Overheard in New York
Encyclopedia
Overheard in New York is a humor blog
, published by Michael Malice and S. Morgan Friedman, that documents snippets of conversation heard by passersby in New York City
. The blog popularized the format, which was created by the Web site In Passing in 2000. Overheard in New York was originally edited by Michael Malice, later Jenny Weiss, and finally Kristina Ryan. Its current editors are Dave Barnette, Danielle Lindemann, Guillermo Rubens, and Murphy Scott.
The source of the humor in each quote varies. Some are intentional witticisms on the part of their speaker, some are based on his or her apparent cluelessness (as with tourists or children), lack of common sense, or stupidity (as with Gothamites
), and some seem to demonstrate symptoms of mental illness
. Because submitters usually do not know the people they are quoting, they often use glib labels such as "suit on phone", "tourist", "hobo", or "drunk NYU
chick". Overheard in New York has become well-known within the city, and a few of the quoted conversations mention their being likely to turn up on the Web site.
Overheard in New York has expanded with a variety of "sister" Web sites, including Overheard in the Office, Overheard at the Beach, Overheard Everywhere, and Celebrity Wit.
Similar websites exist for comments overheard in a variety of places. In Passing began publishing overheard dialogue from Berkeley, California
in 2000, and more recent sites feature conversations from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
, Montreal, Paris
, Dublin, the London Underground
, Minneapolis, Yale University
and Vancouver, B.C.. In an interview with Gothamist
, Malice spoke negatively of other overheard sites, calling the ones that do not link to Overheard in New York and "act like the idea came from nowhere" as "ripoffs" and going so far as to say that he hopes for the children of the sites' creators to die for no discernible reason. There is a substantial history of posting "overheard" dialogue online for amusement. A Google search
for "Overheard on IRC" displays many items. Furthermore, author Susan Catherine published a series of books featuring eavesdropped dialogue that dates back to 1984.
Artist Judith Henry
published an Overheard book series, and created a window installation, Overheard in New York for Bergdorf Goodman
, later followed by a Los Angeles window installation, Overheard Los Angeles for Neiman Marcus.
In April 2006, Friedman fired original editor Malice after a dispute concerning editorial control. Malice immediately created New York, Overheard, a nearly identical site with the same format and layout. The two settled their dispute in May 2006, announcing a return to "regularly scheduled eavesdropping". At that time, Malice removed his competing site, and Friedman credited Malice on the original site as "Founding Editor".
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, published by Michael Malice and S. Morgan Friedman, that documents snippets of conversation heard by passersby in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The blog popularized the format, which was created by the Web site In Passing in 2000. Overheard in New York was originally edited by Michael Malice, later Jenny Weiss, and finally Kristina Ryan. Its current editors are Dave Barnette, Danielle Lindemann, Guillermo Rubens, and Murphy Scott.
The source of the humor in each quote varies. Some are intentional witticisms on the part of their speaker, some are based on his or her apparent cluelessness (as with tourists or children), lack of common sense, or stupidity (as with Gothamites
Salmagundi (periodical)
Salmagundi; or The Whim-whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, Esq. & Others, commonly referred to as Salmagundi, was a 19th century satirical periodical created and written by American writer Washington Irving...
), and some seem to demonstrate symptoms of mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
. Because submitters usually do not know the people they are quoting, they often use glib labels such as "suit on phone", "tourist", "hobo", or "drunk NYU
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
chick". Overheard in New York has become well-known within the city, and a few of the quoted conversations mention their being likely to turn up on the Web site.
Overheard in New York has expanded with a variety of "sister" Web sites, including Overheard in the Office, Overheard at the Beach, Overheard Everywhere, and Celebrity Wit.
Similar websites exist for comments overheard in a variety of places. In Passing began publishing overheard dialogue from Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
in 2000, and more recent sites feature conversations from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Montreal, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Dublin, the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, Minneapolis, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Vancouver, B.C.. In an interview with Gothamist
Gothamist
Gothamist LLC is the operator of eleven city-centric blogs worldwide that focus on news, events, food, culture, and other local coverage.-History:...
, Malice spoke negatively of other overheard sites, calling the ones that do not link to Overheard in New York and "act like the idea came from nowhere" as "ripoffs" and going so far as to say that he hopes for the children of the sites' creators to die for no discernible reason. There is a substantial history of posting "overheard" dialogue online for amusement. A Google search
Google search
Google or Google Web Search is a web search engine owned by Google Inc. Google Search is the most-used search engine on the World Wide Web, receiving several hundred million queries each day through its various services....
for "Overheard on IRC" displays many items. Furthermore, author Susan Catherine published a series of books featuring eavesdropped dialogue that dates back to 1984.
Artist Judith Henry
Judith Henry
Judith Henry, is a New York based artist who uses true stories and overheard statements in her work.-Biography:Judith Henry was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and received a Bachelors of Fine Art from Carnegie-Mellon University.-Books:...
published an Overheard book series, and created a window installation, Overheard in New York for Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman is a luxury goods department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf and was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, and later his son Andrew Goodman....
, later followed by a Los Angeles window installation, Overheard Los Angeles for Neiman Marcus.
In April 2006, Friedman fired original editor Malice after a dispute concerning editorial control. Malice immediately created New York, Overheard, a nearly identical site with the same format and layout. The two settled their dispute in May 2006, announcing a return to "regularly scheduled eavesdropping". At that time, Malice removed his competing site, and Friedman credited Malice on the original site as "Founding Editor".
External links
- Overheard in New York
- The Word on the Street article on Overheard at Slate (magazine)Slate (magazine)Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
- Article about the website