Why on Earth would anyone want their leaders to seem like "regular Americans"? I want my employers, employees, friends, elected officials, and anyone else around me to IMPRESS THE HECK out of me. I want to be intellectually challenged. I want to learn. I *never* want "Team C+" in charge.
I would expect the leaders of our country to absolutely WOW me simply by their presence. I can see normal people anywhere, but that is one arena where I think people should seem larger than life. The other would be in movies.
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
Well, common sense says that a regular American can relate to the problems of other regular Americans, and thus be better equipped to decide how to address their concerns. There's nothing that says a regular American can't also be intelligent, except your pre-conceived notions of what that word means.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
@Mark the point is, there's NO SUCH THING as a "regular American". if there were, this wouldn't be such a divisive race...
- Jeremy Toeman
I would. I remember how embarrassed I was when George HW Bush showed such a fascination with a checkout scanner in a grocery story. The fact that he was blissfully unaware of technology that had been in use for a decade or more showed just what an ivory tower he lived in.
- Mistletoe Glen
Because again, our country is uncertain. This time, about economics. People want leaders who understand them. (us?)
- Mona Nomura
culture of mediocrity imo. it's "elitist" to sound smart or be well-informed. people seem to get offended by that
- Cee Bee
Listen to yourselves: you're equating "regular American" with "unimpressive, not intellectually challenging" (Jeremy) or "mediocre, not smart, uninformed" (Cee Bee). Your pretentiousness astounds me.
- Mistletoe Glen
Glen - i never claimed i was better than average/regular. that's basically my entire point. if i draw a bell curve and ask myself "who should lead?" i would not choose from the middle.
- Jeremy Toeman
...and my belief is that someone who is intellectually challenging or well-informed can still "seem like a regular American." It doesn't matter to me how smart or charismatic someone is if they're out of touch with the rest of us. The alternative sounds too much like, "let them eat cake."
- Mistletoe Glen
I don't get it either... Palin had just finished a spiel about how she was a regular person just like all of us and in the next sentence talks about how America is set as an example of "Exceptionalism" to the rest of the world. How can you be regular and exceptional at the same time? I'd much rather have exceptional governing me than regular. That doesn't mean exceptional can't have come from a regular background and identify with me, but I want someone smarter than me as my leader.
- Fa La La La Lindsay
"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers." (Dave Barry)
- Mistletoe Glen
It's cause everyone picked on the smart kids at school and don't want to now admit it to themselves that they were wrong to do it.
- Johnny Worthington
@Lindsay: It's not logically difficult to scan. Our normal is considered exceptional to much of the world. Even in the midst of economic crisis, our nation's poor, well, to quote my old tagline, have big screen TVs. Not so for much of the world.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
Agree with John, we are the bully-jock, clique-cheerleader nation.
- Fa La La La Lindsay
Mark... we really don't. We judge you on your actions, not your posessions.
- Johnny Worthington
It's called an example, John. You want an actions-based example? Regular plain old Americans are the guys everyone else in the world calls when a Tsunami, earthquake or genocide happens. We generally come in and fix it, pay for it, and leave. I was trying to make a point about how the statement wasn't illogical. I've done it again. Any other questions?
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
call it pretentiousness if you'd like, but the fraudulent populism being espoused by some of the candidates is nothing but a ploy to pander to a culture of people who are consistently led to vote against their own interests because they're fooled into thinking they can have a beer with a candidate.
- Cee Bee
when you catapult a person void of intellectual training relevant to the challenges and responsibilities that await him/her in a position of such high responsibility it gives nothing, but the impression that there's a mad love of mediocrity in this country, especially when it comes to politics. people get hung up on the ordinary. i want my president to be more than that
- Cee Bee
Sorry Mark, I never knew being generous and charitable was something exclusive to the US.
- Johnny Worthington
Being simply generous and charitable is not the same thing as what I said, and you know it if you're honest with yourself. Can you be honest with yourself, or do your deeply held beliefs prevent you from following the logic of what I said?
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
Jesus, Mark, how jingoistic do you have to be? Sure, the US is a great country, but it's not some kind of universally benevolent force. Wasn't just Americans helping out with the tsunami. And did you 'fix' Iraq?
- Alexander Carlill
It's why Bush won in 2000, also. More people wanted to "have a beer with him." They actually liked the fact that he was clueless and incurious. Look how awesome that worked out, Joe Six Pack!! We get the government we deserve.
- Anthony Citrano
No, you said "Our normal is considered exceptional to much of the world". And I'm saying your 'normal' isn't really that better than anyone else. The ability to be called apon to be generous/kind/loving/peaceful/smart is not just a US trait and indeed people with far less give far more in a range of fields. In regards to your presidential candidate, please vote for the best and the brightest. You don't owe it to us, you owe it to yourselfs. They don't make you captain cause you can cook and scrub the deck..
- Johnny Worthington
Some of it, stems from the belief that people who think of them selves as part of "Team A+" look down their nose at you... Because they do.
- J. Abdul-Qahhar
No John, again, you're parsing words. I was pointing out the logic of the statement. And @Alexander, it isn't fanatically patriotic to be logical. Try reading the context before you toss out accusations.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
Mark, can you describe which Americans are not "regular plain old" Americans? (Thanks.)
- Ayşe E.
@Ayse: I tried three times. The FriendFeed text box doesn't contain enough character spaces to answer that question (which would no doubt be misinterpreted about twenty ways by others on this thread).
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
Mark, I have no issue with your explanation, trust me I get it. I just took exception (possibly wrongly) to the implication that somehow my 'normal' is any less valid or worthy than your 'normal'
- Johnny Worthington
Apparently Mark's version of exceptional is possession of a big screen TV. And coming and fixing things and paying for them! You know, like countries in the middle east and stuff. *cue national anthem* .. wow, and we wonder why we're in the shit we're in.
- Anthony Citrano
@Mona - love you too, it may not be too late for that third party run. ;)
- Anthony Citrano
Just on a side note... I gotta change my Avatar... How the hell am I suppose to be taken seriously when it's me in a pirate hat... *sigh* :)
- Johnny Worthington
Mark, to single out American global aid as somehow unique is hardly 'logical'. And just so you know, when genocide occurs, they don't call in the US. They call in the UN.
- Alexander Carlill
Who funds the UN, Alexander? Who are most of the peacekeepers, Alexander? How is the size and scope of American global aid not unique, Alexander? Everything you just said either flawed or false.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
Anthony: do you even understand what exceptional means? Something that is not normal or is above average in some way. This whole stupid debate we're having on this feed is all about how something can be normal for America, but exceptional compared to the rest of the world. It's possible, and I showed two possible examples. That's it. That's all that was needed to prove my point. You guys may not like them, but they're true.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
Mark: Do you even understand that every comment you make on FriendFeed is basically the same?
- Anthony Citrano
The whole premise posed at the beginning of this discussion is an example of class warfare. Specifically, the desire of wanna-be elitists for a *ruling class*, and for that ruling class to be superior in every way over others. How Arrogant.
- Art Lindsey III
@Anthony: that's because all you and your friends all say the same things. when I come through and point out the same fallacies, lies and incorrect statements all the time, I'm sure it sounds like I'm repeating myself.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
How elitist to want someone to be qualified for a job.
- Anthony Citrano
Yep, Mark, that must be it. Lack of illumination on our part.
- Anthony Citrano
Sarah Palin is the most qualified on both tickets. Like it or not, it's true. I'll take a Governor over a Senator any day.
- Art Lindsey III
I knew we'd get a punch line in here eventually. Thanks, Art. We can close this one up now.
