MRO comments on “Against open culture”
I’m enjoying the emergence of the opposition voices, as I described the Metaverse Manifesto
But really, “Web 2.0†has transformed our culture into a crowd of mediocrity without a voice.”
Mediocre? - All the experts and old media elites are blogging away like mad not to get left behind.
Crowd? - yes indeed and that’s what makes it interesting
Without a voice? - how about “with a voice”, and that’s why the author is concerned about our well being.
The debate is going on at alwayson.com … Where they say…Run - hide! Shut down them blasphemous blogs and unauthorized printin’ presses!
Needless to say, MRO is in favor of free markets for realities.
Debate here:
http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/16662
My response:
No need too worry
Hi,
Couple of things:
You will not have to choose between corporate-controlled media and new media. No person is stopping you from watching TV or reading newspapers.
I simply think that free, accessible markets are better. You say that “Web 2.0 start-ups are now radically undermining the closed system”, where you could just simply state “Web 2.0 start-ups are now offering new products that were not available in the closed system”. There must be some economic stake here, otherwise how could one defend “the closed system”?
You may want to rethink the difference between “culture” and “entertainment products” Your examples (”a Hitchcock movie, a U2 song) are not culture - they are films and songs. If corporate entertainment products are your “culture” there will be no shortage of those. Again, no worries.
There is a distinctive feature in this revolution - those who do not wish to participate can have their closed worlds intact. It’s simply not for you, and as I state in the Metaverse Manifesto, the corporate media “simply have no relevant product for this new marketplace” despite many attempts.
If the closed system is just right for you, why post these dismissive articles on the internet? Shouldn’t you write in mainstream newspapers and warn those readers to stay away from blogs and YouTube least it undermine their culture?
I understand the concern you have amidst what is sometimes a chaotic, confusing, and noisy new era. Remember that most found the industrial revolution chaotic, confusing, and noisy too. In the end, we were better off with more choices.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on the article.
- MRO
Filed under: MR O SHOW
