Children with Blogs

I've seen a lot going around the web about Gizmodo's CES stunt. If you want the short version, Gizmodo, a gadget blog, went to CES (Consumer Electronic Show) and began turning off TVs with a device that turns off TVs. I suppose someone with a Homer Simpson-esque sense of humor might find it funny to turn off a wall of TVs that potential customers are looking at, but they then proceeded to interrupt a product presentation by Motorola that was showing on a set of TVs during a press conference.

CEA, the company that runs CES, obviously banned the person responsible, but they are being unclear what, if any, further actions will be taken. I think when it comes down to it, there were 2 partys harmed in a clear way by the prank, Motorola and CEA.

The harm to Motorola was clear when Gizmodo interrupted their press conference. For those that don't know, companies compete for press coverage at this even, and often a good presentation can raise the value of a company's stock (or lower it.)

Before CEA meters out the final sanctions, I'm hoping they realize what this prank has done to their credibility. Companies pay unbelievable amounts of money to participate in the convention, millions in some cases. They do this with the belief that they will be in an environment with professional press, and retail buyers from around the world. For the first time, it became clear that children are being let into the event. Spoiled children who get gadgets for free because they have a successful blog, but children nonetheless. I can't help but wonder what the fallout will be from this next year. Obviously, a few pieces of electrical tape over the IR recievers of the devices would prevent this from happening again, but will someone try to outdo them next year?

Honestly, the prank wasn't even funny. It wasn't creative, it wasn't harmless, it just wasn't funny. I'm sure that some people got satisfaction watching someone "stick it to the man," but beyond that, there wasn't much funny about it.