- Anthony Citrano
Try again. A senator has always been considered to be in a higher position than a governor. (Didn't you learn that in high school? Do they still teach government in high school?) Why do you think there's talk of Arnold Whatshisname running for the Senate? Besides, the population of Alaska is about the same as Fort Worth or Memphis. (Those cities aren't even in the top 10!)
- Oliver Ortega Chua
@anthony: hey, it must be. that or a lack of will or ability to go and, you know, check facts and or scan for logic. or definitions of words. I don't make up the dictionary. I just read it.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
School? Okay, I will now take you to it. What is key is EXECUTIVE experience. Governors are akin to presidents. They They actually run things. They manage people and assets (Billions of dollars, even in ALASKA) and make decisions, and they go to work every day. Senators do not. All they do is vote on bills, when they decide to show up. Senators are out of touch with The American people. Why do you think we havent elected a senator in almost 50 years? Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Senate? Really? If he is, it
- Art Lindsey III
is only because he is constitutionally prohibited from running for the Presidency. Before you belittle my schooling, you should look at your history, and learn how American government actually functions.
- Art Lindsey III
"I'll take a Governor over a Senator any day"... Like say Governor G W Bush of Texas... yeah, no thanks.
- Johnny Worthington
Going back to the original point and maybe slightly off it but we're having a similar issue with our political leaders. David Cameron has been criticised because he is a ex-public school boy and that he is not like the average joe in the UK. But it's not important, it's important that he has people underneath him that are from different backgrounds and have different experiences but for the leader (one individual) to be an everyman is impossible and is stupid for people to want that!
- Kol Tregaskes
In regards to employers, well most of my boss's have turned into friends. I still respect them as a boss but if I can't get on with them, i.e. are friendly and approachable them I'm not really interested in working for/with them. So I guess it depends on the employee and employer.
- Kol Tregaskes
@Mark, I'm genuinely curious how we distinguish between (groups of) Americans. Could you give me just a brief sketch (I won't hold you to its not being exhaustive) or take two text boxes if you need? Thanks.
- Ayşe E.
Yes, we want the A Team. So let's get Mr. T in there.
- Mike Reynolds
love this sentiment! me too... I'm looking for a leader who has **intellectual curiosity** about things that are complicated and different (people, places, beliefs, ideas, science/technology innovations, etc.) and **genuine passion** for helping all Americans to become safer, smarter and happier (which includes wealthier and healthier). FWIW "safer" to me does not include banning personal ownership of guns or going into other countries to "clean things up and spread democracy, capitalism and/or religion."
- Jon Price
@Art I'm not going to go back and forth with you because, obviously, I'm not going to change your mind and vice versa. (If you look, that's how I usually conduct myself online. My two cents and I'm done.) Anyway, I just want to clarify that I never said that Gov. Schwarzenegger was in the Senate; only that there's been talk of him running after his term limit is hit. Also, I want to apologize if I offended you. My comment was more of a commentary on the state of education in America since civics is no longe
- Oliver Ortega Chua
r taught in much of the US. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to be an attack on you. If you check my record, I try to refrain from "belittling" people, politicians/celebrities excepted. :)
- Oliver Ortega Chua
He was a great humanitarian and an incredible man. He's definitely one of my role models.
- Corie
oh no. Absolutely gutting news. Great actor.
- Gez
“I'm a supporter of gay rights. And not a closet supporter either. From the time I was a kid, I have never been able to understand attacks upon the gay community. There are so many qualities that make up a human being... by the time I get through with all the things that I really admire about people, what they do with their private parts is probably so low on the list that it is irrelevant.”
- Corie
“If you don't have enemies, you don't have character.”
- Corie
"People stay married because they want to, not because the doors are locked."
- Corie
"Show me a good loser and I will show you a loser."
- Corie
Sad news. Have to watch The Verdict this weekend. One of my favorite movies of his.
- Al Stevens
“Anything can be great. I don't care, bricklaying can be great if a guy knows what he's doing and why and if he can make it come off.” The Hustler
- Corie
Michael Gartenberg told me a fun quote a while ago: the cemeteries are full of people who thought they couldn't be replaced.
- Robert Scoble
Wish someone had told me there were symptoms of an *approaching* breakdown before I had my first one. Or the second. Or the third. Still, I know now, eh? :-)
- Slappy Line
@Robert - I heard a similar one, only replace "cemetaries" with "welfare queue" (Dole queue, here in the UK)
- Slappy Line
If he was and was also a Seattle cabbie, he'd ask you every night how to get there.
- Akiva Moskovitz
It has less to do with learning a lesson and more to do with massive numbers of ignorant, prejudice, disgusting human beings that live in America.
- ·[▪_▪]·
America certainly does not have a monopoly on 'ignorant, prejudice, disgusting human beings'. We just happen to have a surplus.
- Akiva Moskovitz
I just love being called an "ignorant, prejudice, disgusting human beings..." And look, it's only Monday morning!
- Chris Mayer
Chris: welcome to my world! Heh! And to think this guy was a taxi driver!
- Robert Scoble
Robert, Akiva, unfortunately many politicians know and understand less than that taxi driver!
- Hayk H.
@Chris are you prejudice? If so, you're ignorant and that's disgusting. I'm saying that there are tons of people that aren't voting for Obama because he's black. It's fucking sickening.
- ·[▪_▪]·
@Hayh the problem isn't politicians here. It's the people voting for Republican values of divisiveness, religion and the elimination of the middle class because they hate non-whites and refuse to allow one to become president. And just to be clear, i'm pissed off because my sister told me yesterday she "won't vote for no n*gger". So this is hitting a little home for me and it angers me more than i can even express.
- ·[▪_▪]·
When your main reason to vote for one candidate is that you hate the other candidate or the party they represent, and not for positive aspects of your candidate of choice, you may want to think it out a little more. In other words, explain why you are voting for (Obama/McCain) without mentioning their opponent or the opposing party. Then it becomes a meaningful discussion.
- MVB (Grinch of FF)
from twhirl
Forget Palin. Trying to use facts agains Palin is a waste of time. The 45% of people who are "fact baesd" are already on our side anyway. We're after the fuzzy middleground of "emotional" voters. The GOP really gets this, the Dems (more generally "we") do not. To really feel this, check out this W ad from Ohio, 2004: http://www.youtube.com/watch... Genius, right? Obama and...
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- Indio Apache
from twhirl
Indio Apache gets it. You need to win the election before you get to lead the people...
- MVB (Grinch of FF)
You might be right. Pandering to emotions might be the best bet. Also, win at all costs. Lie, cheat and steal our way to the white house since that's the other guy's tactics. It doesn't matter how we win as long as we win, right?
- ·[▪_▪]·
Did people sopt believing ... "The righteous Path leads to the right destination"
- Dhawal
from twhirl
@[. .] Is it your claim that one party is dirty and one is not?
- MVB (Grinch of FF)
I think i have. I've always considered my sister and her family to be a window into average America. Her attitude has completely destroyed my faith. Not just my confidence that we can repair the destruction Bush Inc have levied on our Constitution but, more importantly, that we can get over our fear of non-whites. When Obama was campaigning for candidate, I was certain we could. I was naive. America was founded on racism. 1/2 of us seem insistent on perpetuating it.
- ·[▪_▪]·
The DNC is just as sullied as the RNC when it comes to winning elections. Karl Rove only recently has taken the art to new heights (depths?) but, when you start looking around, there isn't an angel in the bunch. The USA wasn't founded on racism, but much of it was built on racism. This is sad but true. but to claim that only one of the parties is playing low-blows is a little naive.
