Joel Stein wrote a hilarious and provocative op-ed piece in today’s Los Angeles Times. It raises important issues regarding the nature of creator and audience in the Read/Write World.
This is a must read…
Have something to say? I don’t care
Don’t bother sending anything to that e-mail address below — because I don’t care.
Here is an excerpt from this timeless piece of satire…
Here’s what my Internet-fearing editors have failed to understand: I don’t want to talk to you; I want to talk at you. A column is not my attempt to engage in a conversation with you. I have more than enough people to converse with. And I don’t listen to them either. That sound on the phone, Mom, is me typing.
Some newspapers even list the phone numbers of their reporters at the end of their articles. That’s a smart use of their employees’ time. Why not just save a step and have them set up a folding table at a senior citizen center with a sign asking for complaints?
Where does this end? Does Philip Roth have to put his e-mail at the end of his book? Does Tom Hanks have to hold up a sign with his e-mail at the end of his movie? Should your hotel housekeeper leave her e-mail on your sheets? Are you starting to see how creepy this is?
