Chomsky's View on Blogs and XML/RSS

I am a member of another site and have access to a board where Noam Chomsky replies to e-mail posts. A poster asked him about his opinion on Blogs and XML/RSS newsfeeds. I though that people here at ATS might be interested in his reply.

Reply from NC,

Thanks for the encouraging remarks.

I'm not the right person to ask about blogs, which I never
have time to look at, and I've never even heard of XML/
RSS. I just don't have time to look at the internet apart
from particular research purposes. My general impression,
for what it's worth, is that it is both a highly useful and
a lethal instrument -- keeping away from its use for
marketing, pornography, music, etc. Useful because there
is a great deal of very good source material (documents,
etc.) and reporting and analysis one is unlikely to find in
the mainstream, and many opportunities for interaction,
like this forum. Lethal because anyone can put up anything
one likes (which is fine), which means that a good deal of
what appears and gets enthusiastically circulated is, to
put politely, rather dubious material. In fact, far worse.

Noam Chomsky

At 08:02 AM 9/22/2004 -0400, you wrote:
From: znetchomsky[EDIT] Listmanager
[mailto:znetchomsky[EDIT].zmag.org]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 5:36 PM
Subject: read, read, read: Blogs and RSS?

From: "Matthew Grund"


Professor Chomsky,

Many thanks for your tireless efforts in
your political and media related endeavors.
Personally, your books have added some order
to the chaos of modern media.

Recently, I have found myself 'unsubscribing' from American
print and video media, and relying on certain websites
exclusively for news. Could you comment on the www
generally, and two recent developments:
Blogs and XML/RSS as news sources?

Thanks!



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Posted: 30 Sep 2004 01:11 PM

*edited by me

Some wise words of caution IMHO.

I figured out long ago (much to the annoyance of members of several boards) that anyone can say whatever they want on the internet.

yes to bad there is no phsycotic lunatic filter on the internet, but then of course what would conspiracys be with out them?

Yes the internet is a disinformation machine. However the connection people can make with others round the world and the sharing of good information is what makes the internet so incredible.

It is especially important in the world of today as mainstream media is so politically biased and untruthful. This is our last independent source and I am sure one day 'they' will try and shut it down, or at least restrict the free flow of information. This is something we cannot allow to happen.

The internet has so much more potential and if we, as those who feel cheated by the people who claim to be our representative leaders, really harness the true power of the internet then changes could be made and maybe one day power will return to the people. Not the ruling elite.

The internet scares them, it is the last unrestricted portal of information left. We have to use it wisely. Deny ignorance.

Seems like a good forum to have NC.

His take on blogs is interesting. An NC blog of random daily ponderings would be so hot it's scary.

Though I appreciate the self censorship the "respectables" like him preserve for more edited and thoughful publications.

But his assesment of lethality is dead on. Mostly from the power of persuasion via bulk of argument, not content.

And it looks like he's a bit behind the game on what actually is ultimately driving mainstream, which are net operatives (some of which have strong ties to mainstream).

Originally posted by RANT
And it looks like he's a bit behind the game on what actually is ultimately driving mainstream, which are net operatives (some of which have strong ties to mainstream).

Yeah. That makes sense, after all he's in his seventies and still writting books, speaking, touring and a professor at MIT and he still finds time to answer questions on the Znet's ChomskyChat forum. (I've never worked up the courage to interact with him and it seems every question I thought of has already been asked.)

It seems to me that "net operatives" driving the mainstream news is a relatively recent phenomenon that is gelling and maturing with this election cycle. At least that's the impression I get.