wrote a great story about is years ago (which i couldn’t find in their online archive). At the time it was a pretty amazing piece of tech in it’s own right. A wheelchair that could go up and down stairs, and with the use of complex gyroscopes, raise up on to two wheels and allow people in wheelchairs to look their fellow humans in the eye. While it seems that the wheelchair version didn’t make it out of R&D, the gyroscope design bore out the Segway.
Frankie2
Congrats Jason. Good to man up, especially three years later, when most everybody would’ve forgotten about it, anyway. It takes humility to admit to fault when risk is low.
Meanwhile, where was that comment about Gizmodo’s heart growing three sizes? I was gonna give him an internet coupon.
Maybe he’s annoyed at my coupons and can see the future?
Misfit7707
@Bramsey89: Because there are spectacularly few people who have the guts to apologize for being pricks, and fewer still that will do publicly.
Anyone who has the guts to do that deserves a beer.
pauljones
I’m sure a lot of the people in amusing pictures I come across on the internet are good people once you get to know them, but I’d like to stay unfamiliar to the people in the pictures posted on People of Walmart and just keep on laughing.
Still, kudos to you sir.
mayonaisetim
Good work bringing the back-story to people’s attention and publicly apologizing.
And now that that’s cleared up, can we do something to help the cat who so badly wants to haz cheezburger?
Germanautoaddiction
@mtfmuffins: Wow, that was long.
dbett
@The Shockwave: I am pretty sure ‘better men’ are actually often defined by apologizing when they realize they were being a dick. What is your definition of what makes a ‘better man’?
Tony Bologna
Kudos to you, Mr. Chen, for having the guts to admit a wrong and apologize. While your original post was indeed dickish, it takes an exceptionally strong person to make an apology. Three years later is a little unusual, but better late than never.
Assuming (which I am) that this is a sincere apology. If this was compelled as a result of a lawsuit that finally got settled three years later, then I would say you’re still a little bit of a dick. But, then, so am I. That certainly wouldn’t be enough to stop me from enjoying your posts and your excellent contributions to Gizmodo.
Anyways. kudos to you, Jason. And Melissa, it takes an unimaginable amount of personal strength to deal with the kind of shit that was posted in response to that photo. And it takes a whole hell of a lot more persistence and strength to survive cancer. You have my utmost respect for that.
pauljones
So how come nobody made or makes the same complaint about rollerskates?
“Wheels, on your feet? UGH LAZY AMURIKKENS”
lwjoestar
@snap_understeer_ftw: How do you owe him a beer? Was his apology really that great that not only did he undo any horrible comments he made but also made you indebted to him at the same time?
Bramsey89
I still think it looks funny. Why? Because I’m still a jerk. I don’t pretend to be sorry just because I find out that she has cancer. I’m not saying you are pretending, but I’m not going to say you are a better man because of your post. We all laughed at her and we all are jerks.
The Shockwave
@Danny Sullivan: Couldn’t agree more. People need to get a grip on reality. If Jason had said “haha cancer!!!111″ then you would all have a right to get upset. But he didn’t. He said “haha lazy people!!!111″ and maybe it’s just because I really enjoy making fun of lazy people for being lazy, but there is nothing wrong with that. It looked like a woman pushing her child in a very lazy way. I would have done the same damn thing Jason did. And I bet most of you would have as well. Jason was not in the wrong. But it is cool that he apologized.
verditsgerman
wow, Jason Chen, you were an asshole but you have redeemed yourself supremely
I owe you a beer
snap_understeer_ftw
Life sucks. Cancer sucks. Segways suck.
Making fun of people without regards for such trivial things as ‘facts’ or ‘truths’ AWESOME.
Hell lets take this on another tangent. Why is being on eye level so important? Are short people inferior to you? Folks in wheel chairs and scooters far beneath your standards and status? Gotta feel high and mighty on your magical chariot?
/Internet Ingredients: Naked people, Hate, Cats, may contain less than 2% of the following: niceness.
Blackened2k6
When the Segway came out I thought it was pretty douchey because it replaces, well, walking. But then I saw a little girl with MS on one in an airport and I realized what a great invention it was for the disabled. The Segway’s biggest failing is that it was over hyped and mis-marketed.
phlavor
@Bassem B.: The son’s rant is still there, but here is a convenient copy/paste for you to read the whole shebang in one place!:
Listen here you son of a bitch!! That Woman you found so convenient to tear down is my mother. I happen to know that she is not a lazy woman. In fact she exercises four times a week. The reason she uses her Segway is she went through cancer for three years and in the end had to have her left leg amputated. When traveling long distances by walking she develops very painful blisters and sores from the rubbing of her prosthetic leg. I have seen these sores draw tears to my mothers eyes they are so painful, and my mother is a very tough woman. Another fact which is inaccurate because you are a pathetic excuse for a journalist, is that is not her daughter. It is actually her great niece. Not that, that makes any difference to the overall story. It just goes to show how the use of the internet as a media of journalism has deteriorated to to the point of being nothing more than a bunch of old ladies sitting around the bingo table spreading the latest gossip. If you consider yourself a “journalist” you should actually try and research the topic you are writing about. Actually talk to the person you intend to insult and tear down and hear their side of the story before going ahead and making an ass of yourself. And to the rest of you who posted negative things about a kind, gentle, and hardworking woman you know nothing about: you should all be ashamed of yourselves!! Let this be a lesson to all of you, do not pass judgement on someone unless you know the whole story. You all were poking fun of an amputee cancer survivor who was taking care of children who weren’t even her own out of the kindness of her heart. All of you should be extremely ashamed of the way you were all so quick to judge. And to the “journalist” who wrote this article I believe you owe my mother an apology. Your take on her stroller pushing techniques hurt her feelings without cause. You had no right to say the things you did about her. Your statements were and are unfounded, grossly exaggerated, and irresponsible. If you would like to take responsibility for your hurtful statements and attempt to make amends please e-mail my mom as emcjk@comcast.net. Her name is Melissa Hofstetter and I’m sure she would really appreciate a heartfelt apology from you. Let the lesson be learned that we should not judge things we see without first placing that situation or event in the proper context. Because without context, something this journalist seems to know nothing about. one cannot build a cohesive and educated opinion.
Jestermeister
It takes a big man to admit when he’s made a mistake, especially on the internet. Proud of you, Jason.
Best wishes Melissa and family! God bless!
AV6Spd
@Lassus: If you were not starred you should be with that post.
Emperor_Kestrel
Oh come now. 99% of the people giving Jason the slow golf clap for apologizing are the very people that laughed at the image in the first place. It’s is our turn to apologize because it was us that forwarded the image and made it into what it is today. If Jason was the vehicle we definitely were the gasoline.
In the age of absolutely anonymity it is so easy to dehumanize someone you see in an image or a short video (e.g. Star Wars Kid). The fact is if you tracked down every person who was personally libeled online and learned their story, you’d quit making fun of them because you learned more about their situation and not what clues you had in a picture.
While I know Jason’s apology is appreciated, especially by Melissa’s family, the real thing Jason did here was finally highlight the underlying story behind the picture. He did his part but I think what would benefit Melissa would be an apology from all the mindless piranhas that ate up the original story, you and me.
Sorry Melissa.
KamWrex
No comment from the son about your humility towards this? I’m sure it will come soon. Good job Jason, always nice to see people are able to admit their mistakes and attempt to make amends.
saikyodanhibiki
@Travis Tedford: Well, the word “jk” sounds extremely ironic. Using it in fact makes the person still sound like they’re making that accusation.
Like this:
“Oh yeah that gay dude deserved to get beaten up. oh jk jk…”
Pope John Peeps II
However, you people in Walmart, well, you’re out of luck. Sucks to be you.
(Good article, Jason, kudos well-deserved.)
Lassus
Hmm, 3 years later…this looks to be more part of a legal settlement than a sincere mea culpa. Thanks Jason!
mruptight
Out of curiosity, why would anyone expect you to question a picture that had nothing in it to question?
I understand WHY the apology is necessary once the angry son and nice nephew got into the picture, because then this totally anonymous picture got a fuller story. But it was a story that you could not have POSSIBLY anticipated based on that picture.
There is absolutely nothing in that picture that would cause you to question it. I know millions of people have already seen it and assumed the same thing and even though it’s interesting to think “Oh gee how could we all be so gullible, why are we not all fervent seekers of the truth” the truth is that we see thousands and thousands of normal pictures a day, and asking ourselves to question each one borders on the insane. Are we to track down every single family photo, every cute puppy photo, every baby in a pool photo and ask “is there something tragic here I cannot possibly see, that I should know, before I find this picture adorabs?”
So I think my point is that it’s nice that Jason’s apologizing, and it’s right that he is. But it’s strange that a lot of people are EXPECTING him to make an apology – as if he made some kind of mistake.
Pope John Peeps II
Still kinda irresponsible to be using a segway while pushing your kid in a stroller. Just sayin’…
iJoe
@Dancing Milkcarton: Really? I thought he had some decent points that got lost in the shuffle of some hyperbolic statements. Sort of like one Chris Hofstetter starting his note with “Listen here you son of a bitch!!”
CubFan81
I don’t get how the picture is funny in the first place.
deathgleaner
Good job Jason. It takes a big person to admit they made a mistake.
whatznext28
@Pope John Peeps II: It wasn’t stolen, it was someone elses property found and sold to a high bidder…I’m no law expert but that doesnt sound legal. Correcting somone on a minor detail while defending an overall act of wrong doing seems a little silly especially when he was clearly “Jk-ing”
Travis Tedford
Thanks for the update Jason. Glad to hear that Melissa is doing well. She sounds like an incredible woman.
iTofu 3GS has no reception problems
You’re Da Man for coming out and admitting it. People make mistakes, its how you deal with it that differentiates from one another.
DNiedAcess
@Charliehorse: The real test will be what Gizmodo does the next time a juicy taken-out-of-context-this-could-really-drive-pageviews image finds its way in to their inbox.
At Gawker it’s always about the pageviews. Don’t forget it.
BootHillBossanova
@tselliot: I think segways could be more study than they look. In DC people take a 15 minute riding lesson and then segway all over really busy areas (on both sidewalk and street) and I’ve never seen anyone fall over. Even the guy who almost ran over my foot on the sidewalk. I hate the segway tours.
meg9
@Pope John Peeps II: Semantics, I should have said buying a mistakenly misplaced iphone prototype, and whats the use of the truth if you can’t tell a lie sometimes?
gstatty
Good job in apologizing with full context and accepting complete blame for your own actions.
I hope that something like this minor episode could serve to sensitize more people on the Internet to consider thinking at least twice before reacting to harmless content found here, actually: it’s obviously quite easy to mock people without consideration or mercy, but far more sociable and mature to wonder about the circumstances with compassion and possibly let the cheap jokes go by without typing them down, IMHO.
ooofest
@Danny Sullivan:
1) Joshua is the physician who happens to be the nephew of the subject of the photo, and
2) Chris Hofstetter is the *son* of the woman in question who wrote the email that you seem to take issue with.
