Jeremy has some great thoughts here on the nature of online conversation. Based in part on a back-and-forth he and I had over the weekend, I was feeling similarly depressed about the ability for people to communicate as civil human beings for the past couple of days. Besides that exchange, I managed to (seemingly) offend Eric Meyer and Christian Montoya, and I had to read this incredibly depressing post and its subsequent comment thread. I was quite down for a while there— so much so that Michelle noticed and I ended up venting to her about it.
While I generally don’t agree with Jeremy’s belief that comments on blogs are a bad idea, over the weekend I knew exactly what he was talking about. I think the best piece I’ve ever read on on this topic is Wilson’s Shouts and Echos.
I don’t have much positive to say on the matter — I just hope it stops, at some point.
001 // Wilson Miner // 08.13.2007 // 7:27 PM
You know what I realized after catching up on all this today? It’s a hell of a lot more fun and rewarding to work on the Web right now than it is to argue about how we should work on the Web.
002 // Matt Robin // 08.13.2007 // 7:49 PM
Good linkage there Jeff - very appropriate. I’m sorry to say that I’m also depressed by everything that’s going on right now.
I actually think your ‘discussion’ with Christian was a good battle of opinions actually! It was healthy…in a volatile, lively sort of way!! I think both of you raised some very good points, and in fact I think it enhanced the significance of the article beyond Christian’s own initial post.
The mobile web is also of particular interest to me, and so is stuff going on with the iPhone, but until I actually use an iPhone myself (or better still - own one!), then I don’t feel qualified to get caught in the midst of some well-voiced views on the blogsphere about it…yet. ;)
003 // Nathan Borror // 08.13.2007 // 11:48 PM
Well said Mr. Miner.
004 // Baxter // 08.15.2007 // 10:57 AM
Agreed. Well said, Mr. Miner.
I think we’re seeing frustration manifesting itself as the community turning on itself. Web standards seems to have been nearly stagnant for WAYY too long, and nobody can seem to reach any consensus on where they should go, nor gain any traction.
Personally, I fear it will get worse before it gets better. I suspect their will be winners and losers and a lot of bruises, and eventually we’ll come up with something.
And at that point, we’ll either be happy, or there will be a new rallying cry to fix it.