The mission of this site is simple: To write a cogent rebuttal to Andrew Keen's book, the Cult of the Amateur: How today's Internet Is Killing Our Culture. He's already dismissed us as "monkeys" and a "pajama army" so let's prove him wrong both in word and deed.
This site is a collaborative effort. Use the "Add child page" link to submit content to each section. Objections to the book will probably fall into one of the following general categories, which should always be at the top of the page no matter where you are. Use the "Miscellany" link to suggest topics, to make comments, etc. At this stage, we are just gathering information.
Should we blame the technology or those who use it?
Keen puts forth various examples of how "Web 2.0" or "on-line culture" played a part in fraud, deceit and just plain lying. However, many of the examples he offers show professionals, not amateurs, abusing the new media. He mentions Michael Hiltzik (p. 76), Lee Siegel (p. 76) and Adnan Hajj (p. 82). Here, post examples of similar instances and any comments you have.
Analyze the economics.
This section is to investigate various economic claims and data that Keen put forth. For instance, he refers to $331,000 dollars from Frito-Lay that was "sucked" out of the economy (p. 62). If you own stock in that company then that $331,000 was saved, not lost. Are the other costs as high as he claims? YouTube and MySpace are worth billions, but the book includes no mention of what these projects have created in terms of wealth and jobs. Use this section to elucidate the book's selective reading of the economic picture (both macro and micro).
What have citizen journalists contributed?
Keen dismisses citizen journalists as "a pajama army of mostly anonymous, self-referential writers who exist not to report news, but to spread gossip, sensationalize political scandal . . . " (p. 47). Let's find some examples of citizen journalists making real contributions. Are there any citizen journalists out there with formal training in journalism, but a different vocation? (Sites like www.groundreport.com and www.newassignment.net are good starts. In the interest of full disclosure: The administrator of this site has contributed to both.)
Investigate the notion of truth in journalism.
"When an article runs under the banner of a respected newspaper, we know that it has been weighed by a team of seasoned editors with years of training, assigned to a qualified reporter, researched, fact-checked, edited and proofread, and backed by a respected news organization vouching for its truth and accuracy." (p. 53) The newspapers have gotten stories wrong in the past. In the case of Stephen Glass at the New Republic, a well-established media outlet printed fiction as fact.
Use this section to provide more examples and critiques (but no rants, please). Feel free to comment on "truth" in the philosophical sense as well.
To what extent is vanity also part of our culture?
"I'm hot 'cause I'm fly. / You ain't cause you not," proclaims MIMS, on his hit track "This Is Why I'm Hot." Keen's book attempts to draw many connections between user-created content and vanity, but it appears that vanity is a growing part of our culture as a whole. Post more examples and your thoughts on the subject here.
CNN - YouTube Presidential Primary debates
Are these debates successful in using the Internet to facilitate democracy? Do they really bring people closer to the candidates and contribute to the dialogue?
The Wealth of Networks by Yochai Benkler
The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom by Yochai Benkler appears to have some prescient ideas on this topic. If you've read it and would like to weigh in, please post here.
Fact-checking
This section is self-explanatory. Facts from any topic can be addressed here.
Miscellany
Any suggestions? Post them here.