It seems reasonable that when a person publishes an insensitive and retroactively asinine comment about your mom, you might be entitled to get a little salty. Unless, of course, your mother is Sarah Palin.
RyanLN
Upright and honest journalism here. The mainstream media should take notice. Props to you good sir!
Oh and Chen, that image of you is AWESOME! Print that out and put it on your desk! If I had one like that of me, I certainly would =D
deciBels
Wow – definitely a new perspective.
If anything, it makes me realize that the next time I see someone parking in a handicapped space, and it doesn’t appear they aren’t handicapped, that I should probably bring it up to their attention nicely and politely instead of yelling at them.
Of course if they are truly assholes who aren’t handicapped but are too lazy to go park in a normal spot, and they aren’t polite in return, then let the yelling and police calling commence.
tenazrael
It’s really nice to see the integrity of a journalist who will own up to a mistake, even 3 years later. While I do appreciate the sentiment, and I am actually glad to hear the backstory, I don’t know if an apology was truly merited.
**Please let me explain: I’m not trying to be contrarian – I’m just a little concerned.**
Issuing an apology is to be nice, because no one likes to find out that you made a joke at someone else’s expense when they didn’t deserve it. Reading an editorial opinion doesn’t make me think you’re a terrible person, however, just like hearing a bad joke doesn’t make me think a Comedian is truly racist, sexist or whatever. Comedians don’t apologize for their jokes – if they did they would never stop apologizing. And in the same vein, Editorial writers don’t *usually* apologize for their opinions; if they did, how would they ever hold their ground?
So then I guess the big question is, does this case merit an apology? Hmm.
I know you aren’t a comedian, Jason, but doesn’t the same principle still apply here? This was a big internet Meme. You didn’t start it, you threw another log onto the fire. You were one of many. The Meme was popular because it was a ridiculous candid photo that was very culturally relevant at the time, and I’d argue, out of context, still is. Pushing a baby carriage across the street whilst riding a segway is nuts in anyones book and certainly *not* what Dean Kamen had in mind. How safe is it, really, to get on a segway and push your child in a stroller ahead of you – across an intersection. Especially when you only have one actual leg and the entire thing operates on balance! What if a car came barreling at you? You’re supposed to have both hands on the thing at all time – not hands free, pushing a shopping cart, baby stroller, wheelchair or whatever else. You’re not even supposed to talk on your cell phone while riding one – and she had another life in her hands. Her judgement call, disability or not, was seriously questionable.
What about the other angle that people really attacked her on? That of a heavy-set female soccer-mom type doing this dangerous thing? Speaking as a woman, I can certainly empathize with how hard it is to juggle all that we have to juggle: being negatively objectified for your weight, stereotyped into being stupid just for being female, etc. Hearing her heartbreaking story does make me very glad she survived her ordeal and that this gadget helps her lead a productive life? Bravo! But I don’t think, in this particular case, gender had much to do with it. That’s a cop out. If some guy was caught doing the same thing, it’d be no less worrisome. I think the problem here was personal responsibility and the judgement one makes to ride a segway and attempt to control a baby carriage thru an intersection. Regardless of her leg, she should never have attempted what she did. If that was my kid she was pushing into that intersection, and I saw that photo, I would have been royally pissed, and rightfully so.
In the end, what I’m trying to get at is something bigger than this one case. Again, I applaud your willingness to print a retraction of an error. But this kinda reeks of political correctness. PC has its place in politics, but elsewhere…? It’s demeaning to give her a free pass on a really bad judgement call, even when learning of her tragic history. If you were to continue down this road, Giz would have *so much* apologizing to do. Every snarky comeback or one liner about the days news. Every negative opinion you issue on the stories that cross your desk. Will every backstory warrant an official retraction, or just the heart breaking ones? Let me put it to you this way: If this same exact photo was of a guy and you made fun of it, and three years later you learned he had just come back from a tour in Iraq having sustained some horrible injury, would that make his decision to do what he did any less wrong? Would you still print a retraction, or perhaps just a clarification?
I hope my comment here is heard correctly. I’m not calling anybody names, I’m not trying to start an argument. I’m sure Melissa is an incredible woman who just made a bad judgement call once upon a time. All I am trying to do is to raise what I feel is an important issue: Just because she’s disabled doesn’t mean she’s any less responsible, and you don’t have to apologize for an opinion on an internet Meme just to be politically correct.
mtfmuffins
You see a woman in a picture pushing a stroller on a segway. Visually for all intents and purposes she looks as though she is normal, as in has the capability of her legs. You can only judge the situation by what you know, which is very little. That means from a visual standpoint that appears to be a picture of a capable individual pushing a stroller on a segway. That *idea* is freaking hilarious. That obviously is not what the real scenario was, but to expect the world to see that, and step back a moment to contemplate all of the potential reasons she may be doing that is kind of delusional.
Everyone makes snap judgements. I am sure that this Josh fellow has made a comment about someone doing something strange as he drives by them without a thought. The elderly lady you call a crazy q-tip who cuts you off is really “Mrs. SoandSo, mother of 3 children, grandmother to 8, in the middle stages of dementia so she does not even understand what she is doing, lost her medical coverage so she can no longer get up to date prescription glasses and is on the way to see her grandson’s play as that is one of the only things she ever enjoys in her life anymore.”
EVERYONE’S LIFE IS MORE COMPLICATED UNDER THE SURFACE……….but as outsiders we can only judge by what we see, and we see a lady pushing a stroller on a segway, we see a crazy old lady driver, etc.
We aren’t bashing this woman’s cancer story, we don’t even know what she truly looks like what we are judging is the presented scenario. Should everyone be so kind as to never say anything about anyone? Sure, but that isn’t how we are hardwired.
ament001
Kudos to you for owning up to your mistake!
penarestel
@Bob Kerns: You stopped reading a gadget site because they made fun of segways?
Seriously?
I’m not trying to offend you, but you might want to think about developing a thicker skin. When you get genuinely offended because people make fun of the vehicle you decide to use…. well, that’s a little bit too much.
Pope John Peeps II
That is a pretty neat story. Thanks for posting.
RonGermany
@JLo: ^this. Exactly.
Mr.V.
@tselliot: hehe, I have fond memories of sitting in the back of a 2 seat Honda crx. Its a hatchback so this would be the equivalent of putting your kids in the trunk. We were completely surrounded by a metal with a glass roof. safe, but still good memories.
iceph03nix
Her name sounds familiar. Then again I used to live in the Sea-Tac area so that might have something to do with it.
maythetechbewithyou
Nicely done to apologise publicly Jason, but i guess it shows us again that just because the internet gives us distance (and to a certain extent anonymity) it doesn’t give us justification to behave in ways we probably wouldn’t in a face to face interaction.
(Like you said, things we say to and about other people are, in fact, to and about other people…)
Thanks too to Joshua for sharing that, i hadn’t thought of the advantages of the segway as a mobility device, as well as the obvious bonus that it keeps the user at eye level. Best of luck for the future with you work.
Audaxero
@gstatty: When exactly did people decide that the phone was “stolen”?
Because that’s not actually true. Which makes it a lie. So you’re pretty much just lying.
Pope John Peeps II
Maybe this is off-topic but now that we know that it wasn’t laziness, is it even safe? Seems kind of risky pushing a baby in a stroller with a Segway.
Ah, what the hell do I know? My parents used to wrap me in a blanket and throw me in the back of a station wagon. (Long before car seats were cool.)
tselliot
hy Jsn..why dnt y wrt n plgy lttr t ppl/?
Karan Patel
@EvilDroidClone: why the hell is that girl even on the internet….her type should be banned.
TheNimboo
@Dogen: By the way, both the womans son and nephew have apparently shown up. The nephew was the polite one, the son was the “son of a bitch” one.
tylerbrainerd
@FauxReal: I mean, yeah, there are uber-lazy people out there on Segways, but how can you tell who is and who isn’t much of the time? I don’t think the collateral damage is really worth it. Because then you have to tell the world you’re an ass like Jason just did.
Spustatu
Dick move Jason, I liked you more when you were buying stolen iPhone protypes, jk jk. I’m glad that you corrected your error in judgement and dedicated a whole post to showing that we all make mistakes sometimes. Also this is a great human interest story and it really shows how technology can not only make some of us lazier or more like zombies or drones, but can really help others who need it for the improvement of their lives due to severe injuries or disease. Good on you for making things right in the world.
gstatty
@Danny Sullivan: I think the point you’re missing is that condescendingly joking at others’ expense is a fundamentally douchebag thing to do.
Thus, there was room for an apology the moment the original story was posted.
That said, we all poke fun at others, especially on sites like this where entertainment and intelligent snark is valued.
But still, there WAS room for an apology. The need was just escalated tenfold when the woman’s son posted and Giz learned that feelings had been sorely hurt with a throwaway story.
Aces_Over_Kings
How come Segway’s still cost so much?
CoreyHawke
I don’t know what Joshua’s e-mail was like, but if it was anything like Chris’ comment there is no reason to apologize.
It was an amusing image that he decided to share on an entertainment blog. It wasn’t portrayed as a breaking piece of investigative journalism.
For anyone not in this situation, ‘cancer survivor missing a leg’ is far from the first thing that would jump into your mind.
There was no reasonable way for Chen to know the circumstances (or even to find out if he wanted to), and it is not reasonable to expect every photo to be fully researched.
To her son, if anything you should apologize and not the other way around. Chen posted a photo because he found it amusing, with no way to know the actual circumstances, and meaning no ill-intent on your mother. You, on the other hand, maliciously attacked him in a belligerent rant.
JLo
@PoG: On what exactly? Segways? Lazy people on Segways?
I think I’ve seen Obese Ladys on Segaways if youd like
GizmoTron9000
it’s great to see people apologize without throwing in a ‘but’ or otherwise lame excuse for bad judgement. kudos jason. doesn’t happen enough. the umpire who blew that pitcher’s perfect game this year comes to mind.
sandip408
Steve Jobs forgives you, Apple’s next press event invitation is in the mail…
jasondiaz
@Bassem B.: Click Later/Earlier discussions a couple times. It should still be there.
hodayathink is still looking for a 20something porn chick that likes 70s RnB
@badhatharry: I love you
rilasis
@NaraVara: Where do I sign?
jasondiaz
@HJTravels: Unlike you and I that have the luxury of rushing into judgement for “LULS” technically speaking journalists are held to higher standard.
jasondiaz
@SeraphX2: Dean Kamen would laugh at this comment.
Zgradis
@Danny Sullivan: Just keep it civil. I know this is a heated argument.
Steven Callas
The new in house artist…good chit.
And cheers to you JC. Hope every gets squared away.
swc oxcart
@Jeremy: Like the guy on the four thousand dollar Segway is going to take that from somebody whose avatar is a baby mugshot. COME ON!
badhatharry
@TrueKnight: Ahh, thanks guys; I followed to the original story, but missed the stuff in the comments.
