Michael Kinsley, writer/editor extraordinaire, is miffed at the cyberworld (Washington Post; reg req). Why? Among other things, because a) people send him mass-produced email complaining about things he's written; b) people look online for views supporting their previously held beliefs; c) the economics of media are in flux; and d) some cretins monkeyed with the ill-fated Wiki experiment at the LA Times (where he runs the editorial pages).
Regarding a), two words: Big deal. Anyone with a reasonably high profile gets this crap. Create a filter, ship the similar messages to a new folder and move on. And then consider, just consider, that when enough people are motivated to join such a complaint brigade, the just might be worth listening to.
Regarding b), what else is new? And how is this different from the physical world? I can offer this bit of advice. As people for a valid email address before they can post comments, and they tend to behave a bit better than the anonymous posters who fear only that they might get caught or banned due to misbehavior.
On c), the only thing that "wants to be free" is people. Data is a commodity, the closest thing to free we get in a market economy. The copyright debate is not only about infringment, but also the fair use that makes Kinsley's writing possible in the first place. Is it possible that Kinsley's time at Microsoft and his affiliation with the LA Times -- the latter is the Hollywood content-control freaks' chief media cheerleader, and the former is working hard to be Hollywood's best content-control technology supplier -- may be affecting his views here?
On d), the experiment that I still think was a worthwhile try, the problem wasn't just the bozos who wrecked it. The problem was also the way the Times handled it, which is to say lamely. Editorials don't naturally lend themselves to wiki treatment, at least not the way the Times did this experiment, and you have to be vigilant when anyone, anywhere can edit what you're putting online.
Kinsley is a brilliant but old-school journalist who genuinely seems intent on stretching boundaries. He's do better if he stopped scolding the cyberworld and started truly working with it.
HonorTagJournalist
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