- MVB (Grinch of FF)
We destroyed the Native Americans for this land. I'd say it was founded on racism. Rove's tactics are despicable. I didn't ever mention a party. I was just sarcastic about playing dirty because the other guy does. The DNC is not Obama and the RNC is not McCain. Although i unfortunately assume Obama's campaign is playing just as dirty, i'd like to believe he's running it as cleanly as he claims.
- ·[▪_▪]·
@[. ] You made a blanket statement that I am "ignorant, prejudice, disgusting" because I'm not voting for Obama. And then you add to that and say I'm prejudice b/c he's black? WTF?
- Chris Mayer
I'd say those are fair statements and I will agree. But I go back to the original statement I made, that in order to be (fill in title of elected office) you have to win the election.
- MVB (Grinch of FF)
this meme reminds me of the pattern GOP uses: 'say it often enough and it will become reality.' let's be careful, eh?
- MikeAmundsen
@Chris. No, i didn't. How about you read what i said. I also clarified it further in subsequent posts. You assumed that's what i said, maybe because you want to play a victim or you maybe you think you actually are. I don't know. I just know i said nothing of the sort of words for which you're trying to fill my mouth.
- ·[▪_▪]·
Mike, given the fact Democrats keep saying "Bush lied about Iraq" even though they know he didn't, I wouldn't say the "say it often" pattern is exclusively Republican.
- ComicList
Nicerobot, are you equally disgusted by anyone who won't vote for McCain because he is caucasian?
- ComicList
Charles, are you still trying to argue that Bush's organization didn't fabricate intelligence or otherwise coerce analysts into making bad intelligence estimates based on the intelligence available? Despite the fact that we have CIA analysts on record, including the former head of the CIA saying that they were basically told to come to this conclusion?
- Alex Scoble
In other words, it's not a lie to say that Bush lied about Iraq. He knew the intelligence was questionable and even had his organization throw a CIA operative under the bus to try to keep it silent.
- Alex Scoble
The link of Iraq to Al Qaida: False. The link between Iraq and Nigerian yellow cake: False. WMDs in Iraq: False. The fact that we needed to invade Iraq to keep this country safe from terrorists: False. The fact that we needed to invade Iraq for any reason: False.
- Alex Scoble
People, enough already!! Read what i was talking about. RACIAL PREJUDICE disgusts me. It has nothing to do with who you nor anyone else is voting for if it isn't because of race. My sister revealed her prejudice to me yesterday and it disgusted me that that still exists in this age and that it's coming from my own sister. So, that said, yes, i'm disgusted by any racial prejudice! Racial prejudice is one of the most close-minded, ignorant attitudes we exhibit. It's utter nonsense.
- ·[▪_▪]·
Voting for or against anyone because of their race/religion/creed/sex is not good. Period.
- Alex Scoble
@Alex You really think blacks shouldn't vote for Obama for being black?
- Morgan Warstler
The Iraq WMD intelligence came from the CIA, Britain, France, Germany, and Russia. A lot of intelligence agencies must have had bad information. Furthermore only the supposed contract b/t Iraq & Nigeria for the Yellowcake was found to be false. There is no evidence, even on factcheck.org and other places, that the contacts did not take place. As for AQI, George Tenet wrote to Congress that "we have solid reporting of senior level contacts b/t Iraq and Al Qaeda going back a decade."
- Chris Mayer
These are new external hard drives that are being introduced by Seagate this week in New York. Colorful, quiet, and small (and high capacity).
- Robert Scoble
"Now, I want to be clear and speak directly to those of you who LOVED that Palin interview. You're an idiot. I mean that. This is not one of those cases where we're going to agree to disagree. This isn't one of those situations where we debate it passionately and then walk away thinking that the other guy is wrong but argued well. I'm not going to think of you as a thoughtful but misguided person with different ideas who still really cares about the country and the world. No, sorry, not this time. This time, if you watched those interview excerpts and weren't scared out of your freakin' mind, then you're mentally ill, mentally disabled, or mentally disturbed"
- Dave Winer
from Bookmarklet
This is a great quote from this article: "Vote for someone smarter than you. Vote for someone who inspires you. Vote for someone who has not only traveled the world but who has also shown a deep understanding and compassion for it. The stakes are real and they're terrifyingly high. This election matters. It matters. It really matters. Let me say that one more time. This. Really. Matters." - good stuff.
- darodave
I'm getting the feeling that all of this making-Palin-the-story is actually helping the McCain campaign.
- Andrew Grumet
it is. Most Americans don't view the world through smart people's eyes. It is the economy stupid wins. This stuff fails.
- Robert Scoble
@Robert: If it is the economy. Or more to the point, the pocketbook, then why shouldn't Obama win? His income tax plan puts more money into more people's pockets. Or is the point that Obama needs to hit that point again and again and again?
- AJ Kohn
It is the economy stupid versus It is the Palin stupid. I'm not at all sure who will prevail. Palin is something new. The media like new things.
- Benedikt Koehler
@AJ: Actually McCain means a more stable economy and in the long run means that people will maintain their lot in life. It is the fear of the unknown that drive voters away from Obama. His policies have the ability to move America is a better direction, but also will certainly shake things up a bit. This scares the shit out of the average Joe American.
- Bob Blunk
Based upon the first paragraph of this article, I think there is a third category: the "responsible, informed, curious, thoughtful, mature, educated, empathetic, remotely serious", and civil individual. HuffPost just lost credibility with me when you post an article that starts off as crude as this one and then doesn't offer anything but one-sided, hot headed opinion.
- Greg Lato
@Bob: By stable, you mean he's not going to do much to it, right? Then yes I agree and yes, plenty of folks are scared of change. But ... the economy is in real trouble. More than I think people really understand. Home values are still way out of whack versus historic trends (see Case-Shiller), personal debt is very high, savings at zero, the dollar is weak and inflation is growing. And the inflation and GDP numbers aren't really accurate: http://www.chrismartenson.com/fuzzy_n...
- AJ Kohn
I haven't watched this but am so thankful you have prepared me to know how idiotic I am if I do like this interview. I do agree with darodave in that this electinon really matters. I am just certain that I want neither candidate in the office of the commander and chief. One wants to offer change without describing how that will be accomplished with the help and resistance of the...
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- Curtis "Billy" Cross
from twhirl
It's about time someone wrote what a lot of people are thinking.
- Jeff P. Henderson
Well I can now say for certain I hate the undetermined character limits of friend feed as much as the 140 character limits imposed by twitter, identica, plurk, etc... Though I am uncertain of that last statement is even remotely correct: yes.. corporations have put forth the pretense of caring.. the gist I was getting at was that this election for me is choosing the lesser of two evils.
- Curtis "Billy" Cross
from twhirl
Listen carefully as two Repubs talk on a mike accidentally left open about the cynicism of McC's choice of Palin. Noonan says at one point "It's over."
- Dave Winer
So this will have as much impact as Jesse Jackson did, right? :)
- Soulhuntre
from twhirl
@Dave Winer: That's what I found fascinating. Not just they they'd say "It's over." That they would point out the *cynicism* this choice reflects. I have to say, I agree entirely, though I think that cynicism is mixed with a healthy dose of desperation.
- Dan Ciruli
@ Dave Winer her out of left field critique of BO speech the other morning on msnbc was bizarre (to put it mildly)
- Scott Moskowitz
Those Pesky Live Microphones! Here is the thing, when the camera's are rolling, they make believe that McCain,Rove, et al are executing clever "strategery", that's how the earn their money, but when the "red light" goes out, then they lean back and talk amongst themselves about what's really going on, and here is the perfect example of that.