Ike_Skelton
@Steven Callas: Wow, thanks
Danny Sullivan
@Stickarm: You forgot extortioners.
jasondiaz
@dub08: Personal attacks are not tolerated. Please refrain from doing so in the future. Disemvoweled
Steven Callas
I initially thought that Mr. Hofstetter could have handled the situation a little better (e.g., a little more composure) but I honestly think I would have done something similar. My mother is a cancer survivor (breast cancer). If she needed the assistance of some sort of device and was ridiculed, I would probably get pretty pissed in her defense.
Thank you for setting the record straight Mr. Hofstetter and thank you for your apology Jason, Mr. Chen, or JC (take your pick).
TrueKnight
I don’t think you’re really at fault, Jason. While it’s nice of you to apologize, the real culprits here are the douches who drive their Segway from their cubicle to the water fountain down the hall and create the judgmental attitude in the first place.
Jeremy
@dub08: Huh? yes that is the point of this entire thing is the fact that the “original” post was suppose to be a joke. It didn’t read, “This is what we’ve become: Stupid, cancer ridin women… [picture] we hope you can run from the cops.” ( I know that was a stretch).
Danny Sullivan
“Again, apologies Melissa. If it wasn’t for your kind nephew Joshua, I wouldn’t have known that there was an actual, legitimate reason behind the photograph, and would have kept on happily being a dick, thinking that it was a lazy woman on a Segway.” (Emphasis mine)
I feel like there’s something inherently fucked up about this statement, but I can’t really put my finger on exactly what. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I feel like there’s an implication here that mocking people for what they do is okay so long as they don’t need to be doing it. We strangers on the internet being the judge and jury on what exactly “need” means, of course.
Anyway, not to sound preachy or anything (because we’re all guilty of it at one point or another), but I hope anyone who reads this article stops and takes a second to remember it the next time they’re about to mock someone on the internet.
cassiebearRAWR
Hey Jason, manning up to a mistake publicly definitely makes the interwebs a better place.
Snafu77
@Ike_Skelton: The lady’s son responded on the 31st (two days ago). No way anyone could have known the circumstances until now.
[gizmodo.com]
TrueKnight
@comm0: Wow dude…. Off the hook.
Not like I don’t understand his outrage but… It’s the internet. Facts get misconstrued all the time. Not just to him and his family.
Again I understand the outrage but I don’t think Jason meant it as any individual attack. It was a joke. Congrats to owning up Giz, but the guy who wrote that comment really needs to chill out a little bit and think about any time he may have taken something out of context.
Hiccup
@AnthonyG123: EDIT nm- ignore this post entirely.
Ryan_Long
This is terribly upsetting to me. I have always wanted a Segway and had no idea that they generate hostility in real life. Sure, I know they do online, but people are scumbags online. That doesn’t bother me even a little. But hostile looks in public? Now I wonder if Segway riders think I’m staring at them in disapproval rather than curiosity.
zorg
@Dogen: woah. I am not copying and pasting. I am not trying to troll. I just posted my response to three things I thought was relevant. Posting three times is hardly what I would call trolling. . . To answer #2 and #3 more accurately for you.. You are right. I don’t have any basis. But I have the same basis that any of you have that this is all legit. I guess you all don’t know how this works. My reasoning for why I said that, which I am answering 2 and 3 since they are pretty much the same question, is because of how long it has been since it was posted. I could understand if it was yesterday. But 2007?
Danny Sullivan
@Billybird: “If you consider yourself a “journalist” you should actually try and research the topic you are writing about. Actually talk to the person you intend to insult and tear down and hear their side of the story before going ahead and making an ass of yourself.”
This is why I “hate” demanded apologies. They come from close-minded, anger driven thoughts. If he would have actually thought about it, maybe he would’ve realized that the whole internet doesn’t know about her disability and sees humor in the picture for its representation of ourselves and not insulted Jason for posting a picture that some random dude took and put on the internet.
Schm1tty
@holy holes batman: I agree, lets not go overboard applauding Chen for apologizing for his original article. Apologizing for bad behavior is the minimum and should be expected when a mistake is made. So while some of you are falling over yourselves to congratulate him for this “brave” post, lets remember it wouldn’t have been necessary if he hadn’t, no matter how unintentionally, made fun of a woman with one leg.
McLucky
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dub08
@Ike_Skelton: read the linked story – the son responded on 7/31/2010 when he saw it…
AndrewBytes
damn that is awkward.
well its good that you apologized and i give best wishes to Melissa and her family.
rudyfrederic
@Dogen: I agree. I know I’m not perfect and I don’t expect anyone else to be, but I try to admit to, learn from, and, if possible, rectify my mistakes. Hats off to Jason for doing the same. Seeing people try to fix their mistakes makes me respect them more than I did before I knew about the mistake.
cheeze-n-razzle
@Katrina Miller Fallick: I second that.
TD99
Gray Powell wants an apology too.
genYcompliant
@Aces_Over_Kings: I agree with you. It was a good thing for Chen to have done what he did since he unknowingly was making fun of a handicapped chick. But that is my point exactly, until today, no one cared. But because someone decides to play the handicapped card on something that had NOTHING to do with her or being handicapped is cause for no apology. This, again, is my opinion. So I apologize if you all think I am heartless because I am not. I, myself, just had a great aunt die from battling cancer. But I am not attacking her or her family at all about anything. Just pointing out that there is no need for an apology for something that hasn’t happened. I.E poking fun at an anonymous women for being lazy.
Danny Sullivan
@kerry: Yeah, I noticed that after I commented. Looked significantly larger than the right one.
mohamedzv2001
@Dogen: +1
Exactly what I thought before expanding the replies. Well actually no, you wrote it much more eloquently than I would have put it.
Grr, Argh!
Oh! I think maybe you also like more more than friend. She is brings inspiration to many. Good job.
Greetings. I am Wu.
@Dogen: Starting the conversation with, “listen here you son of a bitch.” Is enough of an angry statement to set teh mood for the rest of his rant. So I think that pretty much answers.. 1. 2. 3. and 4. If you are THAT passionate about something three years later then I can only assume the worse out of someone. I do apologize I meant aunt not mother. The point I am trying to make is that acting in that way to something that happened so long ago is ridiculous. The post was plain and simply. Lets all point and laugh at the unnamed women being lazy and pushing said unnamed child. You can’t even make out faces. All I am saying is that, in my opinion, there was no need for all this banter. There was no attack on her, her baby, her abilities, her health. Just a poke at how lazy America has become. To find out three years later that said women has terminal cancer should spark no sympathy. Until today, no one had any clue who that women was but now we all have to be sympathetic? Come on.
Danny Sullivan
**applauds** Thank you, Jason, for owning up. Your license to tease and ridicule has been reinstated and will be mailed to you in 7-10 business days.
bustedchain
@comm0: Great find.
The most amazing part about that thread, though, is what a huge asshole Danny Sullivan is.
Dancing Milkcarton
Before I make my comment, I would like to say to Brian that I empathize with you. I am sometimes a terrible person on the internet.
Now for my comment:
Rule 34. Go.
PoG
@Zgradis: Uhh, no, it was designed for mall cops.
SeraphX2
like Jesus would say, your an assclown.
AnthonyG123
@tande04: I see… he’s copying and pasting that same post over and over again, whether it makes sense or not. Gotcha. Thanks!
‘Course, now I look kind of clueless, but, whatever… #2 and #3 of my original reply are still valid!
Dogen
I had the same type of cancer in my shoulder at age 15 and underwent the same chemotherapy treatments as I imagine she did though I was lucky enough to avoid amputation. I’m 34 now and there isn’t a day that goes by that i don’t feel like the luckiest SOB alive.
If anything the ordeal has taught me humility and above all that nothing in this world that isn’t life threatening is worth worrying about. I’m sure Melissa has a similar outlook and so you’re comments probably did not effect her as much as they effected you.
I, like so many who posted before me feel that your willingness to come forward without provocation to announce that you were wrong is probably the most selfless thing I’ve read on this website.
You lost points with me over the whole iphone 4 fiasco but you’ve certainly redeemed yourself here. Maybe you should try sending Jobs a similar email, even though he doesn’t deserve it.
gshady
@thirdchild: No, not really. You have too much pride if you find it hard to apologize for calling someone lazy when they lost a leg due to cancer.
holy holes batman
Thank you for apologizing, it was very humble of you. The segway was designed for people who have similar situations like this.
Zgradis
I take it all back, apparently I was confusing the article with the negative comments.
xaronax
@Dogen: Well put Dogen. Some people just have no sense.
havok2022
holy crap
[gizmodo.com]
comm0
@Spustatu: The lazy people I was referring to are the people that use them out of pure laziness, not so much the people that can actually utilize it in ways the average user probably never would. Perhaps BP was a bad analogy, I just figured you would get my original point.
FauxReal
@AndrewBytes: Best comment <3
Lyokowarirtitan
@Schm1tty: Yeah, your compassion is boundless. So boundless that when said satire was provided with some context and it turned out to be a cancer survivor with a prosthetic leg you still felt it necessary to “hate” the fact that Chris felt an apology was in order. Further calling him a hypocrite for it. That, my friend, is hypocrisy.
Billybird
I’ve found all of your poking fun at Segway owners to be mean-spirited, not just in this case.
And yet, I have to say, to offer a genuine, public apology to such a huge gaffe, is not an easy thing, and far too seldom attempted. And the world is just a little bit better place as a result.
I have used a Segway for the last two years to overcome my own physical limitations. My mother — a great-grandmother — has used one for almost as long. A child at the middle school my daughter attends uses one, as does one in a neighboring school district.
Two towns away, a world-famous best-selling author uses one for reasons quite similar to my own, and has redesigned her home around her disabilities and the Segway. Someday, I shall have to follow suit.
Two towns in the opposite direction, I’ve shared a ferry commute with someone commuting to volunteer at a world-famous scientific museum on one. (A museum which shamefully and illegally discriminates against disabled Segway users on the basis of of the most outlandish prejudices. This time, I name names: The California Academy of Sciences Museum in Golden Gate Park. And yes, he commutes all that way across SF, in addition to his trip to the ferry). How ironic.
Segways can be used with seats (as in my mother’s case). They can be used by people with no legs at all.
I’ve just listed those closest by — far from all the disabled Segway users I’ve met.
You might consider going to draft.org to see the work they do with disabled veterans — and even consider making a donation.
They are, in fact, the outgrowth of a wheelchair technology — the iBot wheelchair, which sadly has been discontinued by J&J.
But they’re also plain fun, and a valid and useful addition to our expanding options for personal transportation — along with e-bikes, skateboards, Razors — and the traditional bicycle.
Not only does my Segway make grocery shopping far less agonizing — it replaces my car in getting to and from the store.
Plus, I’m standing, not sitting in a car or in a chair or scooter. I’m using my legs, getting some exercise. It’s more active than you realize.
Segway polo is an international sport — one that I think you might enjoy if you tried. It’s played by ordinary people as well as the rich and famous. It’s even fun to watch — on a par with soccer, but with fewer injuries.
They are not a fashion statement, aside from a few celebrities here and there. They are not a statement at all, just a choice, and people deserve not to be derided for their choices, regardless of what reasons you might suppose are behind them.
