Interview: Apparently The Editor of NASA Watch Has Critics. Wow. Who Knew?
NASAWatch’s Keith Cowing is The Agency’s Biggest Critic and Most Obsessed Fan, Inverse
“Despite the small staff, the website pushes out content daily, and a lot of it … it has a small but influential audience of NASA employees, policy makers, and the requisite amount of fellow space geeks. … [with regard to critics] These types of scuffles, to Cowing, are “junior high sort of stuff,” yet owns up to having his share of detractors. “I assume 50 percent or more don’t care for what I do a lot of people who read my stuff would be terrified to be seen talking to me in public,” he tells me. “Everybody is critical of me, to be honest.” For the most part, It’s not what Cowing says that bothers people; it’s how he says it. The polarization around his online persona is likely due to the website’s balance of solid watchdoggery and irreverent, sometimes abrasive commentary, that even for non-space nerds, is highly entertaining stuff.”
Keith’s note: Of course when you write a profile about someone, a good writer seeks to get contrarian points of view. That said, its funny how Rand Simberg (who is quoted) thinks that I am afraid of guns. This picture of me shows me engaging in polar bear defense target practice on Devon Island (located 800 miles from the North Pole) in 2003. I am actually a rather good shot and, as a Mac user, I rather enjoyed putting shotgun blasts into that Dell PC cardboard box with a target painted on it. I could have done that all day. Also, its funny how Ethan Siegel says “I’ve considered blocking him multiple times”. Well, Ethan, since I do not follow you on Twitter (or anywhere else), block away – I can guarantee that you’ll feel better for having done so.
Keep the 1990s website design, keep telling us what you really think, let others post opposing viewpoints (within reason, no politico mudslinging), but not keep the TV set on CNN all time (only need to watch 5 minutes a day as material is repeated over and over).
Keep it up Keith. For what I pay for it NASAWatch is a real bargain!
wow, everything you wanted to know about Keith and were afraid to ask…
Great article and very informative. Hopefully this will lead to more exposure for Keith and Nasa Watch.
The comments coming from Rand Simberg are kind of funny considering the source. While I respect many of Rand’s opinions on space policy, Rand can be quite the “prickly” personality too.
In case you missed this last year, you might find this of interest: http://nasawatch.com/archiv…
I remember that incident well. I’ve interacted with Rand online since the pre-Internet days (sci.space Usenet Newsgroups) and he is as unfiltered today as he was back then.
Rand’s comments really left an impression on people here in DC. Not a good impression – in fact, they left a creepy impression.
Love ya, buddy.
You’ll always be my favorite Rocket Boy 🙂
It’s fun to read this history.
The most interesting thing out of this article is that you have cat(s)!
We did – for 16 years – but they both died 5 years ago. We are catless at the moment.
Keith, Keep on keeping on!
Well, I DID have a few words with our host a few years ago in Orlando at a symposium. Sure hope nobody has pictures:-)
For those of us who have been addicts since RIFWatch… and have known you since we both worked for crazy pro-space politicians… this was a treat to read. Too bad they didn’t interview Goldin.
<img alt=”” src=”http://images.spaceref.com/…“>
I forgot that! The older I get, the more patience I have with the “enemies” of my youth…
Isaiah 11:6: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb …” or something like that. I should check Revelations too – this photo probably foretells the end times 😉
Keith can be a jerk, sometimes. (I’ve never met him in person but it comes across online).
I know for a fact there are people would do not share the opinion that I am always a delight, either.
But I come here for news I can’t find elsewhere, great insight and civil. productive discussion.
(sigh) I normally edit or delete insults and name calling when one commenter goes after another commenter. But I am going to leave this insult here. After 20 years I continue to be amazed at how many people act tough behind fake names but are too cowardly to use their own name when posting insults. I use my name – why can’t you use yours?
Case in point.
I complimented you on your fine website. That’s all that should matter. You continue to produce evocative and timely news not available anywhere else.
We don’t have to be best friends for that to take place.
People who hide behind fake names to post insults are cowards. Clear enough? Have a nice day.
If people post ad hominem attacks with pseudonyms are cowards, what are those who do the same thing with their real names? Jerks? Idiots? That doesn’t appear to be any better.
It’s Keith’s website – he can do what he wants. Clearly his product, NASAWatch, is meeting a market that is not being adequately served by other providers.
People come and go… and then come back again. NASAWatch is the one constant variable.
I do not agree with all of Keith’s politics but we are all pushing in the right direction here.
Agree it is serving a purpose other sites generally don’t want to touch. Most other space news sites generally have little to nothing critical to say of NASA. Unfortunately, that’s part of the problem with NASA today is that few people (in NASA, government, or the press) are willing to point out that the emperor has no clothes when it comes to certain programs. The lack of a near term mission for SLS/Orion is one of those glaring programs without a (funded) purpose.
Started reading NASA Watch several years ago. I found it extremely informative but after a few months I did wonder a bit why this guy was always so mad at NASA. Then one day buried about 50 comments into an article that most others had moved on from, Dennis said to someone that Keith really loves NASA, that’s why he’s so hard on them. I felt embarrassed that I had been so dumb to not get it. Once that light switch was turned on I have been a fan ever since.