- Vox
from Bookmarklet
How about facial expressions you don't want your significant others to don. Actually I can only think of one, and every woman has it. It's called "The Look" aka Lazer Eyez
- Chrimmus Tad
My 90+ year old grandmother-in-law only got her passport 2 years ago to come see us out here in Southeast Asia.
- Justin Long
@Robert I think its because many of them associate passports with international travel and many have never been and don't intend to. I've only been to Canada and Mexico in my lifetime. I just got my passport in 2007. ;) I thought it was a big deal. Also there is the cost and process. However, there is the new (and lower cost) passport card that is becoming available. So more people may be able to purchase one if they are convinced of the need. http://travel.state.gov/passpor...
- Melanie Reed
Melanie: the fact that so many Americans don't want to travel outside of the States is severely sad.
- Robert Scoble
Robert: why do you think that so many don't want to? Has it dropped from what is was? Or do you feel that it has always been this way?
- Melanie Reed
Let me fix that for you, Robert. "the fact that so many Americans can't afford to travel outside of the States is severely sad" :)
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
Melanie: I think it's always been that way. Part of it is our big country, though, but part of it is our culture.
- Robert Scoble
I bet a most can't afford, don't know they can afford, fear the unknown...perspective. Kansas long way from another country...
- Brad Nickel
What's the takeaway? People who have traveled outside the US > people who haven't?
- Brian Newman
Well, now, Rahsheen, I can see that very much. ;) I happen to be one of them. If I was going to do so there are 3 places I would like to go: Ireland, Scotland and Jerusalem/Middle East. But I am not restless to do so...just would like to. ;)
- Melanie Reed
Brad and Rahsheen: true, lots can't afford. But then lots of people have never explored their local tourist sites, either. It always blows me away when I meet Californians who have never been to Yosemite, for instance.
- Robert Scoble
What is really sad is that for the majority of the people in the world travel outside their country is impossible. Be thankful that you live in a country where you can have a passport and travel. Plus you don't need a passport to travel to many places, you just need a visa.
- Michael Tefft
Brian: you get a perspective on the world when you travel and visit places outside of your own day-to-day existence. Even if it's to visit a park 10 miles away that you've never checked out. I think it's just a sense of curiosity about the world that makes you more interesting and informed. Especially in California where you can meet so many different people from all around the world at places like Golden Gate Bridge.
- Robert Scoble
Robert - It's actually more like 66% (http://tinyurl.com/kwys) but on the good side about 67% of the population has utilized a transborder pass (Canada/Mexico).
- Jim McCusker
Well, Robert, now that's where I can 'unsad' you. I have been to 35 states and all of my home state's historic tourists spots. Will 'that'll do' for this little piggy? I gave it a spin when I could travel. :)
- Melanie Reed
60 Million Americans do have passports and thats a huge number comparing to any country in the world
- imran
Melanie: that's more than a lot of my friends and family have done. Maryam's brother is freaked out just by going into San Francisco.
- Robert Scoble
Robert I agree with what you said to Brian. Although I have to admit, I got most of that when I spent 2 years living in the North Corridor of Dallas TX. You know we like to say in Texas: "It's a Whole other country down here'. lol
- Melanie Reed
I don't think geography or actual distance travelled is the issue, it is the willingness to open oneself up to new ideas, experiences and cultures. If it is down the road, the next state over or the other side of the world, it doesn't matter as long as you go :)
- Johnny Worthington
Hear what Robert is saying. Most of my neighbours have on ever been in New Jersey - Going to New York, a mile away over the river is a BIG deal for them. They freak when they realise I have lived and worked in several countries and travelled to 40 something US States. It's mind boggling to them, normal for me.
- Sally Church
I think the whole premise that Palin is unqualified as a VP because she only had a passport since 2007 is ridiculous. Not that I care, but does anyone know how long Obama has had a passport?
- Michael Tefft
Americans need to travel more to get a feel for the world. I've traveled extensively and most people want the same thing we do, peace and the ability to raise our families
- Dwight
You can travel the world and learn a lot about different countries, their peoples, and their cultures without ever leaving the country. Try books, the Internet, foreign language courses, Travel channel, etc. Then again you could travel for real and never really learn anything. It depends on the person.
- Michael Tefft
if not having a passsport disqualifies someone from being a vice-president does being friends with a somone who tried to blow up the pentagon make them eligible for the presidency?
- Jonathan Jesse
Hey, I have traveled to Cancun for spring break. Does that make me a better person? ;-)
- Michael Tefft
It seems kinda silly for someone who would have to travel through another country to drive between her state and any other state in the union.
- Gabe
I have actually urinated across national lines, from Belgium into France. So if I relieved myself internationally, I must be seriously fucking enlightened. Make me king.
- Rob Sterling
Travelling around the world has taught me that I am no better than someone who hasn't.
- Brian Newman
yeah, its a pretty big deal for the VP to know what's going on around the world. The fact that she had her first passport in 2007 is scary. Someone who thiks its ok to teach creationism in schools or thinks stem cell research is wrong, may not have a very open mind when dealing with world leaders.
- PC Easy
from twhirl
Travel is stereotype-breaking. The more you get to know "foreigners," the more you see their similarities to you, not their differences. It's hard to hate someone who was welcomed you into their home, and shared food from their table with you.
- Dave Roth
@PC Easy. You don't have to physically travel around the world to know what's going on around the world. Ever heard of newspapers, books, television, the Internet?
- Michael Tefft
Knowing is very different than experience. And what you learn from the thousands of little interactions is far deeper than mere headline news.
- Todd Hoff
Gosh, Andrew Feinberg's a dick? Who knew? Well, except for me and almost everybody who's ever interacted with him. Treated me like crap on a podcast when he didn't agree with me, went after Rizzn, and now you. He's an elitist with nothing to offer. That thing I said Louis Gray does in front of a mirror? Andrew Feinberg does it while listening to tapes of his own voice. He is a classless, arrogant snob.
- Art Lindsey III
@art Andrew is really not that bad. He can come off a bit...well off-putting at times, but if you ever have a regular conversation with him, you will find him to be a regular dude. I think to some degree, working on the Hill sort of shapes the way many people feel that they have to discuss topics. He is a good guy.
- Micah Baldwin
I don't think it's pompous or self-important to expect a writer to care enough about his message to have it be generally free of errors in communication.
- Paul Whitaker
Why not, instead of getting defensive (er, offensive), call on one of these people who enjoys picking apart your work and ask them to do so before you post new messages? Someone who likes your writing might appreciate the chance to make your product more accessible (and less irritating) to those with a keener eye towards exacting speech. :)
- Paul Whitaker
Nice post. I get a get a few grammar cops on my blog, which I don't actually mind. But never anything like that. It's just a silly critique to post - minor grammar and spelling points do not take away from understanding. I mean, if you wrote your whole post in l33t, well, that'd be different. :)
- felix
uh, someone's gotta speak up on behalf of the professors here. You're getting elementary-school reading teachers confused with professors. Most of us never correct spelling and many of us can't spell, ourselves.
- Nathan Rein
my apologies @nathan I surely wouldn't want to malign the reputations of the many professors out there :)
- Steven Hodson
I actually don't particularly enjoy the sound of my own voice, Art. I don't listen to podcasts. And for the record, I hardly "went after" Mark, and I think he'd be the first to acknowledge that. Just a question. How can I be "classless" and an "elitist, arrogant snob" at the same time? Not that I'm bothered. I've been called far worse. That it comes from you makes it far easier to put into the bit bucket. Half the things I see in your stream are attacks on other people. I doubt you could say the same for me
- Andrew Feinberg
You cared about that enough to blog it? Why? Who cares? So..someone is being a jerk on the internet. Oh no! Alert the media! When magazines, newspapers or large websites have a typo, people are all over it. Those things just happen..it's not a huge deal.