And hats off to Melissa, whose courage and strength are an inspiration.
And thank you for sharing her story. Perhaps now I can read your site again.
Bob Kerns
Did they threaten you with a lawsuit if you didn’t print an apology?
blackcat12
I never read the original article, but I appreciate the follow up, and I hope it brings with it a new tolerance and mindfulness. Making mistakes is nothing to be ashamed of, unless you refuse to learn from them.
Dogen
@rock99rock: I literally Lol’ed reading your reply. I guess I do sound a little bit like that dude.
Danny Sullivan
@Dogen:
A. Don’t feed the trolls.
B. Read the original post (the one from 3 years ago) to see what he was trying to get at.
tande04
I remember seeing the post 3 years ago and participating in the jeer. Sadly this is the nature of most internet communities – groupthink and snap judgments.
Bassem B.
@Danny Sullivan: My take — your take is immature and lacks empathy.
Chen deserved every last word in Hofstetter’s scathing rant in defense of his mother. Then, when the real story was brought to Chen’s attention, he did the grown-up thing and apologized with a funny caricature and a nice story on her struggles.
Once you’re an adult, there’s no statute of limitations on being a douchebag. If you do something lousy, you make it right with an apology and an attitude change.
“Or don’t.”
Aces_Over_Kings
@Danny Sullivan: Whoa there! Now, don’t get me wrong: I was one of what I assume (troublesome word “assume”) was many people who found the original post both amusing and pathetic in a “oh-crap-humanity-is-circling-the-drain” kind of way. I don’t think Jason intended any personal slight against the woman, and yes, the original post was three years ago so perhaps Chris should let it go as there seems to be more important things he has to worry about than snarky comments from bloggers. That being said: if he only recently came across the original post (remember the whole focusing on more important things?)…why wouldn’t he speak out? I mean, his tone was a little aggressive, but I think his overall point remains the same: try not to assume too much without checking the facts. And I would suggest he has more to be upset about than someone who fires off an angry rant about a man explaining (albeit angrily) his mom’s fight with cancer and the means she’s used to help others.
ThrillHill
@Jestermeister: I don’t see it. Was it removed? Actually I remember there being a lot more comments on that page.
Bassem B.
@SBM_from_LA: Is remorse not indicative of the potential for a change in attitude? If one never felt guilt or remorse, what impetus would exist to encourage changes in behavior? If guilt and remorse didn’t exist, we wouldn’t see anything wrong with our behavior, and thus there would be no reason to change. I think expressions of guilt and remorse are healthy and useful specifically for changing attitudes, if sincere.
Dogen
wow, you ARE a moron indeed, but then again this could have happened to any of us (and many of us should be feeling as guilty for even laughing at the story, since we share the same “not researching before laughing” nature a lot of times.
nevertheless congrats for admiting the error and let me sum up to the sorryness.
Now let’s check out people of walmart!
blackend
This is why I’m a programmer instead of a journalist. If I was a journalist, I would probably be either in jail, homeless, or trying to become a programmer ;p.
reckoner23
@Danny Sullivan: I’m not sure what article you read, but I have a couple of questions.
1. What makes you think Joshua is anything other than calm? Because he wrote to Gizmodo about a picture he saw of someone in his family? The language in his text didn’t sound upset – not like yours did – so what makes you think he is? You seem way more upset than he did.
2. How did you come to the conclusion that this is a plea for sympathy, rather than a redress of grievance? I’m not sure how things work in your family, but I imagine if I saw someone making fun of a picture of someone in mine I’d feel compelled to point out any mistaken information.
3. See her on Oprah and fund her lots of money? Wow. That’s not just reaching, it’s reaching and misanthropic. Not everyone is looking for a handout, and there are logical explanations for why someone would do this that have nothing to do with money. See #2 above. Why do you assume the worst in people?
4. She’s his aunt, not his mother. There isn’t a question for #4, I just thought I’d point that out.
Dogen
What a dick!
And whoa, three years later you apologize? I’d like to see a chronology of the events leading up to this apology.
Ike_Skelton
Open mouth, insert prosthetic foot… good save though…
AndrewBytes
@jbomber: Here here! We all feel like crap and thanks for apologizing for us all.
sfree79
mricyfire
Whoever said a picture is worth a thousand words never in their mind imagined a world where people would just pull those words right out of the sky, or in this instance…someplace a lot darker.
HektikLyfe
@Arken: It would’ve been a lot harder to make fun piloting one of these instead of a Segway.
destryer
@Billybird: Agreed, but my point is that the Jason’s original post isn’t there to make fun of people with disabilities, its pure satire and nothing more.
Its just like thinking de-motivationals are funny, or thinking that owned videos are funny, they’re not there to attack anyone but instead to make fun of ourselves as a society.
The photo was originally hilarious, and now knowing the circumstances for the photo we will of course see it with compassion instead of humor.
Schm1tty
As a former Segway owner, I encountered attitudes like this all of the time. I needed mine for ambulatory assistance as well (really busted up ankle) and would get the stink eye all the time from security guards at places like malls & carnivals. I got in the habit of calling ahead to the venue to make sure there weren’t going to be any usage issues and always carried a copy of my handicap parking placard just in case.
The fact that it enabled me to do the things I couldn’t do (like walk more than 200′) was amazing. Compared to a wheelchair (powered or manual), Segways are vastly superior if you can stand. I once had to use a powered scooter at Disneyland (they don’t allow Segways other than their guided tours at Disneyworld) and it was excruciating by comparison.
I know a lot of people on the net bash Segways, but 99.99% of the people I encountered were very interested when seeing it in person, and I would always give people an opportunity to hop on and spin around if I had time. Like I said, great conversation piece.
Final thing, Segs4Vets donates hundreds of Segways to disabled veterans to help them regain their mobility after various types of injuries. They do great work and should be commended.
golferal
“To do” cont…
#4 apologize for typo
#5 download free iphone4 bumper app
Cheetah Eldrick Woods
Takes balls, big ones, to apologize like this and after 3 long years. Kudos mate.
thirdchild
Way to be Jason.
nearmys
@Emperor_was_a_jerk: Disemvoweled. Snark is ok, but not if you’re gonna be a complete jerk. Please take a moment to review [gizmodo.com]
Steven Callas
It’s constantly a wonder to me, that the rules my parents taught me (If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything, walk a mile in another person’s shoes before you judge them, etc) are seen as such marvels.
Props to Jason for admitting his mistake, but how ’bout if we just stop mocking random people with out knowing the whole story? Seems like that would be best for all, and no apologies would need to be made.
Katrina Miller Fallick
I don’t quite see it, you thought she was healthy and had both legs, and thought a person like that should consider herself lazy when using a segway to push a stroller, seems true enough.
So you misjudged but you had no reason to suspect otherwise I assume, so it’s not that big a foul.
Wwhat
@2Wheelsor4: When Ludicrous speed is not fast enough.: I worked at a restaurant down the street from me one summer. Simple job: stand outside and direct people to where the parking lot was (translation: I was paid to re-enact star wars scenes with these light up cones they gave us) but I digress.
One day when i’m ‘doing my job’ a woman pulls up in her car and parks in the handi cap spot. She has one of the official badges in her car that allows her to park in those spots, but not only is she clearly healthy, she also appears to be the type that just doesn’t give a shyte. Now this was bad…but acceptable. Honestly, as long as the spots remained unused/needed, what was the real harm, right?
But thats not what happened. No. Because that would have been simple and easy. No…instead (I sh*t you not) a van full of sweet old ladies pulled up to the building and asked where they could park. We had 2 handi cap spots. one being used by some dude who actually needed it, and the bitch.
There was also absolutely nothing I could do. If I went and asked the woman to move her car, then she probably would have gone, bitched at my boss, who would have had to comp her meal and fire me.
I think the old women wound up droving away? I dont really remember.
I spent my hours that day just standing there fuming about that one single event. It was like 3 years ago, and yet I still remember it like it was yesterday.
God I hated that f**king day.
junior ghoul
@jbomber: +1. And ignore the haters. I learned a lot from the back story here, and I am glad it’s here.
DangerousLiberal
@KevlarAllah: How are you about to post about your dumb post in #whitenoise then come back here and clear it!, not cool.
Cbullins Official Movieguy
@mohamedzv2001: You weren’t the only one. Sup, girl?
m4bandit
I guess “we hope you’re proud of yourselves” can now be said about Gizmodo
but you admitted the mistake and apologized publicky, that counts for a lot. I hope Mrs Hofstetter is doing well and that she gets a chuckle out of the whole episode.
theimmc
@Danny Sullivan: Who turned on Bill O’Reilly?
rock99rock
@SBM_from_LA: The lesson wasn’t learned until context was placed on the photo. It would be pretentious of you to think Jason has no attitude change. You can only make assumptions like these based on the facts, and the facts placed before us is this article which clearly depicts an attitude change. How about you cut him some slack, eh?
Trickyhop
@lmoss2004: Jason did not display any disrespect towards Melissa in his first post, and my post is not about respect…its about thinking rationally and thinking from other perspectives before you attack someone.
Schm1tty
@an skyline: I imagine that the family has been seeking out this picture and asking for corrections or apologies. The email was probably recieved over the weekend, but – as I said – they wanted max visibilty.
KevlarAllah
Please forgive me for being a little bit harsh… but it seems like, at least to me, you wrote this article mostly out of guilt or remorse… not because of any attitude change.
There is an old saying that goes “Once is one too many”. Had you written this BEFORE you found out about her disability then it would have been more believable, don’t you think?
Well, it’s no big deal, really. Furthermore, it’s very honorable for someone to write a followup story regarding something they did, said or wrote about in the past… expressing regret… assuming they were truly sincere and not doing it for superficial reasons.
SBM_from_LA
@tucker augie’ben’doggy: No offense to you tucker augie’ben’doggy, but you have two extra stars in your avatar. That’s too many. Repeating stars does not make you cooler than me (ok, maybe a little bit).
Formerly known as
Way to man-up and admit your mistake, Jason.
jbomber
@metronome49: [www.stumbleupon.com]
obviously.
Michai
@You’re Banned: It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Text makes things hard to decipher sometimes as what I said first would have had emphasis on “something”.
Philanthropy
My take – I think Mr. Hofstetter should calm the fuck down. A joke that circulated the Internet three years ago, as a joke and nothing more, should be long forgotten. The fact that he came here to try and make everyone feel bad about this years later is uncalled for and sad. What it sounds like to me is an attempt to get public sympathy so we all can see her on Oprah and fund her lots of money. I’m sorry your mother has fought cancer for a long time. And I am sorry that she lost her leg. But getting THIS upset about something that happened THREE years ago about a topic that had NOTHING to do with what actually happened is a little much. That post was to poke fun at the fact that there is a grown women using a Segway to help her push her baby. That was it. That was the joke. Nothing about cancer, or turmoil, or whether that is her baby or not. I think the real apology here should be from you for taking something that has blown over YEARS ago and making the “journalist” and Gizmodo readers feel remorse for something that they shouldn’t even feel bad about. Poking fun at anonymous people taken from anonymous sources is part of how the Internet works. If you can’t get over the fact that thousands of readers found amusement out of what this post was suppose to be about (making fun of a lazy women NOT a cancer survivor) then you have two options. Get over it or DON’T.
