"today's Internet is killing our culture" and an actual heinous murder

[browngirl]

So I read in the paper the other day about Andrew Keen's new book, The Cult of the Amateur: How today's Internet is killing our culture. I haven't yet read it, so I shouldn't really judge it, though my first reaction is to roll my eyes and recall Victorian exhortations concerning the evils of reading.

I thought of it yesterday when I read about Aaron Hall, who was brutally murdered (to pathetically understate the situation); those charged with his murder are trying to use the "Gay Panic" defence (which has worked before, which is just appallingly wrong as well as worrying). I learned about Mr. Hall's death via the Internet, because it has been woefully underreported, and that made me think about Mr. Keen's statement that this very sort of news transmission is a *bad* idea.

So.

Meanwhile, I have letters to write.

Comments

[temima.livejournal.com]

I haven't read it either.

Maybe he's annoyed that he and other professionals are getting actual competition for other people's attention. Me, I would like to be paid to write someday, because I'd like to work at something I'm good at. However, I also like writing for no pay. So, what to do?

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Part of what gets me is the idea that one shouldn't do something unless one is doing it professionally, whether that be music, writing, etc. That there's no point to doing something for love.

As for me, you know what I think you should do. :)