Comments on: The Sunday “Papers” and The Way of the World http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/ Just another Pajamasmedia.com weblog Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:08:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Fausta http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88663 Fausta Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:29:08 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88663 It is a publishing platform, indeed! As for the virtue or lack thereof in amateurs, I'll have to read Keen's book to see what he has to say (certainly the commentary linked is, well, <i>amateurish</i>). But there are two points I'd like to make on the subject of amateurs: 1. The assumption that all bloggers are amateurs is ridiculous, as Roger notes. In the case of bloggers posting under pseudonyms, it is even more so, since several (pseudonimous) bloggers that I correspond with regularly are experts in their fields. 2. There are "amateurs" who have great expertise on their fields of interest, for instance, <a href="http://www.economist.com/obituary/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8077832" rel="nofollow">Eric Newby</a> and <a href="http://dieoff.org/page107.htm" rel="nofollow">Marjorie Shostak</a>. Just because a person is not certified by the Grey Lady as an "expert" doesn't mean the person has no credibility. Indeed, a case can be made that being called <a href="http://www.poorandstupid.com/2007_07_01_chronArchive.asp#4193171905076669620" rel="nofollow">an expert</a> or being in the NYT's payroll as <a href="http://www.poorandstupid.com/2007_07_01_chronArchive.asp#2133393130334941745" rel="nofollow">an expert</a> is proof to the contrary. It is a publishing platform, indeed!

As for the virtue or lack thereof in amateurs, I’ll have to read Keen’s book to see what he has to say (certainly the commentary linked is, well, amateurish).
But there are two points I’d like to make on the subject of amateurs:
1. The assumption that all bloggers are amateurs is ridiculous, as Roger notes. In the case of bloggers posting under pseudonyms, it is even more so, since several (pseudonimous) bloggers that I correspond with regularly are experts in their fields.
2. There are “amateurs” who have great expertise on their fields of interest, for instance, Eric Newby and Marjorie Shostak.

Just because a person is not certified by the Grey Lady as an “expert” doesn’t mean the person has no credibility.

Indeed, a case can be made that being called an expert or being in the NYT’s payroll as an expert is proof to the contrary.

]]> By: Lem http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88662 Lem Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:30:27 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88662 Save the planet - abandon Iraq. Save Spain - abandon the United States. Non experts are confounded. Save the planet – abandon Iraq.
Save Spain – abandon the United States.

Non experts are confounded.

]]> By: Webutante http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88661 Webutante Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:12:13 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88661 Nothing more nor less than a "publishing platform" hits the nail on the head. And as in all communications, one has to ferret out the quality stuff. But that it doesn't exist, or the bar has been lowered is pure rubbish! Never has there been such a feast of ideas and creative expresssion! Nothing more nor less than a “publishing platform” hits the nail on the head. And as in all communications, one has to ferret out the quality stuff. But that it doesn’t exist, or the bar has been lowered is pure rubbish!

Never has there been such a feast of ideas and creative expresssion!

]]> By: photoncourier.blogspot.com http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88660 photoncourier.blogspot.com Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:11:20 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88660 The old media does not represent some kind of eternal Platonic Form; it is itself a creation of the technologies of its day. For example, the daily newspaper as we know it resulted from a convergence of the high-speed printing press, the telegraph/teleprinter, the linotype/phototypesetter, and the wirephoto machine. These people are really rather pathetic. The old media does not represent some kind of eternal Platonic Form; it is itself a creation of the technologies of its day. For example, the daily newspaper as we know it resulted from a convergence of the high-speed printing press, the telegraph/teleprinter, the linotype/phototypesetter, and the wirephoto machine.

These people are really rather pathetic.

]]> By: Barry Dauphin http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88659 Barry Dauphin Sun, 08 Jul 2007 21:09:59 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88659 Finding quality is always hard work (and always was). The <i>NY Times</i> editorialists would like (us) to believe that the brand name ensures quality, but the <i>hoi polloi</i> have discovered that old brands do not retain quality without genuine competition. There's a lot of crap amongst the blogs, and sometimes some bloggers are simply on a brief roll and then have little insight to instill. Well, at least they got to shoot their wads. We're better off for that than feeling chained to the likes of MoDo & Co. At least with the internet working pays off. In the old days one might have to pretend that the Times actually was good (sort of like in Star Trek the Next Generation when Picard believed he could see 5 lights---at the risk of straining a simile). Comparisons tend to wake people up. If the Times is going to stay in business, it will simply have to compete, although that might be a dirty word to some folks. Hectoring people who read blogs is not a particularly smart strategy, let alone accurate. Finding quality is always hard work (and always was). The NY Times editorialists would like (us) to believe that the brand name ensures quality, but the hoi polloi have discovered that old brands do not retain quality without genuine competition. There’s a lot of crap amongst the blogs, and sometimes some bloggers are simply on a brief roll and then have little insight to instill. Well, at least they got to shoot their wads. We’re better off for that than feeling chained to the likes of MoDo & Co. At least with the internet working pays off. In the old days one might have to pretend that the Times actually was good (sort of like in Star Trek the Next Generation when Picard believed he could see 5 lights—at the risk of straining a simile).

Comparisons tend to wake people up. If the Times is going to stay in business, it will simply have to compete, although that might be a dirty word to some folks. Hectoring people who read blogs is not a particularly smart strategy, let alone accurate.

]]> By: daveinboca http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88658 daveinboca Sun, 08 Jul 2007 20:11:24 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88658 The media has been Al-Qaeda's Fifth Column giving quislings like Mr. Elizabeth Edwards room to call the GWOT a "bumper sticker." Meanwhile, the NYT is of more than one mind about this, with a good article by John Burns, who refuses to drink the Kool-Ade, on Anbar & rolling back AQ in the field. But as for WHAM, the NYT is helping AQ here in the states & the Dems are heavily invested in an American defeat, so they can blame it on Chimpy McHitlerburton & his evil VP plus those nasty Repubs...... Too bad Talk Radio doesn't really run the country, Trent-boy. The media has been Al-Qaeda’s Fifth Column giving quislings like Mr. Elizabeth Edwards room to call the GWOT a “bumper sticker.” Meanwhile, the NYT is of more than one mind about this, with a good article by John Burns, who refuses to drink the Kool-Ade, on Anbar & rolling back AQ in the field.

But as for WHAM, the NYT is helping AQ here in the states & the Dems are heavily invested in an American defeat, so they can blame it on Chimpy McHitlerburton & his evil VP plus those nasty Repubs……

Too bad Talk Radio doesn’t really run the country, Trent-boy.

]]> By: ras http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88657 ras Sun, 08 Jul 2007 17:55:07 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2007/07/08/the-sunday-papers-and-the-way-of-the-world/#comment-88657 When my wife and I watch a compelling movie, we are quiet and focused. When the movie is crud we start talking over it and soon shut it off. This is called by some a decline of culture. When my wife and I watch a compelling movie, we are quiet and focused. When the movie is crud we start talking over it and soon shut it off.

This is called by some a decline of culture.

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