- Candace
That image = epic! Steven, you rock.
- Mona Nomura
Good point, Candace. I'm almost irritated enough about Steve's post to blog about it myself. Er, wait.
- Paul Whitaker
Need to buy that t-shirt on ThinkGeek.com that says "I'm blogging this!" Paul :P
- Candace
@Candace, what, you mean someone is being a jerk IRL? Don't they know who I am? I'm going to blog this and get everyone to Digg it! ;)
- Jason Carreira
@Andrew. Well, first, that shows how well you really know Mark. (Not at all). Second, Maybe I did use too many words. But "low rent" really doesn't describe you either. You're just a guy who runs his mouth to no end so he can appear to be important. It doesn't matter whether you're right or wrong, as long as you are the one talking.
- Art Lindsey III
Oh come on... that's not easy! Paris works hard at that!
- Jason Carreira
It isn't pompous or self important to expect writers to have spell checked everything. It is pompous or self important to make a point of it in the comments on a blog post, particularly if the mis-spelling or grammar error doesn't significantly impact the message of the post. This is a different kind of journalism, a more informal kind of journalism, and one more oriented to the discussion. Every time your friends may phrase something improperly in a conversation, do you correct them? Same concept.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
@Aaron: You're a guy who calls himself a "conservative who supports Barack Obama" You have no idea what nonsense that sentence is. And what was it you said about the housing situation? something along the lines of "This is what can happen when the free market goes unchecked" ..Something like that. Here's an idea. How about you start grasping basic concepts, and then you can engage in a conversation with me.
- Art Lindsey III
"You're just a guy who runs his moth to no end so he can appear to be important. " Andrew, you have a trained Moth? Dude that does make you a bit of an elitist. Or a circus freak.
- Adrienne Van Houten
Interesting post, Corvida, as I've felt the same boredom in recent weeks. I do think August ennui has set in and once fall approaches, with all its myriad tech conferences (ahem), new excitement will spring up.
- Carla Thompson
LOL Carla. We've always known it as the "pre-DEMO doldrums" when NOTHING new launches and everyone just churns the same content.
- Cyndy
Why didn't you send me a memo about that Cyndy. DEMO needs to hurry up and get here.
- Corvida
Corvida, we haven't had a good bitchmeme in weeks either.
- Rob Diana
@Rob lol very true. What's there to bitch about that we haven't already bitched about?
- Corvida
from twhirl
early stages of blogger burnout. i've seen it happen to hundreds before. if it were me -- and i've blogged since '99 -- i'd step away from the computer -- and the mobile device -- and do other things for a while. however long it takes. and put the de rigeur 'on hiatus' page on my blog. lol
- .LAG liked that
Unfortunately it hits harder if you are blogging on your own. I agree with what Aaron said in the comments. Guest posting. You could find a friend of yours that does not want to start their own blog and just ask them if they want to contribute to yours every now and again. Its likely they would give you great ideas on where to take things.
- Amber, Random Time Lord
I wondered where you went. :) Don't worry, it's just a little case of burnout. You'll be excited again soon.
- Sarah Perez
There are tons of stories, even in Silicon Valley. I just visited Meebo and learned a ton. They have 10x the users of Twitter. But why is Twitter on Techmeme every week and Meebo isn't?
- Robert Scoble
Sometimes you gotta hit the pause button.
- Bill Sodeman
I just watched Roberts Qik Video on Meebo and installed a chat room on a web site..Interesting for sure
- Ian May
Robert, Meebo mostly just rides the backs of other instant messaging services. Do you want to read about AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Microsoft Messenger -- things that haven't really changed much in years? Isn't some of the reason folks are so enamored w/Twitter because it is a big change vs. those services?
- Robert Seidman
@LAG @Sarah Perez - I don't consider this blogger's burnout. Sarah, we had a talk about my stage of blogger's burnout lol. I still have my desire to blog. I'm just having a hard time finding something of value to blog about.
- Corvida
i think it's just temporary burnout - i get it for a week or so here or there - feels like i've been blogging about the same subject forever (more than 1100 posts on the same subject anyway) but then i get back in to it from a spark. it usually starts by me getting out of my comfort area and checking out new blogs and personalities - there's something about fresh powder that stirs the old desire to write.
- Morgan
@Corvida: the desire to add value to your posts is why people enjoy reading and following you. more power to you.
- .LAG liked that
Corvida - A little confused here. Are you still doing RWW and Mashable, or did you switch? Just curious (I'm sure I'm not the only one ?!)
- Charlie Anzman
Charlie I've only worked for RWW and Guidewire Group, not Mashable.
- Corvida
I've been feeling the same way the last couple weeks
- John Duff
Meh. Thomas Hawk has every right to tell his story, as he did, and there's nothing stopping the SFMOMA guy from telling his side. People are understandably upset. Strong language may be unprofessional, but it was on his own blog, and it's just words.
- Tanath
A fair and well-delivered response, in my opinion. I must admit, I try to avoid such obvious flame posts as the one to which you are responding, and I am not speaking here in support of any particular group or point of view. Members of social networks (both “normal” users and high-profile posters) tend to fall into classic group behaviour patterns. We are a fickle bunch, easily riled,...
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- Slappy Line
From Yodel Anecdotal (Yahoo's Corporate Blog): "I emailed Matt on a lark, with an invitation to come do a video with Yahoos in Sunnyvale. What you see here is the effect of one incredibly willing Internet phenomenon, as I dragged him hither and yon across our campus to shoot 33 scenes in less than seven hours. This video closed a recent company all-hands meeting — webcast to 14,000 employees worldwide — as a reminder that, in spite of the extraordinary events of last seven months, this is still one helluva great company."
- Mark Trapp
from Bookmarklet
i wanna kick this guy in the nuts and capture it on film so i can distribute it all over the internets
- Cee Bee
they portray it as if no money changed hands....
- Ňicķ
My team appears at 2:00. It was tons of fun, I'm in the lower left of the screen.
- Mark Interrante
Mark: very cool. I was looking for another certain someone, but couldn't find her :-P I wonder what other Friendfeeders are featured in the video.
- Mark Trapp
"By the time McCain spoke up feebly against the Swift boat campaign, the damage had been done -- to him as well as to Kerry. He had undergone a public transformation into a willing instrument of lesser men who trampled on his character and his honor, even his patriotism, just as his campaign is now seeking to do to Obama."
- newsjunk.com
Is anyone naive enough to believe *either side* isn't going to do anything to win?
- dkb
from Alert Thingy
dkblankar, I hope not. For this one race, I am going to try to be inspired until (and if) Obama gives me reason to change my mind.
- Kamath (नमः)
I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm; heck, who doesn't want to be inspired? But politics is choice and it's unrealistic to believe even the most inspiring individuals won't have to make unenviable decisions on Monday to ensure they're still in power on Tuesday. I'm not casting a verdict on Obama's soul, merely the process; they are two very different things.
- dkb
Obama's whole message is that it's the soul that determines the process...that they are not so different. That the soul of Washington is corrupted by special interest, hence a corrupt process. That a campaign that tears down opponents as a matter of process reflects a corrupt soul. You can say that they are two very different things, but that's the soul's attempt to rationalize its corruption -- and so it's not so far away. When we realize this, we see that we are the process.