Danny Sullivan
Makes sense to me that a certain class of disabled people would use a Segway, especially since it was designed by the inventor of the iBot wheelchair.
Arken
Adorable baby.
Respect from I and I on the apologies, me bredda.
theaceplaya
awesome story
and bit annoying illustration…just a bit
j.walk3
@KevlarAllah: Possibly, but he DID only post that comment 2 days ago. Just giving Jason the benefit of the doubt here.
an skyline
It takes a great man to admit his mistakes and missteps and I commend you on your behavior. I’m sure you don’t need my praise but I sincerely commend such actions, especially on the internet when you can get away with anonymity.
anonpwny
Jason,
I know you didn’t do this to have all of us tell you good job,
But Good Job, that takes a lot and you obviously put a lot of effort into this article.
Busche1427
Do not judge a book by it’s cover? It goes for all of us, every pic may have a story behind it, exceptions excluded ofcourse!
sqlfanatic
Well now I feel like a jerk…
spade
Kudos to Jason for manning up and saying he was sorry and double Kudos for Melissa for her struggles. Live long and live strong baby!
Curves
@FauxReal: Except that BP has caused an ecological disaster that’s destroying entire communities of lives. Insulting people like a great cancer survivor and a veteran amputee… just not worth it.
Spustatu
@BootHillBossanova: I doubt that. If they wanted Gizmodo could have buried this so deep in their site that no-one would have seen it and still met any legal requirements to avoid being sued.
But instead he comes forward, makes it a prominent post and lays himself on the chopping block for it.
Charliehorse
@Schm1tty: It seems you’re trying to justify being judgmental. There are actual people who, in fact, don’t laugh at every person that may look different from them when they pass them on the street. Some people may even have compassion, or enough logic to wonder why, to tell themselves maybe some unfortunate series of events lead them to look or act the way they do. And just because it’s “something all of us do time to time” doesn’t make it right or doesn’t mean an apology isn’t warranted. Intolerance shouldn’t be socially acceptable just because the majority of the population practices it.
Billybird
Kudos. Mea Culpas can be hard, but they are rarely incorrect.
Nephelim
Wow. Well done Jason. Isn’t it ironic that the comments we focus on the least can potentially do the most harm?
Well said and good clean up of your mess.
axiomatic
@Sethifer: +1 for you (that is, if you can accomplish that)
iDestroySteveJobsWithChocolate
apology as well Mellisa, since without knowing the story, I probably originally thought you to be a comically lazy person.
junior ghoul
@Philanthropy: She’s a “great-aunt” because her nephew has a daughter. This just means that she probably has a sibling who is a lot older than her and had a child (the nephew) who is only 10-15 years younger than her.
selianth
@NaraVara: Apple, Give Us Free Bumpers
Gawker, Make Jason Chen Use This As His Profile
EDIT: GAH! I can’t figure out how to make strikethrough work on Gizmodo….sorry.
ryoshi
@mrisinger: It’s a different guy. You don’t know him.
wagedomain
@Cheetah Eldrick Woods: NICE!!! So I would assume that he sends fruit basket before the bikini wax. lol.
But, I thought Steve was a cyborg and they don’t eat fruit.
He might think that you are calling him a fruit.
Either way they hold one heck of a grudge (apple AND cyborgs).
tw@t
@mrisinger: Unless Jason owes a fruit basket to a certain Steve Job…
Matat
@Schm1tty: He respects his mother more than any other “rule” or norm you speak of. I don’t give a shit what the situation is, if it involves my mother I can demand whatever the hell I want. I don’t blame the kid nor think he was in the wrong at all.
If we all decided to act as you say and not expect or demand apologies simply because we ourselves have done a similar wrong in the past this world would be a sad place destined for hell in a hurry. Yes I/we can live our lives without getting apologies when expected but sometimes things need to be made right in whatever way possible and on the internet there was probably no better way to do it than the way Chris did. I applaud him for his actions and his love and respect he has for his mother. The world would prosper beyond belief if we all had that same respect for our mothers….good or bad.
lmoss2004
@mrisinger: otherwise you would thinks is real, no ?
SS
@mohamedzv2001: If you look closely you can see that her left leg is artificial.
kerry
Dude. Props for owning up. Double props for the hilarious giant picture of yourself!
johnnystreets
Melissa has overcome greater challenges in her life. I doubt she gives a crap about what we think of her picture.
Deckard
As a few people have already said, bravo.
I never read Giz at that time, but I am sure that I would have thought it was ridiculous as well!
It takes integrity to be able to say I was worng and more so to try and rectify your mistakes.
Tbh I wouldn’t have thought of a segway for her type of issues.
I know that prosthetics can develop issues when not a perfect fit.
The cost of the segway might be small in comparison to the cost of getting a perfect prosthetic for each need.
She is very lucky to have a family which supported her through her treatment and still defend her over the internet when they felt she was wronged!
These are real people, just like the ones we see on a daily basis. It is good to have a reminder on occasion.
The happy ending to a cancer patient’s story is always a nice bonus!
Mike43110
I wonder how many of the pictures on the internet have such misunderstood contexts like this..
Now I’ll never laugh at people of walmart again!
Sethifer
So, he found this three years after the fact? I’m so curious how it was stumbled upon.
metronome49
@mrisinger: It’s okay, since Jason doesn’t seem to fact check anyway.
huehueuheuhehehue
an skyline
Good job, Jason. I hope that (with no snark intended at all) it helps reduce the post-first think-later tendencies we’ve been seeing more often on Giz.
nopeppergames
“Let me think about that.”
RRRansom
@lostarchitect: Wow…
davidr521
Wll y cld lwys s th “w r blg” xcs fr shddy jrnlsm. Bt thn y cldn’t clng t lws tht prtct ctl jrnlst. Y knw, n cs nyn thr vr gt mxd p n smthng pssbly llgl.
Emperor_was_a_jerk
good job Jason.
ChrisMartin
@PhilanthropyOh well sorry for taking your comment the wrong way!
You’re Banned
@Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1: In fact, if you go to the original post, you’ll find a comment calling Jason a bad name. That comment was posted July 31. It seems the family saw this, and demanded action be taken. Jason waited until a peak time to apologize, so it would be seen by more people.
(By the way, not directing this at you, but I am backing you up)
Comment: [gizmodo.com]
KevlarAllah
@talkingstove: +98 nonillion, 734 octillion, 531 septillion, 981 sextillion, 681 quintillion, 357 quadrillion, 965 trillion, 816 billion, 464 million, 681 thousand and 698 internets
Print media is such a joke when it comes to correcting massive errors.
NorwoodIsMyHero
Isn’t there a statutes of limitations on jerkatudness? I’m thinking, as time passes, jerkatudness becomes a lesser offence. Of course, if you find out within a week that your first impressions were way off, you’re a jerk to not react to the facts. But three years?
Your in the zone of opportunistic misunderstanding, not jerkdom.
Unless, of course, you insist.
blub
@talkingstove: Journalists won’t publish such a thing without proper verification.. Excluding Fox News that is..
Kayno
Points to Jason for handling the truth with heartfelt apology and sharing the story.
I suspect that is actually pretty easy to misjudge somebody when you don’t know the story.
Nine months ago I had surgery for prostate cancer. There was a lot of pain and decreased mobility. Two days back from the hospital, my girlfriend took me out to shop for some necessary supplies. Rather than stop at three different stores, we went to Wal-Mart.
I draped myself painfully over the handle of a shopping cart and moved slowly, until girlfriend suggested one of their little battery-operated carts.
I’m just a tad over 50 – not too old. Not overweight. My physical problems were not obvious as I drove the cart.
I got some very strange looks from older guys and the occasional little old lady with a cane. And part of me felt self-conscious or even guilty.
Then I came to understand that I really need that damned cart!
Wolfstone
I know an apology was probably warranted, but it is really easy to make such a judgmental observation. Thousands of veterans are leg amputees as well, yet can’t afford the luxury of a segway to push their children. Not to sound mean or anything, but these veterans learn to at least deal with the situation they find themselves in, and are able to become very productive. I’m glad that this woman had the opportunity to push her children with a segway, but for thousands of other people, that is just not an option.
At any rate, it is really classy for Jason to apologize, especially for something that occurred 3 years ago. It does show a certain class for something that does appear to be completely insane.
And note, I’m not saying that she doesn’t deserve a segway, and I am proud of her for beating cancer and thriving through it, but it does seem a bit excessive and somewhat bad taste to use a segway in such purposes.
dtptampa
@Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1: No no no… It’s true. I lol’d hard when I was still innocent. Of course, this is also a GREAT lesson that my mother used to teach. You don’t know ANYONE’S circumstances.
Jakooboo- SHARK WEEK.
Thanks for a laugh and a heartwarming story Melissa…wish you all the best
You have my vote for best internet 1-2 combo ever
eliavictor
Good for you. You could have blown this off and many would have been none the wiser. God bless Melissa Hofstetter. She sounds like a strong, thoughtful women.
Thare187
Apologies aside, it’s interesting how a device that is part of a spectrum of inventions by Dean Kamen to overcome mobility issues is so often pegged with laziness.
Just and observation.
Brookespeed
@Tanya DePass: how is it in poor form? It was a very well-written apology/article. The date on the son’s comment (on the original post) was July 31, 2010…just a couple days ago…so not exactly sure what your problem is.
Marshmelly
@fury161: Wow I must really suck at uploading images…
Jakooboo- SHARK WEEK.
@Mr.MojoRisen: cooked at gas mark “egg on your face”
Calrekabooki
Good on you Jason. Now only if we can get Brian Lam to apologize for wrecking Halo 3.
UberJumper
@You’re Banned: No, no, no. By “grand SOMETHING” I was referring to whether or not she’d be a grand aunt or mother, she did not look the part.
Philanthropy
Congratulations Melissa, you’ve been transformed from an Internet Joke to an Internet Hero.
Go you! And good on Jason for owning up to his mistake.
t3knomanser
@Jakooboo- SHARK WEEK.: Aaaaaaah!
Can I plead insanity?
fury161
i applaud you for eating humble pie for breakfast.
Mr.MojoRisen
I really like this. It’s rare to get back story on an internet forward. Sometimes snopes helps but all too often we look at the funny pic/video laugh and hit forward and just forget about it.
I do think it’s fair to say though that it wasn’t Melissa being laughed at or her condition. It was the seeming idea that a healthy young person would be lazy enough to use a segway in this fashion. The laughter was not pointed at a cancer survivor doing their best to get on in life, but at the fattening of America/your home country.
Of course, with this revelation the joke is on everyone who looked at the pic without thinking for one minute there may be more to it than meets the eye. And I’d like to think that each person who originally forwarded it will also forward a link to this article and perhaps think twice before repeating their past behaviour.
