Things are getting weird in the L.A. theater blogosphere. The
Weekly's Steven Leigh Morris uses a recent incident, in which the blog Bitter Lemons had mistakenly
reported the death of local critic Harvey Perr, to
muse pointedly about the definitional gray area between bloggers and journalists. It's worth a read, as SLM always is, but what struck me most was the inciting evidence that led Bitter Lemons' Colin Mitchell to
presume the critic to be dead:
Harvey hadn’t posted any reviews – as far as I knew – in months.
A word of warning to you intermittent bloggers! Keep the feeds fed or you may be thought dead.
Hey Rob - thanks for caring AND linking. You've simplified my reasoning for the presumption a wee bit, but fair enough. And dude, as you know, things are ALWAYS weird in LA. Best, Colin
ReplyDeleteThe blogosphere, unlike print where journalism has existed, belongs as much to an oral culture as a written culture. In the merging of these two cultures, ethics from each are being compromised and transformed. Being labeled a gossipmonger doesn’t seem to carry the stigma it once did. Instead of any real embarrassment or remorse for his idiotic mistake, Colin Mitchell initially displays a forced bravado, and now seems to be almost bragging about his stupidity. In his current post it’s difficult to know whether he is tongue-in-cheek or dimwitted delusional when he exclaims “We’re viral, baby!” He promises his “Lemmon Heads” that he’ll return with more gossipmonging cross-dressing as journalism.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your kinda question, Silent, I have four words for ya, "Mole Hill Meet Mountain". You can swing your interpretive pendulum as widely as you see fit - as you apparently seem very adept at doing.
ReplyDeleteHey Rob - I'm a little confused as to why you didn't post my original response to silent nic here? Was it too, what, "accurate"? Just wondering. Do you not like the passionate exchange of ideas on your blog? He got to call me names, I don't get to respond? Maybe it just got lost in the shuffle...I'll give you the benefit of the doubt...
ReplyDelete