- tim
Unfortunately, the voting public responds to the negativity. There will be severe attacks upon McCain by 3rd party sources, but I think Obama can remain above the fray. The key though will be for him and his surrogates to keep the attacks about Mccains record, competence, etc. and to now allow the attacks to drag his image down. It is an incredibly difficult balance to strike, but without attacks, he will be steadily beaten down.
- Brad Nickel
The only way out is through. As with religion, I think it dangerous trying to use the soul as a proxy for success in the political process, a process created specifically to destroy, not elevate, combatants. If you're hoping a better 'national soul' will emerge as part of this campaign, you're only setting yourself up for disappointment. Elections are not cathartic, they are violent expressions of intent with winners and losers. Let's not confuse things.
- dkb
My husband, snuggling with my dogs, knitting, the smell of fresh cut grass, hot tea, chocolate, warm sweaters, music, a good book, getting good snail mail, and a comfortable bed.
-
Hopping on a plane to visit your friends back in your true home.
- ::Kristen::
Adding because it just happened...two children dripping wet from a bath streaking through the house laughing...not a care in the world.
- Candace
Family, fresh air, great health, happiness, safety, relaxation, time to yourself, sunshine / warmth, long walks on the beach with your best friend (significant other), honesty, trust, faith, love, growth, peace, understanding, wisdom, rest, good sleep / naps, gourmet food you made yourself and share with family / friends, wine time, business planning, project planning, helping / mentoring young professionals, active leadership in local / professional boards, and FUN!
- Susan Beebe
Everything! Internet is last on my list of priorities! Internet is just a medium for expressing yourself! If you have nothing to express you are wasting your time on the Internet; hence, "Get a Life!"
- Igor The Troll יִצְחָק
family, health (my bike), redwoods, butterflies and ice.
- AJ Kohn
Have there been other web apps with the kind of scaling issues and the public responses Twitter has received? If so, what was their fate?
- Bryan Landers
He's comparing the wrong services - if Twitter wins in this comparison for being open (I argue it's far from such), identi.ca wins the entire competition!
- Jesse Stay
i think we're confusing a seeded position for a victory here, personally.
- idnan
I don't think he's right. Yes, Twitter is more fully functioned than most other systems, but he gives a pretty substandard look at other platforms. I've been using Identi.ca for a while now, and new features pop up each week. It's more stable, more transparent, opensourced, and I get the impression that the devs (mainly Evan) really really care about it as both a platform (and its ability to be reproduced) and as a network (like twitter).
- Sam Dodge
The bottom line is that there's an amazing ecosystem built around Twitter. No other micro-blogging platform even comes close right now. That's not to say it'll always be so. I'm on Identi.ca and it's nice, but there's not much going on there right now. Now that Identi.ca has a Twitter-compatible API, many Twitter services are now compatible, but without the traffic, that doesn't get you much.
- Albert Willis
My feeling is Twitter will win, despite other "nicer" services... name value is a lot, and if the issues are smoothing out, Twitter will win on name recognition alone.
- Tim Hoeck
I don't disagree with Chris to the point that those third party tools were vital in building Twitter to what it is today, but as more and more tools become available for services such as Identi.ca the selling proposition comes down to one thing only: community. Twitter has a huge community, other sites don't.
- Duncan Riley
twitter was the first, is and will be big for some time, and just like in almost any other case will lose it eventually to a better service (the shift has started already, it's just a matter of time)
- Dobromir Hadzhiev
IIRC twitter was NOT first but jaiku. am I wrong? but twitter is big and well 'supported'. as others grow they will als suffer from capacity issues.
- oliver gassner
from fftogo
Not loving it. I was not exposed to DND early in life. Yes, as a kid, I did get lots of sunlight. However, girls certainly weren't in the flow of my life, unless anyone wants to count Girl Scouts or sorority membership. I think this chart needs some work.
- MiniMage TKDteacher of FF
from NoiseRiver
There's definitely some gender issues, yeah, but what sold me was the TRS-80 reference. That was my official start in geekhood.
- Fa La La La Lindsay
Recent news in the pro blogger world hasn't been great for the rank and file writers. AOL has very publicly reduced pay for its authors. Profy has seen significant change due to pay changes. And others are worrying about getting ads, or getting click-throughs. As there are many opinions here, why not share what your opinions are on blogger compensation?
- Louis Gray
(Caveat) I personally am not blogging for money, but instead for a hobby. I do have a full-time job that's not related to my blogging activity. I don't have ads, and as a consumer, I don't believe I view ads often, let alone click through. I am hoping others with very different viewpoints than mine can say what they think about how bloggers both "should" be compensated, or "are" being compensated. Looking for comments from Steven Hodson, Mark Hopkins, Duncan Riley, Cyndy Aleo-Carreira, Allen Stern and all.
- Louis Gray
What is it that you do exactly, Louis? You're not Batman, are you?
- Andrew Feinberg
Blogging is nothing new. In my culture, we used to have people traveling arround villages to tell stories to people and they were given some nickels and some food. They weren't rich, and didn't dream of being rich. What was important for them was the freedom to travel and speak. This tradition which is actually verry old got new tools today. That's it. If, IMHO, if you want money create products.
- directeur
from NoiseRiver
@directeur, that opinion, which I've voiced before, is unpopular. One comment was that starting a blog, and then expecting ad revenue, is like mowing somebody's lawn and then knocking on the door to ask for money. But does writing and reporting have value? Do bloggers deserve to get paid?
- Louis Gray
For me, blogging is a hobby, but I can't say that it hasn't helped my career at all...I think it certainly has. Ads really have nothing to do with that, though.
- Eric Florenzano
Louis, you don't have ads, how do you pay yer bills?
- gregory
@Louis: If information is worth paying for, than it's a product. If not, I for one really won't care and won't give a cent. People often talk about marketing as if it was only about who aqcuires who, googles, nasdaq, Yahoo... That's not marketing. THE one and very simple rule for marketing and money is: Create a product that satisfies a need. You can't create a need. You just create a...
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- directeur
from NoiseRiver
@gregory, see my note above via LinkedIn. The day job isn't free. As for bills on Web hosting or anything, in the long run it's pretty minor.
- Louis Gray
HOW IN THE HELL do you do all that blogging with a non-related full-time gig? Henry Copeland at Blogads is the only one I've wanted to do business with because he's clued. I hope he can continue to grow the network. I sure don't make enough to live on, but i've paid a few months worth of car payments. As Doc Searls says, it's the 'because effect' - "6. We will make money by maximizing "because effects". "Because effects" are what happen when you make more money because of something than with it."
- jeneane sessum
I've been thinking about this for a long time. I don't blog for a living, it's an extension of me as a writer, director and info gathering explorer. I do believe though that as a service, if people enjoy it and want to encourage, then there should be an efficient way to monetize. Together we have the ability to create a network of services that are ad based supported to fit our needs. We no longer have to let others serve random ads to our readers.
- michael sean wright
@louis, corporate marketing? is that branding services? I hear you on costs, I eat $50 a month to keep my blog and a few other friend sites alive... glad I love this stuff (as is obvious doing this on a friday)
- gregory
@louis As Clint Eastwood said in Unforgiven, "deserves got nothing to do with it" but there is nothing wrong with trying to generate money from it if you can....
- Brad Collins
from twhirl
There is room for hobby bloggers and for paid professional writers. The key is not to talk down to each other about what amounts to a personal choice. I am fortunate to be able to make money doing something I love so much.
