I’ve been reading a lot about collaborative models of leadership and have in a sense “Drank the Koolaid”. I decided to read something that was in direct opposition to to those ideas and that’s what this book is all about. The author was a part of the original web craze but in the last few years has become more and more disenchanted at the advances that the web 2.0 has brought. He specifically argues that the web and the ease of publishing content is actually beginning to change the way that the so called “expert” publishers such as newspapers, television media and radio are able to work. As there revenue as drasticallly reduced they are less able to produce expert content.
The line is blurring between the experts and the opinionated blogger. He even takes on Wikipedia by saying that the biggest problem with it is that there are no experts reviewing the content for accuracy. I disagree with him on this point but will read more before I comment too much on it.
I’m only a couple chapters in now so I don’t have a great feel about more of his ideas and content. I think I have an overall feel but I’ll post more as I read today.
Not sure how much reading I’m going to get done today. Going flying. Beautiful day for it.
There is definitely that sense. I do disagree with him as well about wikipedia…it has been shown over and over again the accuracy of wikipedia, and it’s accuracy related to Encyclopedia Brittanica. I think the expert thing is more fearful to those who have worked hard to become experts. No one likes losing power, etc. But I wonder if you have 100,000 people reviewing your book online…isn’t that worth more than the 1-2 eyes who get it at the publisher? Don’t know.
I think that those of us who are in positions of authority, power, expertise, etc…that is probably the most frightening prospect…because you lose power. but I think that’s a good thing on many, many levels….
i should read that book….but the kool aid is so good also.
rhett