GoldVrod
Nice Jason…
– whereas other media either don’t correct their errors or if they do, it’s buried somewhere nobody sees it – it could kill reputation and thus cost advertising-customers…
Melissa’s son points out something important though: fact-checking is something important, when it comes to news. Sadly, today’s journalists seem to think, if it’s on the web, it must be true – and it must be even «truer» when it’s a pic… I really wish, journalists would do their homework and start investigating again, instead of just hunting the next big story.
At least Jason has the decency to apologize and admit his fail – and he does it quite BIG
«Is it true?» – «does it matter? it makes a great headline…»
swissdude
@ValerioB: chirp, chirp.
windupbird81
@tucker augie’ben’doggy: It may not increase it, but it most certainly emphasizes just how sincere he is.
Billybird
@Jakooboo- SHARK WEEK.: After 3 years’ time, I’m not surprised, though I don’t think that invalidates his apology. If I was in Jason’s position, I can’t honestly say that I would not be in this same situation now.
Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1
@LastVigilante: His story is that while standing on a segway at a tech convention for giggles, a random fire broke out and fused his feet to the platform.
So, yeah, don’t be a jerk and make fun of him.
NorwoodIsMyHero
@Cheetah Eldrick Woods: You misspelled ‘Steve Jobs’…
mrisinger
@Curtis Hoffman: Its called being tactful and respectful, which generally will give you respect in return. Judging by your disemvoweled comment below, its probably something you should brush up on a bit.
Marshmelly
Why do all of Jason Chen’s stories have a picture of himself at the top?
nichampagne
Sadly, Melissa’s case is an exception, not a rule. There are far too many people who are overweight, or obese who use movement assistance to get around simply because they can’t be bothered to move around, which led them to their current situation. On a daily basis I see people come into my store, demand use of the electric wheelchair simply because they almost had a heart attack walking from their car in the parking lot to the front door. They then complain about the speed of the electric wheel chair and proceed to whine and generally be miserable to everyone, while the snack or eat their large milkshake, mcflurry, or barrel of soda.
This happens, and leaves infirm vets, people missing or have artificial legs or appendages who are just trying to get a few small parts to repair something or do a home project, or the little old ladies who have trouble getting around and just want a few plants for their apartment in a retirement home.
2Wheelsor4: When Ludicrous speed is not fast enough.
@Philanthropy: I thought you said “She looks grand for her 40′s to be having a baby”
You’re Banned
@fury161: Lower the… LOWER THE SNARK? INTO THE SARLACC WITH YOU!
Jakooboo- SHARK WEEK.
Sorry but this backstory doesn’t make the situation any more safe. It was mostly comical because of the safety factor where one could say, “might as well be pulling the kid on a sled through traffic”, but hey that’d be evil because she is battling cancer. amirite?
ValerioB
A segway actually being used for what it should be used for!? But seriously good on you for the post.
Ccomfort
@Skunky:
lostarchitect
@Skunky: Nice.
An to the author, good for you for taking the time and doing the right thing.
I think we’ve all been there at one time or another. Fillet of sole never tastes good.
\m/ chaosphere \m/
I admit I laughed when I saw it too, so send my apologies with yours Jason!
Cbullins Official Movieguy
@DustyButt: +1 for Kane
FlameCell
@Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1: It was all over Failblog and the like.
Jakooboo- SHARK WEEK.
@Nitemancometh: If I was your dad I wouldn’t even bother looking at people during a conversation. I would make them sprint along side me if they wanted to talk to me. They would respect the power of the scooter.
Ccomfort
No offense to you Jason, but there are at least four apologies to Melissa is this post. That’s too many. Repeating apologies does not increase the sincerity.
tucker augie’ben’doggy
{Redacted for my own stupidity}
KevlarAllah
it takes a great person to apologize, in my experience rare are the people that do so
ep3232
@Wolfstone: Truth in this statement. I think more of you now, Jason.
Jakooboo- SHARK WEEK.
@You’re Banned: ..how is that even remotely offensive? I said she looked young.
Philanthropy
Kudos Jason!
Cheetah Eldrick Woods
@stryder100: Hey, I own one of the oldest Segways on the planet. I still love my i167 and my later p133. And there’s nothing better when you do something dumb and sprain your ankle. Crutches suck.
One technical point, though… even employees of Segway and DEKA didn’t get their HTs until late summer and fall of 2002, not 2001.
The Turtle
well don’t judge a book by its cover
Mum: you can have any book you want
Me: i want this one because its got a shotgun on it and shotguns are cool
Dango-rous
@Jakooboo- SHARK WEEK.: He was. That’s why he posted this by way of apology. Props to him for manning up.
Wolfstone
Melissa is pretty incredible… she survived cancer AND owned you. Good job Melissa!
saoyr5
@ryoshi: PETITION!
NaraVara
I can totally understand why Chris Hofstetter is mad, but when ANYONE comes across something like this we think how funny it is and how it fits to our American stereotype. This was not meant to degrade anyone or poke fun at cancer patients. I, for one, have watched 3 of my 4 grandparents, an aunt, and my friends mom lose their lives to cancer. I take that shit seriously as well, but you have to think rationally about the post, not to poke fun, but to remind us of The Woz.
I’m gonna sound like a jerk here but oh well: If that was any other woman on the segway, someone that you dont know anything about, someone that you have never seen before or will never see again, you would find the picture hilarious, just like all of us did when we first saw it. I don’t care who you are, the first thing you think of when you see that picture is satire, not a bad mother.
I really hate it when people demand for apologies. Every last person(hey, this means you too Chris!) has seen a random person on the street and thought that they look funny, or walk funny and we just keep going without ever giving them so much as a smile, and it really bugs me when someone expects an apology for something all of us do time and time again.
Boo hypocrites, hurray segway polo.
Schm1tty
Amazing what you find out if you take a few minutes to think about the context of a photo of a person you are about to slander on your website.
I doubt the sincerity. It was probably a public apology or get sued.
BootHillBossanova
@tehmonker: That’s easy to say in your position. But the question is, what did you think when you first saw that picture?
Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1
The humble and thoughtful apology says far more about you than the original snarky post does.
howdini
@Jason Chen: what date? – just found that.
ezrashapiro
Wow! I’ve seen that picture a hundred times, and never even considered that this would be the truth behind it. Well, good for her for finding a solution to a tough problem.
lostarchitect
Hooray for revelations!
Pessimippopotamus
@tomsomething: I assume I’ll never assume again.
TranquilNight
We all laughed at that photo. The woman in this story seems like the type of person that would delight in the quirkiness of the photo as well. I’m sorry Melissa, if you were hurt by my laughter.
I still very much enjoy the photo. I will smile at it for a different reason now.
Software_Goddess
I hope he apologized for calling you a son of a bitch after this…
Mikebasilico
Was I the only one thinking that the blond in the last pic is attractive?
But in the first pic, it certainly looks like she has both legs.
mohamedzv2001
@tehmonker: He just figured out…come on, get off your high horse.
I know I laughed when seeing it…in context, it was funny.
Johnathon Sykes
That’s internet cynicism for you. Sadly there are too few people who’d have assumed a positive scenario when presented with the same picture.
I applaud you for a sincere apology.
CrispyAardvark
@Spustatu: There are still plenty of completely lazy people on those things to give up making fun of them completely. It would be like stopping making fun of BP because they have the leak “capped” and are “cleaning up” the mess.
FauxReal
Yikes. Never again will I assume anything is anything.
tomsomething
Nice retraction. Unfortunate all around. Hopefully she accepts your apology.
getz76
@Curtis Hoffman: It’s called being disemvoweled. Sometimes it happens when your post wasn’t so bad that they decided to delete it and ban you, but bad enough that they didn’t want to leave it as originally posted.
Dunno what you originally said so I can’t comment on why it happened to you, but there you go.
jdale
3 years too late.
tehmonker
@Jestermeister: I thought the pic was awesome as well.
Saboth
“Who knows, it might make the internet a better place to remember that the people in photos are actually people”
Huh.. seems to me there was a certain guy who probably USED to be an engineer at Apple……
bdinger
Glad to see articles like this one. Helps remind me that there are good people out there willing to make wrongs right.
pliSkiNAKE
Dude… I’d be mortified…
Jakooboo- SHARK WEEK.
It’s good you are making some sort of amends. I hope this will lower the level of snark here at Giz, but I doubt it.
fury161
There was a kid in my highschool who lost both his legs somehow, but he got prosthetic legs, he used a segway to get around in school, I’m not sure why he was not trying to use his prosthetic legs though.
rathat
You know, if you think about it, a big percent of funny internet images/videos probably have very unfunny and unfortunate backstories, but we laugh anyway. Think about that (though don’t expect it to ever change)!
TranquilNight
Jason, this is a good lesson for us all to remember to give the benefit of the doubt. Has she responded to you? My nation has a thing called The Evil Tongue – it is when you say something, even true, that causes someone else damage. If anyone doubts how Jason is certainly feeling, it’s something like the following: A boy who spread nasty things about an old man eventually feels guilty about it and goes to the man to apologize. He hands him a feather pillow and tells him to scatter the feathers to the wind. The boy tears open the pillow and commences to do as he was told. Then the old man says, “Now, go collect them all.” The boy responds, “How can I do that? They’re all over the place! It’s impossible.” The old man says, “Ahh. Such is The Evil Tongue.” Of course he forgave him, but the lesson is clear.
ezrashapiro
Way to turn your mistake into a beautiful thing! Thanks for posting this. I nominate you for mensch-hood.
caputo737
For some reason people seem to be very adverse to admitting they are or were wrong. On the internet this seems to be doubly the case.
Personally, I find the people who are most likely to say they are or were wrong, are most often the smartest and most successful people.
There’s nothing wrong with being incorrect. So long as you are willing to learn from it. Heck, sometimes it’s just plain fun to be wrong. Maybe not in this case. But, that’s life.
openfly
I can’t wait to hear this guys back story.
Skunky
We can just go ahead and start making fun of this guy. via [twitpic.com]
LastVigilante
@NaraVara: Seconding this so hard.
ryoshi
@jasondiaz: +1000 for the internet wins
bdinger
@Tanya DePass: If you go back to the original article, you’ll see that the son of the woman came forward with the story on July 31, 2010. So the apology is pretty timely, relative to the information that spawned it.
jdale
@Curtis Hoffman: Consider it a warning from the Eds.
ads2k2.1
@Kayno: And this is why I agree with him, to an extent. Sadly, I do think the writers for Gawker Media sites are journalists. But, the Gawker Media guys (and gals) are on the bottom of the list in a profession that, as Bob Knight put it, “is just one or two steps above prostitution.”
DukeMagnum
I’m glad Mr. Chen apparently learned a lesson, but it really isn’t as wonderful and magical moment as others here are making it out to be. Welcome to the sad reality of 2010 where everything’s on camera and faceless (and sometimes paid) people get to mock without digging any further.
