1. “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” Brevity & elegance =/= low-effort.
2. Footnotes/endnotes, collapsable boxes, and appendices exist for a reason. Good writing succinctly conveys an idea and withstands deeper scrutiny. The internet is not paper.
3. Often a few in-depth reads > a million skims. Small group dynamics are potent—e.g., NrX and Mencius Moldbug, or early Tumblr. True for both development of ideas & influence.
4. “You will never have any control over what random people find interesting, what the algorithms decide to promote, or anything at all about other people.” Literally false:
Somebody has nontrivial technical & regulatory control over what an algorithm promotes. Algorithms are not natural processes. It is possible to become this ‘somebody’ or reason with them.
Taste-makers and trend-setters exist. Likewise content aggregators, traditional media gatekeepers, and advertisers. Listen to them speak in private, do they feel powerless? And they listen to criticism.
Arguing specific actors should be accountable for the sanity of online culture is reasonable and realistic. Online writers are allowed to join in too.
Some points:
1. “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” Brevity & elegance =/= low-effort.
2. Footnotes/endnotes, collapsable boxes, and appendices exist for a reason. Good writing succinctly conveys an idea and withstands deeper scrutiny. The internet is not paper.
3. Often a few in-depth reads > a million skims. Small group dynamics are potent—e.g., NrX and Mencius Moldbug, or early Tumblr. True for both development of ideas & influence.
4. “You will never have any control over what random people find interesting, what the algorithms decide to promote, or anything at all about other people.” Literally false:
Somebody has nontrivial technical & regulatory control over what an algorithm promotes. Algorithms are not natural processes. It is possible to become this ‘somebody’ or reason with them.
The citizen has varying control over social technology & media via the political process. Unless you really mean “you should never have any control...” But do you mean this?
Taste-makers and trend-setters exist. Likewise content aggregators, traditional media gatekeepers, and advertisers. Listen to them speak in private, do they feel powerless? And they listen to criticism.
Arguing specific actors should be accountable for the sanity of online culture is reasonable and realistic. Online writers are allowed to join in too.