4 ms·

>I really do believe he thinks that quality control being supposedly better in print was actually good for the best writers. And this is exactly why I, apparen

>I really do believe he thinks that quality control being supposedly better in print was actually good for the best writers. And this is exactly why I, apparently like Mr. Franzen, appreciate the "quality control" of newspapers like, for example, the Guardian in this case. Otherwise, people tend to believe that dismissing a thoughtful 5,000+ word essay with, "I really doubt he understands the Amazon algorithms" passes for reasonable criticism.

jrs99 13y ago
the quality control IS better in print, and I appreciate it. But the quality control is NOT best for the best writers.
- jrs99 13y ago
  as a percentage of course. There are web publications with greater quality control than certain print publications of course. but probably not overall as a percentage.
jrs99 13y ago
This article is not a thoughtful one. It is a poetic one, and it is emotional, and it is even elegant and melancholic. There's nothing new here that Franzen hasn't really already said. Here's a quote of his: I think the Internet should be really strictly regulated, the way the airwaves used to be. If an entire region of the country had its main industry suddenly lose 90 percent of its paying jobs because of the predatory practices of a different region’s industry, you might, if you were the government, step in and say, “We can’t actually let this entire region starve. We’re going to subsidize prices, we’re going to redistribute some income.” Why should Apple shareholders be getting rich while working journalists are getting fired? This is an unjust situation, and the libertarians in Silicon Valley are either moral idiots or liars. They know they’re getting away with shit they shouldn’t get away with, and all they’ve got is this idea of libertarianism. That, and the mantra of making the world a better place. If you think he's a thoughtful person and he's given a lot of time thinking about this, you're wrong. He's not thoughtful, he's defensive about novelists and journalists, and brick and mortar bookstores. If you read his articles and if you've read his books, you would understand his position on technology is a simple, not thoughtful, not deeply reasoned position. It is VERY black and white and often just wrong. I'm only talking about his position on tech/internet. He's a great writer and I've read everything he's ever written. And will continue to do so. I'm a huge fan of his. Similarly, I LOVE Walt Whitman. However, I wouldn't take advice on the beauty of equations from Walt Whitman. It's perfectly fine for someone to be a great poet, but has no ability to see the same elegance in mathematical equations. But to dismiss those equations, it reveals a certain ignorance. But still, I can get into his perspective and find that his poems are very beautiful.

jrs99 13y ago

the quality control IS better in print, and I appreciate it. But the quality control is NOT best for the best writers.

jrs99 13y ago
as a percentage of course. There are web publications with greater quality control than certain print publications of course. but probably not overall as a percentage.

jrs99 13y ago

This article is not a thoughtful one. It is a poetic one, and it is emotional, and it is even elegant and melancholic. There's nothing new here that Franzen hasn't really already said. Here's a quote of his: I think the Internet should be really strictly regulated, the way the airwaves used to be. If an entire region of the country had its main industry suddenly lose 90 percent of its paying jobs because of the predatory practices of a different region’s industry, you might, if you were the government, step in and say, “We can’t actually let this entire region starve. We’re going to subsidize prices, we’re going to redistribute some income.” Why should Apple shareholders be getting rich while working journalists are getting fired? This is an unjust situation, and the libertarians in Silicon Valley are either moral idiots or liars. They know they’re getting away with shit they shouldn’t get away with, and all they’ve got is this idea of libertarianism. That, and the mantra of making the world a better place. If you think he's a thoughtful person and he's given a lot of time thinking about this, you're wrong. He's not thoughtful, he's defensive about novelists and journalists, and brick and mortar bookstores. If you read his articles and if you've read his books, you would understand his position on technology is a simple, not thoughtful, not deeply reasoned position. It is VERY black and white and often just wrong. I'm only talking about his position on tech/internet. He's a great writer and I've read everything he's ever written. And will continue to do so. I'm a huge fan of his. Similarly, I LOVE Walt Whitman. However, I wouldn't take advice on the beauty of equations from Walt Whitman. It's perfectly fine for someone to be a great poet, but has no ability to see the same elegance in mathematical equations. But to dismiss those equations, it reveals a certain ignorance. But still, I can get into his perspective and find that his poems are very beautiful.