Don't Be Scared of the Stream

NPR has published yet another ridiculous essay about how we should fear the Internet.

In this one, Eyder Peralta compares the rise of the 'stream' paradigm online to the plight of Edmund Andrews, the guy whose story about losing his house to love (and lack of financial tact) was published in the New York Times Magazine.

As Peralta writes:

In the near past, in my parents' time, Americans toiled in the now to save enough to buy a house in the future. In the New York Times Magazine this weekend, Edmund Andrews, wrote that his personal financial disaster started when he wanted a house now to make his marriage better, to make his family better -- now.

But, Edmund Andrews is a TERRIBLE example. Most Americans did NOT do what he did. Most Americans have been relatively responsible through this financial and housing crisis. The case of Edmund Andrews hardly amounts to a symbol of how the 'stream' paradigm is ruining our ability to deal with life in responsible ways.

What's really going on is that the democratizing aspect of the Web -- the use of social and participatory media, for example -- is finally being uncovered/discovered by the masses (and by the mass media). Some of us (ok, a few tens of millions) have been using this stuff for years and haven't fallen into a state of disaster on account of it yet.

Stop with the scary-business already.

The Airline Industry - NPR Style

I recommended a link last week to an Economist podcast on the Airline industry. This week I have a story from Scott Simon of NPR's Weekend edition. While light in tone and filled with humour this piece proposes an interesting link between the perpetual rescuing and protection of bankrupt and debt laden airlines in the US and the horrendous customer service and acts of deceit (such as discussed here). If airlines can be inefficient and so bad at what they do, resulting in debt piles and losses that are borne by the economy, yet can still fly and can rely on the protection of the government and regulation, then there is no incentive for them to work hard to retain and please customers. Anyone who has sat on a US tarmac for hours (like me), had luggage lost and no-one care (like me) or spent time talking to a customer service person who clearly does not care if you ever fly again with the airline regardless of status (like me) would surely agree.

The podcast is good for a laugh and worth a listen.