I will give props for leaving the recent post chastising him, though. In this same Internet age, it’s just as easy to hit the delete key and never let anyone know.
eforhan
the truth hurts.
devianaut
Nicely done. Healthy to own up to your own douchebaggery – and work to correct it.
rebelminion
@stryder100: I’d like to buy one to emphasize my laziness also. However, I can’t afford one. Perhaps I’m too lazy to work harder and earn the cash…
brijazz
Can we also get a mea culpa for posting that shot of the woman in the delivery room who appeared to be ignoring her newborn so she could check her cell phone?
It was pretty clear she had just taken a picture of her baby and was looking at the results. This is fairly common practice nowaday. Yet, you saw another quick way to get a bunch of pageviews/$$ by exploiting innocent people.
BootHillBossanova
@nicktennear: Morrissey would approve. Then Robert Smith would disapprove.
Anyway, I hope this ups the professionalism across the board at Gizmodo. Because while the “pros” list greatly outweighs the “cons” list for Giz, there are times when I think “wow that was unprofessional/sloppy/unwarranted” after seeing a statement that tarnishes the credibility of a post.
slowurroll
This was a good post. Somehow though, I don’t think every pic out there has such a legitimate story behind it…peopleofwalmart.com comes to mind.
theCR4NE
@Lilkiwiguy87: Yes, it really hurt sales, didn’t it?
bigtimes
With the explanation, this is the first good use of this device I have seen.
I also like Chris’s intro in belated response to the original post.
“Listen here you son of a bitch!! That Woman you found so convenient to tear down is my mother.”
My only question is why did it take 3 years for them to find this and other references to it, and try and correct the situation. Plus it’s a repost from other sites, where I see no post trying to get them to correct.
moetop
@Kayno: Yeah, journalists would save their corrections for a tiny box in the corner of page D14.
talkingstove
awesome!
cyberguruji
I’ve always know that gadget geeks have hearts, but this kind of thing lets the rest of the world know.
On a related note, I’m one of the few Giz readers who actually likes Segways. But if you see me riding one, it’ll actually BE because I’m lazy.
stryder100
@FriarNurgle: Yea I don’t know, it looks dangerous, even when going slow, especially when crossing a big street.
TranquilNight
That’s the second time, I think, that I’ve seen a Segway-related apology from Gizmodo. I’m going to learn from this and just never say anything about the Segway ever again.
Spustatu
Jasen, I am going to have to ask you to return the dunce cap to me as soon as possible, as my head feels naked without it.
Also, good job on posting the correction. She does sound like an awesome lady, and one who uses technology to better her life in ways that we may not expect. Find out where she is and send her an honorary membership to Gizmodo, and allow her account to add sentences to Giz posts where we might be acting to judgmental.
Example: “Ha ha. Look at this obviously oblivious [edit Melissa: Jasen Chen] internet dweeb being dweeby!”
zenpoet
A rare bit of classy behavior on the Internet. Kudos, Jason, thanks.
MikeK
Jason Chen is now obligated to use this pic as his avatar.
Seriously. That’s a first-class sketch.
NaraVara
Does this include the ‘people of walmart’ who wear trashbags as clothing?
PixelProphet
very classy to create a long winded apology post. i guess i was just expecting something like:
“segway lady really has cancer. don’t make fun of her. not a big deal.”
- Chen
sent from my GizPad.
Pony Stark
#1: I think you had the same impulse most ordinary people would when you wrote the story in 2007. Your reaction here reflects the good side of humanity.
#2: I suppose Jason this will have some (big or small) impact on you toward writing a story going forward. Chris, his son, does offer some good advices in his response on your original post.
tobedetermined
My father lost his leg to diabetes and a work-related accident. He now uses a modified electric scooter capable of excess speeds of 25mph+. Sure he can’t look at people in the eye during conversation probably because he’s too busy running them over.
How does this help Jason? No clue but the point is…I forget. Oh yeah I remember. Segways are still stupid.
*Woz now carefully aims sniper rifle*
Nitemancometh
@Curtis Hoffman: It’s not so much a rule as it is a prevailing bad habit.
Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1
“We don’t take kindly to folks who don’t take kindly round here!
…Now Skeeter, he ain’t hurtin’ nobody.”
But in all seriousness…
It sucks what happened to Mel, but I hope she realizes that people will still laugh at the scenario depicted by the photo and doesn’t go nuts about it.
No one was laughing AT her, (no one knew WHO she was).
People just liked the scenario.
But now some will poke fun or harass. Especially now that a NAME can be associated with the barely visible face.
It probably would have been better for her to just let the pic remain an anonymous failed meme fading into internet obscurity.
For the most part, people should just lighten up and relax instead of taking offence.
I mean, educating people is fine, but if you refuse to make light of any subject or refuse to allow others to, then you’re just letting it own you and control you, and giving it power over yourself. This is especially true for people afflicted or personally effected by the matter.
(Note I’m not saying she did take offence. >_<)
That said…
“I take offence to people taking offence to people making light of an issue!!
…. now skeeter….“
2 replies
Good job Jason. Great you’re able to take ownership of a mistake.
I do, however, have one small issue with an otherwise very nice post: “It’d be easy to extrapolate the cause of the events to lay blame on it being standard internet behavior, general anonymous jerkitude, and looking for a cheap laugh instead of actually looking into a subject and finding out what really happened. But no—this one’s all on me. “
Sorry – that’s not going to work, at least not for me. Sometime you make mistakes, just as I and everyone else does. You posted a photo found on the internet and made a social comment, one that, while not true in this particular case, held enough validity that was instantly recognizable by the site’s many users.
I can’t imagine that the previous post was a personal attack to the person Mellisa is. If I understand correctly, you never even knew who she was. An apology in this case remained necessary – and I’m glad to see that you’ve done so. But you should also accept that it will likely happen again. Part of your job is to inform and entertain – its what makes this site interesting. You WILL make other mistakes like that. Apologizing was the right solution to the problem. I don’t think that future self-censorship is.
A public mea culpa (and what I can assume was also a personal apology as well) was the right way to go. talking it further crosses into a different area all together. And maybe that’s a conversation you want to have – what is the role of political correctness in blogging journalism. IMHO.
froggy
@Jason Chen: thank you for saying what I was trying to figure out a way to say without being a jackass.
ikaiyoo
Now that you know you are going to hell, it is time to build your empire!
PixelProphet
@acidrain69: Hell or apple’s pound-me-in-the-arse prison. Lest we forget.. what goes around?
bdinger
Good looking family there. Looks like she was visiting Kerry Park here in Seattle. As a cancer survivor, I love the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and what they do. I got to take a tour of their campus in Seattle once, really nice people there.
Trickyhop
How were you to know that she wasn’t just lazy? I would have done the same thing.
HJTravels
@I see the light. It burns!: The response time seems to have been about three days — they just got a comment on the original post, which is how Gizmodo became aware of the story behind the picture.
I say good on Gizmodo and Jason Chen for doing the right thing. They may be blogging pranksters and industrial espionage professionals but, apparently, they are generally upstanding folks.
Stickarm
@Tanya DePass: Look at the date on his comment.
Jason Chen
@Curtis Hoffman: You got disemvolved.
[gizmodo.com]
tande04
I wish Fox News would post an apology, even half as thought out, as yours, Jason. I’m sure they realize the costs of devoting a resource to a project like that could be extremely high, given their history.
My apologies to all those segways that have scurried across my path for which I generally propel evil thoughts. I now see the error of my ways.
findmitch
I think you owe someone else an apology? He back traced you Jason!
EvilDroidClone
@DustyButt: it isnt that they just dont care. Which in itself is very very sad.
ikaiyoo
@Jason Chen: So I can push a stoller along with a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. It doesn’t always have to go 268MPH.
I seriously doubt Segway would consider this an intended use of their product and most likely would highly recommend against it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for technology and mobility assistance for those in need. Yet the action of pushing or holding an infant while using a Segway doesn’t seem safe. Remember, always use the right tool for the right job.
FriarNurgle
@pekosROB: Yeah, I thought that’s why the apology was there in the first place. He wrote on it about a few days ago.
romevi04
So why did this apology come 3 years after that post? I would think the apology would have come post-haste after the son of the woman you lambasted came forward and told you her story.
Yet another reason I’m turned off by Gizmodo and it’s frat boy, bro-dude mentality and a better late than never attitude just doesn’t cut it for me. 3 years this woman has had a picture circulated of her while she’s ridiculed by people who have no idea who she is or what her story is and you just now get around to apologizing? Poor form and too late.
Tanya DePass
good job giz. you get points.
in other news, the girl wearing the white and black top is stunning.
the_amazing_doug
@That Guy: Indeed, taught me a lesson on how quick one becomes an asshole, too. One often forgets that sometimes, people listen on the other end.
Cmykify
thats weird where did my vowels go
Curtis Hoffman
Wow dude, you’re so going to hell. If you believe in such a place. I don’t, so I think you’re safe.
P.S. Thanks for posting this. Apologies are far too rare nowadays.
acidrain69
@Lilkiwiguy87: Did Jason make that guy lose his prototype at some random bar? Nope.
Plus, there were spoilers from other people too in asia…and france? If I remember correctly before the keynote.
PierceTheVin
Very, very classy post. What was once a mistake, is now a chance to educate a lot of people about something serious.
imaria
‘It’s so easy to laugh it’s so easy to hate
it takes strength to be gentle and kind.’
nicktennear
It takes a big person to respond the way you did to this whole situation. Jason Chen’s last words in his apology are the exact reason I stopped subscribing to people of Wal-Mart and the Fail Blog months ago.
“Who knows, it might make the internet a better place to remember that the people in photos are actually people.”
mcjake
Athough the pic is much less amusing now, it’s interesting to know its background.
The photographer was Jen Maier.
FiatMoney
One of the best posts ever on any of Gawker’s blogs
sambone
Plus, isn’t one of the rules of the internet to never own up to your mistakes
Curtis Hoffman
I know this isn’t a place to post dunce moves, but when I was a music education major one of my leaders in marching band had a breast cancer awareness pin on and I jokingly said do you have it on to pick up chicks and others laughed like I was and he looked right at me and said no and then I found out from his friend his mom had breast cancer. UUUGGGGHHHHHHH. I felt soooooo horrible. No matter how many times you apologize you still feel like crap. It happens and all you can do is ask for forgiveness and remember those times you open mouth, insert foot, and swallow hard lol. Nice apology though Jason. Nice story though. It’s good to see someone gets actual good use for the Segway and not just some of the rich lazy people. Of course if I had one I’d use it cause I’m fat and lazy but poor lol.
saxgod
@Lite: an adventurer is me!: lol never heard this before. I’m going to be downloading this asap.
soldstatic
Class move, JC. And remember that just because she’s a one legged, cancer survivor doesn’t mean she can’t also be lazy. I kid, I kid.
IQslump
@Jestermeister: Oh, well I suppose that would make a difference. I didn’t bother to check.
Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1
I know of an engineer that needs an apology…
jasondiaz
Alright, so she gets a pass. Justin Bieber does not…someone please tell me that he got injured when he was mobbed on his Segway!
collectiveego
Sounds like a well-meaning and deserved apology. Hope it’s all water under the bridge now.
El Guano
Good one Jason. Speaking of which, Steve Jobs needs some comic drawing.
ingolstadt
Well, just next time be careful when writing articles about real everyday people you havent actually met.