- Leslie Poston
gotta admit, I am amazed that you dont do this to pay the bills ,but yet, you are still an 'a-list' blogger -- amazing!
- gregory
Louis - As you and I have discussed in the past, I also do not monetize for my own reasons. Glad to see you split this thread off for discussion. I too have been chatting the past four weeks with successful and outright frustrated bloggers that are trying to monetize. I am going to bookmark this and return after (hopefully) a few of them chime in. There are, unfortunately, a few snake oil salesmen out there that make it look all too easy.
- Charlie Anzman
Professional bloggers should absolutely get paid a fare wage. What's considered fair pay? How is the pay structure determined, per story, per week, flat rate? I think the only way bloggers will be able to make a career out of this, is to be under the umbrella of sites like mashable, readwriteweb, etc. The exceptions would be a handful of bloggers, who stand out on their own and can garner enough advertising revenue to make a full time career out of it.
- Mike Fruchter
To a certain extent quite a bit has to do with the subject/genere of the blog. I'm at a social media site for football (soccer) and we can't find enough quality bloggers to pay
- Joe
I do not pay my bills with my blog. I'm also probably a member of the Z-List, only because that's the lowest down I can go. I would have to say that the potential for income extends beyond the blog itself. Beyond ads and click-throughs. I believe that if I provide valuable content and promote it, I will create opportunities for income.
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
this is such a dead worn out topic .. must be the weekend
- Steven Hodson
What IS new is that a guy who pumps out three gazillion blog posts per day and has been knighted to the top of the a-list has no ads and is only blogging as a hobby. And he has twins. Dude.
- jeneane sessum
@Steven, this was a request by Charlie Anzman, grumpy-puss. :-)
- Louis Gray
As content publishers, we constantly look to lower costs of acquisition. We all want the best content, and bloggers are historically paid pennies as compared to unionized "journalists" which is why we "employ" them. I am not saying a union is the correct direction, but the AOL issues are proof that as blogging has become so much more competitive, bloggers have taken less and less to "get the job"... should standards be set as a community? Who advocates for bloggers?
- Scott Goldblatt
Your comments always amuse me Steve hahaha
- Gordon Swaby
Well i feel if you think blogging was going to pay forever then you should get your own server and start blogging. that just common sense
- Uway
Steven's grumpy because I promised to Skype him today and couldn't get there :) ...The 'real deal' is that people don't read the same stuff and / or visit HERE here every day. Re-runs of threads, previous conversations and even blog posts are important and sometimes the dialog can lead to solutions (or prevent disasters)
- Charlie Anzman
Andrew - Louis IS Batman ... a deeply guarded secret
- Charlie Anzman
I blog because I have something that I think will benefit others for the most part. I do a few text-link ads on really old posts, but any money I ever make on my blog should be used just to cover my costs. My issue is, the busier I get, the harder it gets to blog, so if I eventually get too busy I may have to supplement it with some ads to cover my cost of blogging. I don't think I'll ever turn it into a full-fledged business though.
- Jesse Stay
oops, hit enter - the difference between a blog and a news service is one is a business, and one is a hobby. Both can have ads, but the for-profit one is just a news service IMO.
- Jesse Stay
Why "WE" don't make money is pretty straight forward its because of the democratisation of the labour pool. Anyone and their dog can blog. Remember in the 80s when little corner video stores opened everywhere? That was because anyone could start that business and eventually it went bust for the small guy because margins were so thin. What is happening now is the same as that and the same as when newspapers were originally started as they didn't get paid well either. If you blog for $$s its a mistake
- Roger Kondrat
at least right now it is as blogs are experiencing massive growth and exploding with hobby interest. Once the market settles in 5 years maybe that will be the next wave. @Louis help me there is a marketing term for this last part - second mover? Its basically what Google did no?
- Roger Kondrat
I blog mainly because it is fun, it helps me to share stories for my business, Most of my blogs have ads, that's nice to pay some related bills. Blogging is just like reading and writing on FriendFeed and Twitter a lot of fun and meeting new people for me.
- Erno Hannink
Louis, don't confuse a couple of stories with the overall picture. There are more great paying blogging jobs today than there has ever been, and I believe the market still has a lot of growth opportunities. However, it's harder today to make money out of blogging than it was 1, 2 or 3 years ago. Competition continues to increase, margins become tighter as the ad pot is split more ways. Consider as I noted yesterday, that blogs are really no different to small businesses
- Duncan Riley
In terms of "fair pay" as others mention it, I've long been concerned that the economics in blog pay is messed up, and that many aren't being paid fairly. But I've also noted that as long as there's people willing to write for lower rates of pay, so shall the pay rates remain low. It's a challenge. I'm not going to pretend I pay my writers enough, but I pay them more than they'd get most other places. If the site breaks even, I'll be paying them more.
- Duncan Riley
@Duncan I know whose door I'll be knocking if the need ever arises :)
- Steven Hodson
I always have this burning question: Are full-time Bloggers (those who are not under the likes of Mashable, RWW, and others) really surviving on ads alone? Their online influence would probably have extended to the real world and allowed them to get other sponsorships or endorsements that would help pay the bills right?
- Winston Teo
Noticing that no one is talking terribly much about quality. What it takes to be a 'blogger' is access to a device with internet capability and fingers to type. What it takes to be a 'professional blogger' is having other people pay you to write content in blog format. Whether that pay is by direct hire or ad revenue - if you make your income that way, you're a professional. Unfortunately, the economy drives this market just like it does all others.
- Lucretia Pruitt
Winston, there is always options in that direction. Some do books, endorse products, or do the paid speaking rounds
- Duncan Riley
Duncan, that's a great point - if you don't do advertising, but do get consulting, book promotion, etc. from your blog is that "selling out"? In the end I think we all benefit monetarily in some way or another from our blogs. Does that make ads worse if that's the case?
- Jesse Stay
from twhirl
Jessy, no. It's all part of the potential mix. It's just that the way to profit isn't always via advertising
- Duncan Riley
The economics of blogging remind me a bit of the economics of drug-dealers as described in the Freakonomics book, except that life expectancy is greater and likelihood of incarceration is much lower in blogging. I don't believe there's any problem with making money while blogging as long as you have a solid disclosure policy in place and adhere to a reasonable code of ethics. Thing is, being paid for blogging is not THAT different from being a freelance writer of any kind -
- Mark Dykeman
cont'd - you're more likely to get published if you'll work for free or for ridiculously low wages. Having said that, although I'm no expert on the economics of the publishing industry, I believe that publishing periodicals has always been a tough way to try to make money unless you have economies of scale (e.g. low costs) or mindblowing content that allows you to command a premium price. If the enterprise can't survive, can't pay its writers/bloggers.
- Mark Dykeman
Happy to see this discussion is still underway
- Charlie Anzman
Exclusive: Al Qaeda No. 2 Injured?, Unverified Letter Obtained By CBS News Urgently Requests Doctor To Treat Ayman al-Zawahiri - CBS News - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...
Via Dave Winer - "Ayman al-Zawahiri - the second most powerful leader in al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden's No. 2 - may be critically wounded and possibly dead, CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan reports exclusively."
- Steve Rubel
from Bookmarklet
Identi.ca was the site of mass migrations during the exodus away from twitter when the fail whale was showing up; then the 2nd round of migrations when the spam bot ate our follows/followers count (think db corruption). Identi.ca was there at the right time, so it received a ton of new users! Also, Identi.ca has an Open Source platform and is growing fast!!
- Susan Beebe
Okay, but why? What makes it better than Twitter? (In a way, this is directed to Susan, who only Liked this comment, but I see her talking about Identi.ca everywhere!) Sure, Twitter had scalability issues, but when I first used Identi.ca, it was nightmarish. I think Twitter is much better. What am I missing?
