I have reservations about any book that claims to be able to define a "successful" web community, let alone how to duplicate that success. The most successful web communities seem to be happy accidents (see userfriendly and this esteemed site)
Your statement is very general, I'd be interested in seeing the proof of the "clear relationship" between beliefs and the inhibition of creativity. I'm not sure where this idea came from, but I can name a couple of very strong exceptions to your rule
Albert Einstein
Leonardo Da Vinci
In addition, taking this IBM study to support your position requires a fair amount of extrapolation and assumption on your part. I'd be interested in the actual findings of the study. Is there a link?
Remember, "In order for a man to do great things, there must be things which he will not do."
Ok, I'm coming from the perspective of someone who has a CIS degree, and is in management to a certain extent (project management). However, I'e been coding since I was 10, using a TI994A, and a large part of my day involves code (writing, reviewing, design, etc.), so here we go.
Neither degree is sufficient by itself. The need right now is for techies, of any flavor, who can communicate! I have found this to be the single biggest shortcoming of the college grads I interview for any position, whether they have a CS or a CIS degree. Whichever road you take, I would highly advise you to take electives in things like public speaking, technical writing, and something like advanced business writing. Also consider joining a group like Toastmasters, great for learning how to speak effectively.
Please understand, I am not saying that having a computer related degree is unimportant, ( we place more weight on a degree than on, say, a technical certification.) What I am saying is that technical people who can communicate effectively are somewhat rare, will continue to be somewhat rare, and those who can will continue to be worth their weight in gold.
Since the beginning of my techie career, I have always kept my guitar by my computer at home, and a great many CDs and a Discman at my work. I can honestly say I have never had a mental block that a Miles Davis album could not cure. Either that, or some Slayer! Playing the guitar also seems to give my mind a rest and replinishes the *spark*.
Hey Jon, still waiting for you to post online texts of your books for free downloading. What's that? The conglomerate that you whored yourself out to won't let you? Well, isn't that just ducky.
Hmmmmm, how bout if their Jewish, or Black, or Catholic, or Irish, or Arab, or Latino(a)? I've heard your rhetoric before, out of the mouths of some the most evil men the world has ever produced. As far as comprehending your statements, I understand them just fine, and I chose to make fun of them, how hard is that to comprehend?
4) No Homophobic, moral straitjacket applying, narrow-minded granny bands.
So, if we applied the first rule. If a band's lead singer is bisexual, does that mean only half the band's songs can be posted? What if a person took drugs while recording one album but not another? Should we send cops into the studios to check this out, without warrants.
Come on everyone!!! This is an important moral issue!!!
I've said it before Katz, until you make all your books available online to download (PDF, TXT, whatever), your constant spouting is hypocrisy in the extreme.
Let's apply the Napster argument to the written word...
"By putting your books online, you encourage people to go buy $20 for the dead tree version to have it in a more convenient format, along with cover art."
Nope, doesn't make any sense when applied to this product either.
See, the RIAA was right! Napster is going to make CD sales go down, only not quite the way they intended!
Question: Why is the boycott being organized now, instead of when the case was first brought? Now that the RIAA has drawn "first blood" the boycott will be that much less effective.
Silly boy. When exactly did Metallica switch over to being in it "for the money"? After the black album? Please. After the black album, none of them needed to worry about the mortgage ever again. And if they were in it for the money, they sure as hell would not have put out Load. They would have put out Black Album 2 or Master of Puppets 2. Load was a huge risk from a financial standpoint. (Yes, it's my least favorite album from Metallica, put that's beside the point. Actually, it kinda proves my point.) Anyway.....
Question for you, since Kirk has now grown his hair back, does that mean he now sucks less than the other three members? Of course, everyone knows that you need to have long hair to play metal! Just ask Kerry King of Slayer, or Sully of Godsmack, or..... well you get the idea.
The fact that it's TVT says alot. This is a record company that "gets it". I've been able to download 60 day time-limited tracks from all the artists on their roster off their site for quite a while now, which is why I'm now into Sevendust. I think TVT has got quite the handle on how the internet can be used to distribute music as a promotional vehicle. With that in mind, I find it an eye-opener that TVT is going after MP3.com. I would give TVT's reasons more weight, considering what they are already doing in their business model.
Well, it's getting close to a year since Jon started going off about the "revolution" in media (music, video, etc.) file sharing, and I have yet to see Katz put his money where his mouth is by making any of his books available online. Where are they Jon? Why aren't you taking advantage of this new type of marketing? Oh, what's that? Your publisher won't allow you to do that? Oh, I see, because you whored yourself out, that let's you off the hook? Hardly.
