Gersh:

I never gave you permission to use this photo, and to add insult to injury, you didn't attribute it to me, nor did you compensate me for its use.

Unfortunately, this is the type of behavior that reinforces the negative perception of The Brooklyn Paper held by a growing number of New Yorkers, and most likely, a growing number of your former subscribers.

Remove this photo immediately. If it is too late to stop it from appearing in print, I expect to be compensated.

Tracy Collins

Dear Gersh Kuntzman -

Once again, your coverage of Robert Guskind's untimely death has been marred by poor journalistic practices. You stole the photograph used for this story from a well-known Brooklyn photographer without giving him credit. This is not the proper way to memorialize the death of a Brooklyn journalist.

Robert Guskind actively supported the careers of many Brooklyn photographers... and he always made sure to properly attribute his photos, which is one of the most basic rules of journalism.

I hope you quickly correct this error in judgment and negotiate a satisfactory resolution with Tracy Collins.

Nathan Kensinger

This picture was posted in error. It was mislabeled in our system and I will take it down immediately. I'm big enough to admit a mistake, guys, so please ratchet down the hate.

Also, Tracy, if you need to talk to me, you know where to reach me. Why post something so venomous when it could have been handed with a simple call or email?

GERSH KUNTZMAN
Editor
The Brooklyn Paper

i always want the brooklyn paper to be good considering the talent pool it can draw on and somehow it always manages to suck on an unreadable level.

Everyone's just still got their panties in a bind over the fact that the BP was one of the only publications to publish info on Guskind's life and death with all the warts and pimples that everyone else has conveniently ignored. Why don't you all just calm down before one of you drop dead next. Jeeez. Such anger. Such babies.

Why is everyone so animate about the drug addict the man killed him self and deserves no respect! THERE I SAID IT!!! He might have done a lot alive but is no good to us dead and everyone getting so emotional about this should go join him!! I'm so fed up with everyone attacking one journalist about mis-reporting about another, the man was washed up and at the end of his rope, and seems can only go threw life druged up to hide the reality that his life sucks. If he really cared about Brooklyn and all his readers he would have not taken his own life and left Brooklyn to the dogs. He abadoned us and I will never forgive him for that; now we just need some to pick up the torch that he drop,fumbled, or never passes on to keep the flame alive. Hope someone will pick it up before it completely goes out for good and Brooklyn is left for people like Bratner to destroy what ever history is left.

I don't think that we know that he killed himself on purpose, so just take it easy there A O.

Anyway, I'll just repeat what I said before because I think it's only fair: I have a lot of sympathy for the tragedy this man must have been feeling, but if journalism is what we are after, let's call a spade a spade. He was a pest and a tabloid exploiter. Hate mongering and name calling is not journalism. For all of the good neighborhood reporting he provided, he posted just as much unfounded, un-researched venom and spite to tear neighborhoods down. There were plenty of good, hard-working people who needed a place to live and who moved into the new developments he hated so much. And he was guilty of inciting an almost mob-like hatred for those people with many of his angry entries and mocking photographs. That was wrong and misguided, and he refused to admit it. Hopefully now he can rest in peace and Brooklyn can get on with the inevitable change that has made Brooklyn Brooklyn from day one.

Gersh Kuntzman -

If you are moving on from the admitted "mistake" of using the previous photograph that accompanied this story, why haven't you given Hugh Crawford a proper credit for using his photograph, which you have since added on to this story?

Proper attribution is learned in Journalism 101. The problem here was about journalism and ethics. Insinuating that it was about "hate" is a ridiculous way to cover your own ass.

Unfortunately, some of the other comments that have since been posted here are extremely hateful and should be removed from a public forum.

Gersh, how does it feel to be the ringmaster at an Aspberger's convention?

Gersh:

I've sent you a lengthly private email in reply.

I just want to say here that it makes your publication seem sloppy at best and deceitful at worse when you run a photo (any photo) without permission, attribution nor compensation.

Tracy

tracy:

we all know what gersh and the papers do sometimes. was it really worth a public display like this? dont you think his fate is sealed already? do you think he wouldnt take it down if given a private shout out?

we often give people the benefit of the doubt for minor transgressions. this one was pretty minor to go ballistic on. especially in this situation.

This is supposed to be about Robert's memorial service! Take it offline already. At least the other commenters are on topic.

"Unfortunately, some of the other comments that have since been posted here are extremely hateful and should be removed from a public forum."

Oh put a sock in it already. The truth hurts, doesn't it? And "truth" is exactly what most blogs are missing, especially the ones that cover Brooklyn. Take a spoonful of your own medicine and maybe you'll experience a little empathy. Real empathy. Not the one-sided kind that Robert was so well versed in.

A O from BKLYN says:

Why is everyone so animate about the drug addict the man killed him self and deserves no respect! THERE I SAID IT!!!

A O:

You are a douche - There, I said it.

After sleeping on this, I want to publicly apologize to you, Gersh, for the way I handled this. I should have contacted you privately first, instead of reacting immediately and publicly.

I've had my photos used without permission/attribution/compensation before (by various organizations, accidentally and otherwise), and this instance was the last straw for me. Unfortunately for you, you were the one who took the brunt of my anger and frustration. I regret not handling this more professionally, as well as causing the distraction from the real topic of this story, Bob Guskind's memorial.

Tracy Collins

Tracy, your photo sucked anyway. Let it go.

I actually wrote the original blunt post on the article way back when, but Blunt above, who ever you are, I am glad we are like minded and you felt like my words were worth repeating.

Have you ever noticed how many times you guys use the word "beloved" in your rag? What the heck could that descriptor possibly mean when virtually everything and everyone in your world is beloved? Perhaps you should get out the 'ol thesaurus and consider varying the vocab a bit.

And in all of this ... not a peep about a news guy who was brutally murdered this week ... where's the speculation about this one, Goish?

Former WABC radio news anchor George Weber was found murdered inside his Brooklyn apartment today after failing to report to work for two days, sources told The Post.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03222009/news/regionalnews/brooklyn/george_weber_slain_160819.htm

Now that we're edging on nearly a month since his death I must say, revelations about his past has completely tarnished my view of his work and tainted the work I contributed to Gowanus Lounge. If I knew who he really was, I would have never contrbuted to his site.

The heroin use was one thing; I grew up in NYC and saw what hard drug use can do to folks. But when I read in one of his remembrances of his drug addled past where he coerces his ex-girlfriend to doing it as well? That was the moment I completely lost respect for Robert Guskind.

To bring opiate addiction into yourself is one thing. To bring it into the world of people you claim to "love" is another.

So to his friends who are covering up his past and ignoring/excusing his abusive/dark side I understand the motivation to an extent. But you are ultimately enabling and abuser—and even apologizing for his behavior—after the fact helps nobody.

FWIW, I'm personally no longer contributing anything to any blogs unless I actually know the folks connected or am getting paid. It's not worth the headache anymore.