New York Times Bestseller List

[Juvenal]

It turns out that the NYT Bestseller list is more editorializing than reporting:

About JWR

WR is a free magazine published five days a week on the World Wide Web of interest to people of faith and those interested in learning more about contemporary Judaism from Jews who take their religion seriously.

Our inaugural editorial is also our mission statement.

Readers, individuals wishing to submit an article on "spec," or make a tax deductible donation and those seeking advertising rates may contact JWR by email or by calling (718) 972-9241. Please note that all correspondence with JWR remains our property and may be used accordingly.

On "spec" means "paid ad" in this context.

Folks have been trying to game their way onto the Times best-seller list for a long time. Sometimes it works. Better luck next time, Dennis.

[KingsGambit]

The same guy who runs the fake con "university" PragerU? What is it with scumbags and the running of fake universities? I see Trump just settled his con university lawsuit for $25 million.

PragerU's own website FAQ makes clear that the site is not a university: https://www.prageru.com/frequently-asked-questions It's fairly common for trainings, etc. to use terms such as university/college informally and this is no exception. I see no evidence of actual fraud/false representation.

[Juvenal]

It's fairly common for trainings, etc. to use terms such as university/college informally and this is no exception.

If it's done for profit, that's called fraud, and how Trump U got shot down and sued. As a 501(c)(3), PragerU can probably get away with it, but it's unquestionably a misrepresentation.

When counterfeits enter the money supply, real currency is devalued.

[KingsGambit]

If it's done for profit, that's called fraud, and how Trump U got shot down and sued. As a 501(c)(3), PragerU can probably get away with it, but it's unquestionably a misrepresentation.

When counterfeits enter the money supply, real currency is devalued.

I can't believe I'm defending Prager here but I don't see what exactly would constitute actually representing himself as a university given that they do not give diplomas/certificates, contra Trump U. This line of argumentation seems like an overly literal fixation on a name with figurative elements

[Starlight]

It's fairly common for trainings, etc. to use terms such as university/college informally and this is no exception.

Ah, it's illegal in my country, but I see it's not necessarily illegal in all US states and varies by state.

I see no evidence of actual fraud/false representation.

My interaction with them has been on youtube where I stumbled across (mis)'educational' videos on the PragerU channel and was horrified to see them getting away with the implied idea that they were a university. The overall way in which they are not at all upfront about who they are and what they are presenting I think amounts to a deliberate attempt to con people on their part. I think youtube should ban the channel as a result, as such misrepresentations are illegal in numerous countries and states in which youtube operates. IMO 'PragerU' could fix the problem by relabeling their channel "Prager's Conservative Ideas" or somesuch.

[Juvenal]

I can't believe I'm defending Prager here but I don't see what exactly would constitute actually representing himself as a university given that they do not give diplomas/certificates, contra Trump U. This line of argumentation seems like an overly literal fixation on a name with figurative elements

They claim to have thousands of educators using their material in schools.

I think you were right the first time. This isn't someone you want to defend.

[One Bad Pig]

About JWR

WR is a free magazine published five days a week on the World Wide Web of interest to people of faith and those interested in learning more about contemporary Judaism from Jews who take their religion seriously.

Our inaugural editorial is also our mission statement.

Readers, individuals wishing to submit an article on "spec," or make a tax deductible donation and those seeking advertising rates may contact JWR by email or by calling (718) 972-9241. Please note that all correspondence with JWR remains our property and may be used accordingly.

On "spec" means "paid ad" in this context.

Folks have been trying to game their way onto the Times best-seller list for a long time. Sometimes it works. Better luck next time, Dennis.

A) You don't appear to have actually read the column, merely cast aspersions that it's a paid ad.
B) Dennis Prager's columns have been appearing in JWR for as long as I've been reading it - about 15 years at this point; it's hardly a 'paid ad.'

Better luck next time, Jesse.

[Sparko]

PragerU's own website FAQ makes clear that the site is not a university: https://www.prageru.com/frequently-asked-questions It's fairly common for trainings, etc. to use terms such as university/college informally and this is no exception. I see no evidence of actual fraud/false representation.

oh noes. I bet Starlight thinks that Theolgyweb is a fake university because we have our forum names built around a campus theme and we have mod staff with titles like "Professor" "Dean" and "Chancellor"