You know what I love more than bloggers spouting off on stuff they don’t know about? (like me) Aging pop stars who haven’t had a hit in years, spouting off on stuff they don’t know about.
Such is Elton John, who risks tarnishing his career amongst the geeks and nerdery around the world by declaring “the internets are bad”.
Ugh, I can scarcely put down three words without gagging about how fundamentally and stereotypically *old* he sounds.
I half expect him to start talking about how life was better when he used to have to walk five miles, in the snow, without shoes, up a hill, in a blizzard, just to record real music for *real* music devices … you know, like the gramaphone. Because nothing reproduces sound *quite* like a gramaphone.
To be fair, JD does mention a lack of sources (as in none are quoted). And it is an article from the Sun, which is a fairly trashy tabloid, from what I can recall [which is now in the same family as the Wall Street Journal -- well done, Bancrofts!]. So, as much as we tech bloggers work ourselves into a righteous frothy stew of indignancy, I’m also happy to wait for a few days to see if Sir Elton sets us straight.
… pun not intended.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:27 am | Permalink
If you read the whole article, I don’t think Sir Elton comes off quite as badly as his critics paint him. He’s not saying that everything on the Internet is bad, he’s saying that the Internet does not foster face to face, collaborative creativity.
You could counter that by saying that the Internet has fostered new kinds of creativity, but he’s not wrong.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:49 pm | Permalink
Well, fiat, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.
The way that I read the article makes it sound like Sir Elton is saying that the Internet actively *discourages* collaborative creativity, and that’s something that I’m not buying. There might be some people who would *rather* use the Internet to communicate, and *avoid* meeting people in person, but I would wager all the donuts in Canada its the opposite.
People use it as a tool to meet other like minded people for all kinds of interests, not just limited to creative projects.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:57 pm | Permalink
I challenge you to stay off your internet for just one day.
Join me for Blog Inaction Day!
http://www.realestatetwincities.net/may-15th-2008-is-blog-inaction-day/
Can you do it?
Invite your friends!