Comments on: The World Is Not Flat

By: Joe Devon

Joe Devon — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:58:34 +0000

I don’t see any difference between the world of internet bloggers and the world of bands out there playing tiny bars and clubs in the hopes of honing their sound, having some kicks, or getting discovered.
Publishing the written word in a format that’s accessible to a large number of readers has always been costly. With the internet it’s much much cheaper.
Literature now has garage bands. That’s all that’s happened. I’m pretty sure we’re better for it.

By: KathyF

KathyF — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:47:29 +0000

Lorra’s right; spewing forth nonsense and garbage is a fruitless activity.

Wish I could stop.

By: Kassia Krozser

Kassia Krozser — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:31:12 +0000

Lorra — thanks for checking in. It’s always good to know you’re out there!

Don — you should see me play softball. Amateur is too high praise for my skills (g).

I am most interested in this story because there seems to be an almost, shall we say?, unquestioning belief that what Keen says is true (despite the fact that even he does not, cannot, believe what he’s saying). I am reminded of a moment in my distant youth where I was assured that a then-new band called U2 would never amount to anything. They did not, in the eyes of their detractor, have the appropriate commercial sensibility. Well, does anyone recall Christopher Cross these days (other than me?)? He came from the “professional” side of the music spectrum; U2 came from the, if you will, DIY side.

Just goes show how wrong one can be, no?

By: Lorra Laven

Lorra Laven — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:46:35 +0000

Yes, anyone can start a blog. But why would I read nonsense and garbage?

I read Booksquare because it is informative, well written and entertaining.

Of course I still read newspapers, magazines and books in tangible paper format, but I cannot imagine life without the internet.

It is blogger like you, Kassia, that inspire me to light candles to the gods of the internet. You all are an integral part of my everyday writing life.

Thank you.

By: C.M.

C.M. — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:08:49 +0000

Almost anything is too much to ask of “professional” journalists, whom represent the flaws of Old Media.

This is populist versus popular again. We find that the popular shall continue to win. The massive, ungainly machine of publishing shall happily continue to commit its mistakes.

It is still, however, regrettably profitable to attempt the populist approach…

By: Clive Warner

Clive Warner — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:44:22 +0000

If you take a look at Amazon.com reviews for this book you will find an interesting differential between Amazon UK and Amazon USA. The US reviewers dispense their share of vitriol, like the one below, but the UK reviewers were almost unanimous in rating Keen’s book as fit for the bin.
Perhaps Keen would like the world to return to the Middle Ages when the Guilds ruled all branches of commerce and woe betide anyone who dared to try a different idea. I shall certainly not be buying it!

One reviewer wrote:
In a strange ironic twist, his book proves that just because content is professional doesn’t necessarily mean it is any good.
I returned my copy of the book. There is no way I’m giving this guy any money for this garbage.

By: Don Linn

Don Linn — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:39:29 +0000

I’d just like to be on the record as saying Mr. Keen is already charmingly retro and has been for some time now.

And you, dear, are no amateur.