Valleywag
Chris Anderson, the editor of Wired, occasionally says something clever. Why doesn't his magazine cover politics? "We're not working on an election story," he told MarketWatch. "This comes from my own sense that politics today is being driven by the institutional structure of the past 20 years." Too bad Jimmy Wales hasn't figured this out. Proclaimed the founder of Wikipedia on July 4, 2006:
Broadcast media brought us broadcast politics. And let's be simple and bluntly honest about it, left or right, conservative or liberal, broadcast politics are dumb, dumb, dumb.Wales's commandments to his followers: Join a mailing list and start editing his advertising-supported Campaigns Wikia site. The wiki has seen all of 14 changes in the last month. Wales himself stopped editing the wiki in September 2006.
Barack Obama and other candidates have demonstrated that the Internet is useful enough for raising money and, more importantly according to bloggers, impressing bloggers. Campaigns Wikia has done neither. After an initial spate of press, the site now goes entirely unremarked in a heated political season. Why? For a simple reason. There is actually no shortage of information about politics, much of it delivered by seasoned professionals. It may not be perfect, but it does not leave a void that needs filling by an empty-headed Internet philosopher. Politics may require transformation, and Anderson may be right that it's not happening. But to think that a Web page anyone can edit, but no one cares about, will change this state of affairs? Dumb, dumb, dumb.
(Photoillustration by CEOsmack)
Comments
politics today is being driven by the institutional structure of the past 20 years.
And how old is the institutional structure that drives Conde Nast?
Wait a second, are you saying folks don't want to work for free to get Jimmy his jet?!?!
Say it ain't so!
@JasonCalacanis: hate to break it to ya, bubbie, but you don't have a corner on the free labor department.
"Broadcast media brought us broadcast politics. And let's be simple and bluntly honest about it, left or right, conservative or liberal, broadcast politics are dumb, dumb, dumb."
Generally speaking (and not directing this at anyone in particular), as a political broadcast media personality, I've usually found that a person who make comments like this is typically either:
a) a boring as sh*t self-fancying "intellectual" who isn't quite bright enough to translate complex policy for mainstream consumption, or
b) has a face for print
Again, just a general observation. I'm not saying it applies specifically to anyone in this item.
@matto: Dude, Calacanis actually PAYS people. Unlike some commmie websites like Wikipetardia.
BTW, Chris Anderson, if you're ever up for doing that political story that I pitched you a couple of months ago, drop me a line. I'm anything BUT "institutional". :)
You keep going. Writing a couple of dozen enraged posts on Valleywag every day is sure to solve your many problems. You just have to keep at it. Also, you should include 50s-style redbaiting in *all* your posts, rather than just some. You know, to strengthen your credibility.
And next time you pitch Wired, be sure to throw in a few "commies," there, too. Because it all comes down to saleability.
Remember when recovering from a break-up meant locking yourself in the house, going on a 7 day bender and existing solely on a diet of bourbon and raw cookie dough? I miss those times. THANK YOU AGAIN INTERNET.
@Rachel Marsden: Wiki did help Jimmy get broads. ;-)
@johnnypotatoes: Pinko Wiki fan boy.
@JasonCalacanis: Damn shame, eh?
@Rachel Marsden: Either? Why not both? Jimmy has enough lack of talent to do both!
Jimmy is a nowhere man,
living in his Wikiland,
Making all his Wikiplans
for nobody
Doesn't have a point of view
Thinks his shit don't smell like you
Scanning some posting histories here, I propose a corollary (sort of) to Godwin's Law: "As a posting history increases in frequency and length, the probability of the poster's being emotionally stunted approaches one."
In other words, posting comments on the Internet all day, every day, is a sign of mental deterioration. In support of my new Law, I present this evidence: You almost never see normal posts from such frequent posters -- you see only nutty diatribes, namecalling, and other assorted juvenalia.
@johnnypotatoes: Oh, sweetie, it's not the size: it's how you use it.
@johnnypotatoes: Rather big post.
@Rachel Marsden: pull my post.
I'm so and so, I'm this I'm that,
but they all just wiki wiki wack!
@johnnypotatoes: I actually think the most prevalent symptom of mental dysfunction spottable in comments is psychological projection. Those who rattle on about hate are usually the most hateful of the bunch.
Just saying...
@nethaqr: And you are shrinking us out based on? An evaluation? a full one? like I thought. Your license will be pulled.
Have a nice day.
@BobDope: Give us some more Wiki smack!
@johnnypotatoes: Yes, I am picking up where Tailgunner Joe left off. He missed a few spots. Incidentally, hello from Eastern Europe. As you can see, I am drowning in my "breakup sorrow". LOL
Campaigns Wikia is nearly dead, just like about 95% of the other Wikias that Wikia, Inc. operates. Venture capital busted $14 million on this hoodwink of Jimbo's. Poor VCs.
Incidentally, that's "WikiPETARDia", as in "petard mouille".
@Rachel Marsden: If you are now in Eastern Europe I could give you a pointer for an excellent hot chocolate place.
Why didn't Jimmy just stick with his money making porn search, Bomis? Instead he comes up with a "Book of Common Wisdom" for an encyclopedia and has to steal lunch money from kids and defraud investors and the IRS to support his lavish lifestyle.
And you Rachel, were just one of many bits of arm candy in that lavish life.
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