Average, Fair, Moderate, Middling, Ordinary.
All words that signify the state of the internet today. In other words...dull crap. Now, not all of the content on the web is sad, bad, boring (even if it is ALL THE RAGE IN JAPAN), or obtuse. There is some quality content out there, but weeding through the junk is getting more and more difficult and time consuming. Finding the quality in the vast sea of quantity is like looking for a picture of a cat without stuff on it.
The bigger question here is, not why is a.brain complaining?, but who is to blame for this pandemic? The answer is YOU! Time Magazine told us that You were the Person of the Year. Told us that we had the ability to remake the web in our image. That sites like YouTube, Flickr, and the millions of blogs out there (www.brainblenders.com) were giving the power to the people. The new collective intelligence was going to be smarter, broader, faster, and generally just all around better than all previous attempts of the consumer taking control of their information.
Well, WE were wrong! Turns out that most of us don't know jack-squat about producing good TV, professional writing, or quality content on the net. Sure, one can go to YouTube and watch the History of Dance, one could read the infrequent posts by Maddox, one can even occasionally find a quality blog that will keep you raptured for the last four years (www.brainblenders.com), but most of all we see is garbage.
Also-rans, and repeats of content we saw years ago. Do we need another college co-ed telling us how her day went on a webcam? Do we really need another remake of an OK GO video? Why the hell would I ever want to see another Myspace page? Is your personality survey so riveting that I will be inspired?
Give me something new! Give me greatness! I want to see the human condition striving for more than mediocre. The middle sucks. I suggest that we all GO TOO FAR! Make a statement with art and science that makes me want to jump out of my chair and scream...YES, or NO!!!! The same-old-thing we did several years ago at the beginning of Web 2.0 is no longer acceptable. Push for more, demand the best, make a difference in the content that makes us all stand up and take notice.
One of my favorite sayings is "Bored people, are boring people". In other words, if you are bored (which SO many people are) then you aren't trying to not be bored. My point is...I don't intend to go down easy here. It is my intention to call for more fascinating information, displayed in a way that drives you back...again and again. This is why I am considering moving my blog into a whole new area, and in that I mean a new dynamic site. Stand by for imminent news about BrainBlenders coming out with a move announcement. One in which mediocracy will not be an issue!
Great ref Saltation! Totally needed that one...so true.
Posted by: a.brain | 10/01/2007 at 11:16 PM
Sturgeon's Law holds ever true...
Posted by: Saltation | 10/01/2007 at 01:39 PM
Token - cat lover?
Busted! I do have a word-a-day calendar. Man, I knew that would come back to bite me in the ass. Speaking of biting in the posterior...after I finish my work tonight and run a session Tuesday...I will respond in full to Token.
Posted by: a.brain | 09/11/2007 at 02:39 AM
Token-good call on comparison shopping...every site has its own strong points. I've always enjoyed this one for the quick wit. BTW, Samuel Clemens once said, "People who are brutally honest enjoy the brutality more than the honesty." My new word for the day is 'brutality'
Posted by: Shadow | 09/11/2007 at 12:20 AM
Great article and awesome post by Shawdow!!! However, let us be honest - This site has become the very issue you are ranting about! We used to check your blog daily until it became inconsistent and average. I check many, many sites daily because of this site's exposure before it because average at best. Pursuing more writing?! You might want to take a writing class or get someone to proof before you publish or quit your day job!! WAY too many errors and obvious "look I learned a new word" phrases.
Posted by: Token | 09/10/2007 at 10:47 PM
DAMNIT Shadow! You and the retarded cat statement...burned me for the last time with that one my friend. Some people are just trusting souls.(not really trusting...but recognize funny)
Well said though, love your efficient response, and their is a lot to be said for clarity in those two tenets. Efficiency and usefulness make content; necessary, vital, and digestible. All which ultimately add to clarity. Personally, I am on a mission of clarity today. Thanks for the great posting.
Posted by: a.brain | 09/10/2007 at 03:03 PM
plus, is it me? Or does that picture mean that 99% of all the cats in the world are retarded due to inbreeding?
Posted by: Shadow | 09/09/2007 at 11:31 PM
in this new high-powered world of professional acronyms & snazzy 'catch-your-eye' designs, shouldn't efficiency carry the yeoman's share of responsibility?
efficiency of humor...
efficiency of useful facts...
efficiency of applicable truths...
After that I'd burden utility:
usefulness of espoused facts...
usefulness of info prima facie...
usefulness of site to objective...
I mention these tenets Brain, because I contend they are the basic means to relaying useful points quickly...which is THE primary benefit of the internet. Pictures add weight, sound adds depth, color adds drama...these are easily attached to a site/info.
BUT, it's the efficiency of info and utility that will drive the site above mediocrity.
Posted by: Shadow | 09/09/2007 at 11:30 PM
A big-time job indeed Tom, writing is only one part of it...and YMA...you might want to contact me - love to talk to you.
Anon - too true...all the passion in the world does not equate to quality. Training and creativity, not only in that order, are requirements.
Posted by: a.brain | 09/06/2007 at 09:34 PM
When desktop publishing first came out, the world said "everyone can be a designer!" Turns out that, unless you were talented and trained as a designer, desktop tools didn't mean squat. The rules of talent and training still apply.
Posted by: | 09/06/2007 at 11:35 AM
So who do you have in mind to design this new dynamic site, that's what I want to know...
Posted by: Young Mr. Arvizu | 09/05/2007 at 11:19 PM
Seriously a.brain where are you going? Are you talking some big-time writing job?
Great post though, far too long have we been held hostage by the internet dulldrums. Break the reigns!
Posted by: tom delong | 09/04/2007 at 11:11 PM