Slashdot Mirror
I have reservations about any book that claims to be able to define a "successful" web community, let alone how to duplicate that success. The most successful web communities seem to be happy accidents (see userfriendly and this esteemed site)
Your statement is very general, I'd be interested in seeing the proof of the "clear relationship" between beliefs and the inhibition of creativity. I'm not sure where this idea came from, but I can name a couple of very strong exceptions to your rule
Albert Einstein
Leonardo Da Vinci
In addition, taking this IBM study to support your position requires a fair amount of extrapolation and assumption on your part. I'd be interested in the actual findings of the study. Is there a link?
Remember, "In order for a man to do great things, there must be things which he will not do."
This comment is NOT offtopic!
Juvenile, yes.
Unintelligent? Definitely.
Without any redeeming social value? Absolutely.
Which makes it completely appropriate for a Jon Katz article!
What does the secretary of Housing and Urban Development have to do with the RU-486 pill?
Proofreading Jon, it's not just for breakfast anymore.
Ok, I'm coming from the perspective of someone who has a CIS degree, and is in management to a certain extent (project management). However, I'e been coding since I was 10, using a TI994A, and a large part of my day involves code (writing, reviewing, design, etc.), so here we go.
Neither degree is sufficient by itself. The need right now is for techies, of any flavor, who can communicate! I have found this to be the single biggest shortcoming of the college grads I interview for any position, whether they have a CS or a CIS degree. Whichever road you take, I would highly advise you to take electives in things like public speaking, technical writing, and something like advanced business writing. Also consider joining a group like Toastmasters, great for learning how to speak effectively.
Please understand, I am not saying that having a computer related degree is unimportant, ( we place more weight on a degree than on, say, a technical certification.) What I am saying is that technical people who can communicate effectively are somewhat rare, will continue to be somewhat rare, and those who can will continue to be worth their weight in gold.
Good luck to you in your pursuit
Um, now. Doing something useful with it, that's another matter.
Since the beginning of my techie career, I have always kept my guitar by my computer at home, and a great many CDs and a Discman at my work. I can honestly say I have never had a mental block that a Miles Davis album could not cure. Either that, or some Slayer! Playing the guitar also seems to give my mind a rest and replinishes the *spark*.
All together now.....
HYPOCRITE, HYPOCRITE, HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!!
I feel better now.
Hmmmmm, how bout if their Jewish, or Black, or Catholic, or Irish, or Arab, or Latino(a)? I've heard your rhetoric before, out of the mouths of some the most evil men the world has ever produced. As far as comprehending your statements, I understand them just fine, and I chose to make fun of them, how hard is that to comprehend?
4) No Homophobic, moral straitjacket applying, narrow-minded granny bands.
So, if we applied the first rule. If a band's lead singer is bisexual, does that mean only half the band's songs can be posted? What if a person took drugs while recording one album but not another? Should we send cops into the studios to check this out, without warrants.
Come on everyone!!! This is an important moral issue!!!
Sarcasm, naw, not me.
Let's apply the Napster argument to the written word...
"By putting your books online, you encourage people to go buy $20 for the dead tree version to have it in a more convenient format, along with cover art."
Nope, doesn't make any sense when applied to this product either.
Question: Why is the boycott being organized now, instead of when the case was first brought? Now that the RIAA has drawn "first blood" the boycott will be that much less effective.
Just a thought
Question for you, since Kirk has now grown his hair back, does that mean he now sucks less than the other three members? Of course, everyone knows that you need to have long hair to play metal! Just ask Kerry King of Slayer, or Sully of Godsmack, or..... well you get the idea.
Moderators: Damn straight this is off-topic
Well hey, I respond to squeezing, tapping, and stroking too! How depends on which of the three you are currently performing. Awww yeah!
The fact that it's TVT says alot. This is a record company that "gets it". I've been able to download 60 day time-limited tracks from all the artists on their roster off their site for quite a while now, which is why I'm now into Sevendust. I think TVT has got quite the handle on how the internet can be used to distribute music as a promotional vehicle. With that in mind, I find it an eye-opener that TVT is going after MP3.com. I would give TVT's reasons more weight, considering what they are already doing in their business model.
Well, it's getting close to a year since Jon started going off about the "revolution" in media (music, video, etc.) file sharing, and I have yet to see Katz put his money where his mouth is by making any of his books available online. Where are they Jon? Why aren't you taking advantage of this new type of marketing? Oh, what's that? Your publisher won't allow you to do that? Oh, I see, because you whored yourself out, that let's you off the hook? Hardly.
Jon Katz, Pundit, "Writer", and Hypocrite.