At least you owned up to your mistake, which is commendable (in the court of law) and I’m sure she will appreciate it.
Now back to shitting on faceless corporations who only employ robots as thier staff that are in no way hurt by our snipes & barbs.
joncoffee
@rombuu: Yeah I guess it wasn’t the mom that was lazy after all.
EvilDroidClone
wldn’t hv gvn hlf sht bt hr mdcl hstry rltng t th sttn tht csd th pctr, f th chck hd snt m mssg syng “h wll hd cncr s ts nt fnny” wld hv rspndd tht m srry bt hr sttn, bt thr ws knw wy n hll tht cld hv knwn tht nd t th tm t ws hlrs nd t b hnst t stll s prtty hlrs f y lk t t wtht thnkng cncr ldy. Grw pr mn.
Curtis Hoffman
@Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1: Well, it probably helped that the woman’s son posted a fuming rant on the original article a few days ago. It starts off with “Listen here, you son of a bitch…” and only gets better from there. Check it out: [gizmodo.com]
Jestermeister
I’ve always wondered if a segway would benefit me… All be it, standing can be as difficult as walking for me so a wheelchair is ideally better…
Being I own neither though it doesn’t matter either way I guess…
Bobby T.
@DustyButt: Too true.
Kung-Fu Kurtis Carnivale of Carnage
@Lilkiwiguy87: Should Gizmodo apologize for posting every other “leak” photo/story they’ve done on other gadgets both Apple and non-Apple alike?
musepoetique
This is why steve Jobs says bloggers are not Journalists..
Kayno
this is the thing that bothers me, people always make fun of others, but when they find out the situation they feel like douches. why make fun in the first place if you don’t know their situation?
tfskora
Good for Gizmodo and for you for posting your blunder. Perhaps the lining of journalistic integrity is starting to show through again.
Really, it takes balls to apologize publicly.
DeadWriter
@sip: I actually thought there was definitely something wrong with that dog the second I saw the video. I thought the video was more weird than funny. Thanks for confirming my suspicions.
aririn
Thanks for apologizing to her. This also taught me a pretty valuable lesson about being judgmental.
That Guy
@Saboth: Yeah, I have bad grammar. I meant “same thing” as in we would’ve mocked her.
Travis Gohr
Alittle late in the response, but good job Jason. They way you apologized and even did it in a way that shows she’s the opposite of lazy, you actually empowered her, is awesome. It’s examples like this that keep me going being a nice guy, and manning up when I make mistakes.
I see the light. It burns!
Thank you. Not only have you proven that you’re man enough to say sorry, but you have also provided me with my next desktop wallpaper.
Ozzie, The Last Hairbender
@Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1: You’re absolutely right. This is great candid journalism and a wonderful article. I’m glad to see that my favorite blog has writers such as Jason, that would go the extra mile to publish something like this.
Dartimous
Hey, this does prove segways are actually Useful for something! Now I feel like a jerk for making fun of the machine and the person.
TheShinyHobbiest
this reminds me of how it turned out that the Grape Lady broke all of her ribs and punctured her lungs in addition to becoming so hated that she lost her job. it completely ruined her life.
Jesse Pacheco
well you’re only human.
mrgibblechip
I think your last sentence is a concept that far too many people on the internet can’t grasp.
DustyButt
@FriarNurgle: You don’t ALWAYS have to go 12MPH. It’s variable-speed.
Jason Chen
@Philanthropy: That’s very offensive even to me, my mum’s in her 50′s, and the age I’m at I find your comment offensive.
You’re Banned
Did anyone see the comment posted on the original story by the son Chris? Wow he was pissed. After that comment it’d be awkward not to apologize…
But nonetheless, good job doing it.
Edit:
Now that I know the reason behind the Segway, I’m VERY happy to know that it’s not because someone is just soooo lazy or anything like that. +1 point for the human race (I guess you could say +2)
pekosROB
Nice to see a good old fashioned retraction every once-in-a-while. they’re becoming all to rare in most media, and I don’t think it’s because new media is just that much better at getting to the ‘truth’
EdgarJPublius
@Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1: I totally remember it..
Karkawry
@Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1: No
FrankenPC
@Lilkiwiguy87: I’m waiting for Jobs to man up (is that possible?) and apologize for hiring the police goon squad to break into his home over a piece of gadget junk.
FrankenPC
I’d never let someone hold my baby and ride a Segway. Seen way too many videos of people falling off the damn things. Those things go kinda fast (12MPH). A freaking motorized wheelchair or Hoveround only goes about 4 MPH. Kudos for battling and surviving Cancer but she was endangering the child.
FriarNurgle
Very nice. Gaining trust by the post. XD
Greytop
Damn talk about the ultimate backfire.
Aaron Palmer
We all wear the dunce cap from time to time. Thanks for owning it, Jason.
ads2k2.1
Jason, my respect for you just went up so much. It’s hard to admit your mistakes, especially when they are so far removed from the present. It takes balls to bring up something that none of us even remember to admit your mistake.
My respect for this lady is, however, at an even higher point. Props to her for living her life, and apparently being awesome.
tylerbrainerd
So many questions that will most likely get me banned. I think I wont ask, and just ignore it. (It’s not about Melissa, but about the original article)
You’re Banned
I remember that post. I know someone that uses a segway for medical reasons as well. A lot of people think she is just rich and lazy but that’s definitely not the case. She has MS and it’s very difficult for her to walk. Thanks to Segway she can get around and not have to be stuck in a wheelchair all day.
DoYouLikeToastToo?
@Lilkiwiguy87: Bleh, who cares about them. Apple can just shaddap and sell their wares.
Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1
I guess this would not be the time to make a comment about her reproductive ability being amazing, proven by the presence of the gorgeous blonde.
Oops, well it just goes to show she is a super lady!
chuck12
@Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1: looks like somebody just found out about the story and enlightened the writer here. Go check out the comments on the previous post.
soldstatic
3 years ago? How timely…
rombuu
I learned this lesson the hard way also. Good on ya’, Jason. You are a respectable journalist and human being.
For those who haven’t experienced the repercussions of outward judgment on others, please pay attention to this and examine your own behaviors, if need be.
kingcrim84
Bravo Jason, bravo.
Now if only our elected officials at ALL levels could learn from this….
dicknervous
Oh great, thanks Chen! Now I have to go around feeling like an asshole all day because I too laughed at the lazy segway mom.
However, to her credit for a grandmother she looks to be in pretty good shape!
But, then again I already accept and admit that I’m an asshole.
Lite: an adventurer is me!
@monkichi: i “heart”…
monkichi
@Travis Gohr: Remember it wasn’t his mistake alone… a good part of the world shared in the misunderstanding…
RockstarAgent
i gizmodo for things like this. well done.
monkichi
Nice job Jason for manning up. My thoughts and prayers go out to Melissa and her family.
HiDEFF
@junyo: Perhaps you mean u and mption?
latexsalad
@Karkawry: Congrats!
Jason Chen
Apology accepted.
Now, I’m waiting for your apology for ruining Apple’s surprise with iPhone 4. We’re all waiting for you to do so.
Lilkiwiguy87
@KevlarAllah: I concur. It takes a big man to publicly apologize like this.
My hat’s off to you, Jason.
StupidPopMediaReference
Aside from being classy for apologizing at all, it’s even classier that you managed to one-up it by doing so after it probably passed out of our collective memory. Seriously, did anyone remember this until this article?
“I was wrong” are some seriously valuable words, the likes of which the internet neglects way too often.
Kaiser-Machead v.2.1.1
I feel that whenever a hilarious video turns up on the internet, while it is hilarious, it’s usually because that person/thing has serious problems.
[www.collegehumor.com]
Take this dog for example: it has a case of cerebellar hypoplasia which effects its motor skills.
sip
Yes, well done Jason. That really is the right thing to do. Brave lady and what an adorable little girl..
I`m in the zone at the moment, just had a little girl 10 weeks ago
Karkawry
I have to admit, Gizmodo does the best mea culpas in the tech journalism industry (iPhone 4 non-withstanding if for legal reasons only, which I’m cool with). Sincere mixed with snark!
tedknaz
With a society that rewards people for being lazy and too many people taking advantage of it how could you have known? When was the last time you saw someone park in a handicapped spot and have any problem whatsoever getting out of their car or making it to a store?
John Milleker
i remember this article, and man, I feel like an idiot for coming to that same conclusion.
sorry ‘mam!
quicksilver8478
Very classy! now how about one for all the pro-apple stories! i kid i kid
Stay classy man
Top_failure
Jason Chen; on this day I applaud you for this; it shows great character to admit an error even if you had no reason to assume responsibility on the fact that you were not the only one to assume and laugh at that which no one had any idea had a background story. Imagine the countless other pictures of which we the public have laughed; ridiculed and mocked without a second thought as to more logical reasons to how they came about. IF this were to happen…. we would stop laughing. And that would be sad for those who purposefully manipulate funny pictures for our expense…
RockstarAgent
Assumptions make an ass of you and umption.
junyo
Well done, Jason. It’s well and good to make a joke, but it’s heartening to see someone apologize when it’s no longer “just a joke.” Thank you.
CColdsmoke
Very classy. You just earned major respect points in my book.
birel44
OK OK Steve… Give him his toys back. Time-out is over.
Everybody
I bet el Jobso is going to be pissed when he see you apologize for this and not the iPhone 4 thing
curtisimo
Jesus Christ that woman is a grand SOMETHING? She looks early 40′s at most o__o
Philanthropy
@Travis Gohr: Same thing as in…make fun of the random lady pushing the stroller with the segway, or own up to being a jerk? I’ll admit, I saw that image several times and thought it was just another rich lazy yuppy.
Saboth
Props to Melissa for what she’s been through. An amazing story.
And also, props to you, Jason, for making things right, and doing so publicly.
This is why I love Gizmodo.
KevlarAllah
+1 for the apology. Very classy.
waclark57
@Travis Gohr: You have high hopes for humanity, sir.
UlyssesDawgette
So you have a guy on staff who draws cartoons of you? How do I get one of those?
Hello Mister Walrus
Very nice mea culpa, Jason.
gerrylum
“Well, in Gizmodo they say that the internet’s small heart grew three sizes that day.”
Fossa
That assumption could’ve happened to anybody Jason. The good thing is you apologized after hearing the real story. That’s one lady that fought and deserves life. Her little girl is adorable.
PierceTheVin
Highly commendable for you to admit to your own mistake like this.
Joshua Willis
Kudos to you Jason for eating crow in such an upfront way.
Fight the good fight Melissa. Prayers are with you and your family that you continue to stay healthy.
kstagg
Awesome retraction. Makes me feel good when writers/editors admit fault and try to make the world right. Thanks for setting the records straight.
retrac
Perfect drawing of remorseful Jason. And I love it when writers man up and publish stuff like this. I think it does a lot more for one’s credibility to err then correct, than to never err.
Jestermeister
Way to own up to your mistake. I think all of us would’ve done the same thing though…
Travis Gohr