- Tamar Weinberg
Identi.ca is my primary alternative to Twitter. Twitter has burned me on too many ocassions. Identi.ca also has a bunch of really intelligent people on it that actually respond when I talk to them. They also don't just flood my timeline with their blog posts all day.
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
Ah, Susan, you commented at the same time I wrote the above comment. Good points, but I'm still not sold. Twitter is rebuilding its reputation and it would be hard to migrate onto a service that has 3% of the users (is that number too generous?). Shrug. I think Twitter will come around and Identi.ca will die out since it doesn't have a unique selling proposition. But maybe I'm wrong.
- Tamar Weinberg
Identi.ca has scaled better, thus far; obviously it has nowhere near the volume of users yet, so this isn't a fair comparison. The real comparison is the speed of delivery of features and the openness in communicating with their users. For example "evan" the main geek behind Identi.ca is very pro-active and open minded. I've seen him deliver features with 24 hrs of original request...very cool! Twitter has really failed on the communications area. Twitter has lots of IT and Mgmt issues too
- Susan Beebe
@Rahsheen: if you find that people are flooding your timeline, you may be following the wrong people. That's exactly why I'm *extremely* selective with who I follow on Twitter. The self-promo crap doesn't do it for me.
- Tamar Weinberg
Fair enough, Susan. :) I do know the folks at Identi.ca are trying. I just wonder what will happen if they get big. I don't think it has much to offer right now to get many people to move over. It was hard enough to get 95% of my friends to move onto Twitter. They all came months/years after I did. Will they move again? Unlikely.
- Tamar Weinberg
In and of itself...what does Twitter really do? They have disabled everything. Most of the apps that made it useful are now useless. I'm guessing the large majority of Twitter users are not power users and all of the trouble it has had has had no affect on them whatsoever.
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
I guess my biggest concern is that it will be hard to call Identi.ca a "community" since many people have already settled in Twitterland. It's hard to relocate when there's a real strong foundation. A lot of people fear change. They're not going to go unless everyone else does. Thus, I'm uncertain about Identi.ca's future for that very reason. I think it would fare better if it had something really unique (besides being open source). Something to think about.
- Tamar Weinberg
Tamar it is all up to Twitter! If they respect the users we stay! If they start playing power games we will go!
- Igor The Troll יִצְחָק
Tamar: I hear ya on the moving friends over to twitter...that was tough, huh! I still have folks asking me, "what is FriendFeed?", "why do you like it so much?" twitter is something they've heard about on USAToday and that's it. Identi.ca isn't even on their radar.
- Susan Beebe
for me it's the open standards, and the possibilities that brings. for instance, stumbled across a laconi.ca installation by someone on Prince Edward Island who's setting up his own microblog just for sports posts (site at sporti.ca, though he calls it sportstwit...mixing his webaphors??). i can, in theory, subscribe to anyone on sporti.ca from my identi.ca account. i'll bet that it won't be too long now until someone sets up a "transport" to let twitter users talk to laconi.ca, and vice versa
- Trent Olson
@Rahsheen: quite possibly. I think Twitter is working on all of those issues, though. They probably have the infrastructure to make it happen (and will in due time--hopefully). There have been bumps along the way, but I think *every* startup encounters such hiccups. I don't know. I guess we'll wait and see.
- Tamar Weinberg
@Susan, it definitely is an awareness issue. But when comparing FF and Twitter, they're vastly different. Identi.ca is not as much. @Trent brings up good points, though I think the end result is that Identi.ca will be more beneficial for developers, which might eventually overflow to the general public. I don't expect to see that for a long time though!
- Tamar Weinberg
On the subject of leaving Twitter, I had virtually no following so it was no biggie, but I keep meeting more people on Twitter. I can't escape it. I can't wait for some type of identi.ca transport. I have an @ reply sniffer for Twitter as an imaginary friend and found out someone actually likes my music :) LOL
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
Tamar: BTW, I haven't abandoned twitter, but I use it less; sometimes not because I want to but because the Fail Whale prevents me from using it. So now I use ping.fm to broadcast, TweetBeep.com for @replies, Summize for key word searches, and FF for convos around tweets. Sometimes I'll be right in twitter's web interface, i.e. when it's up. Identi.ca is small and quiet...it will grow in due time. @Trent said some very smart stuff about Identi.ca - very exiciting!!
- Susan Beebe
Yep, the platform has fabulous potential
- Charlie Anzman
I guess that's where we differ :) I'm 24 followers away from hitting the big 3k, so it's hard to pick up and settle elsewhere. Also, the last time I used Identi.ca, it was incredibly unstable and Twitter beat it even with all these other problems. :D When I finish going through my MP3s to restore my wiped iPod Touch, Rahsheen, I'm totally going to listen to your music!
- Tamar Weinberg
LOL @Susan, I love your multitasking microblogging toolset!
- Tamar Weinberg
You must have beat the early adopters over there...LOL. I haven't seen it crash or anything. You can hear my tunes at last.fm/music/rahsheen though :)
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
Dunno. It's possible. I remember the URL resolving to some hewitt.xxxx.com domain though, and I couldn't participate. It was a turnoff. :(
- Tamar Weinberg
Hardly. Feed reading technology is only in the beginning stages. Feed readers have yet to implement social filtering, ranking, and artificial intelligence. Feed readers of the future will build social profiles of their users, and they will be able to determine what content is most relevant to us. Today, we have dumb feed readers. All they do is grab data... people filter it. This marks...
more...
- James Mowery
from twhirl
Hardly. I agree with James Mowery on that point, but disagree with him on everything else he says. :) I use my feed reader as a fast way to power through a lot of blogs and news sources. That's what I used it for when feed readers first came out in 2002, that's how I'm still using it six years later. That's all I want to do. I don't want the feed reader to apply social filtering, ranking, and intelligence -- I rely on the (human) bloggers I subscribe to for that. (con't on next rock)
- Mitch Wagner
However, I think I and many other feedreader advocates overestimated the widespread appeal of feed readers. I regularly read 212 feeds in Google Reader. Most people just don't read that much on the Web, not even close.
- Mitch Wagner
I use my reader heavily, and I use Twitter and FriendFeed (via Twhirl) to supplement my RSS addiction. There is a lot going on in the world that is outside of the scope of what I subscribe to.
- Darrell Bell
from twhirl
Not a chance in hell. I follow over 300 feeds for work and personal reading and remembering to check all those sites would be collosal waste of time. Granted, to make sure reading feeds is not a waste time in itself, I skim headlines and only read what stands out. Vague headlines like "you gotta read this" or "LOLs" will just go by the wayside.
- Ernie Oporto
Mitch: You might disagree, but that is exactly what is happening as we speak. :)
- James Mowery
from twhirl
Also, corporations are going to rely on feed reading technology to better understand how there company is performing, what their competition is up to, and they will use RSS as a way to distribute content—they will be willing to invest in technologies that can automate this process. Again, that is being done as we speak, but it still has a very long way to go.
- James Mowery
from twhirl
Feed readers are the most powerful and efficient way to process news that I know of. I can't imagine what would replace them at this point, other than feed readers with the much more advanced artificial intelligence features that James Mowery refers to in the first comment. I am using Google Reader to process much of Friendfeed.
- Sean McBride
"The race for the presidency has moved back into a statistical tie in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update of national registered voters, with Barack Obama now ahead of John McCain by just one percentage point, 45% to 44%."
- newsjunk.com