rushkoff responds March 19, 2009 8:58 AM Subscribe
In case you missed it, Douglas Rushkoff (briefly) responded to some of the nuclear criticism his opinion piece received in this thread.
That was some of the most professional, clear-headed responding to a collective poo-pooing I've ever seen. Kudos to you, rushkoff.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 9:19 AM on March 19, 2009
posted by solipsophistocracy at 9:19 AM on March 19, 2009
He's been a member since 2001, but only replied to the comments on two threads about his words and works (in 2005 and now). Interesting - I wonder how much he lurks around here. Thanks for the link-back, BB.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:24 AM on March 19, 2009
posted by filthy light thief at 9:24 AM on March 19, 2009
Thanks for the link-back, BB
Man, that's confusing.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:32 AM on March 19, 2009
Man, that's confusing.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:32 AM on March 19, 2009
Thanks for the link-back, BB
Ya'll just keep that between the two of you, thanks.
posted by marxchivist at 9:34 AM on March 19, 2009
Ya'll just keep that between the two of you, thanks.
posted by marxchivist at 9:34 AM on March 19, 2009
Even though I totally disagree with his analysis, it was nice of him to come into the thread and clarify his arguments coming off as a jerk. I'm not sure if I would do the same if I was in his position.
posted by burnmp3s at 9:51 AM on March 19, 2009
posted by burnmp3s at 9:51 AM on March 19, 2009
It's so cool when the linked-to and discussed show up to participate. Thanks for engaging, Mr. Rushkoff!
MetaFilter is really remarkable in that respect. So many of the articles and sites linked on the front page have their own little world of interactivity where it would make sense for the author or creator to engage their audience, but MeFi's somehow able to draw them out into its own arena to defend or expand their original work. It's a great feature.
posted by carsonb at 10:00 AM on March 19, 2009
MetaFilter is really remarkable in that respect. So many of the articles and sites linked on the front page have their own little world of interactivity where it would make sense for the author or creator to engage their audience, but MeFi's somehow able to draw them out into its own arena to defend or expand their original work. It's a great feature.
posted by carsonb at 10:00 AM on March 19, 2009
You know when you're all drunk at a party and slagging someone off and the beer is so cold and the party so loud that you know that it doesn't really matter and the room goes quiet and you realize the girl that you thought had been giving you the come-on is actually just raising her eyebrows and glancing over your shoulder because oh-my-living-christ look who just turned up?
That's kind of how I feel when people referred to in threads actually show up and comment in them.
I'd like to think that if someone told me to, in so many words and so many ways, eat shit and die, I'd show half the restraint Rushkoff just did.
But, like, he totally felt Debbie McgGinty up behind the huts and now she's, like, totally got VD and stuff.
posted by Jofus at 10:26 AM on March 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
That's kind of how I feel when people referred to in threads actually show up and comment in them.
I'd like to think that if someone told me to, in so many words and so many ways, eat shit and die, I'd show half the restraint Rushkoff just did.
But, like, he totally felt Debbie McgGinty up behind the huts and now she's, like, totally got VD and stuff.
posted by Jofus at 10:26 AM on March 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
He was certainly a good sport, I will give him that.
posted by everichon at 11:02 AM on March 19, 2009
posted by everichon at 11:02 AM on March 19, 2009
Sure, online he was a good sport, but I hear tell he was so upset he kicked a baby.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:07 AM on March 19, 2009
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:07 AM on March 19, 2009
He also later said "I believe the impact of bailing out the banks and insurance companies will be bigger and worser...", so I would like to be the first to say "WORSER? LOL!"
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 12:00 PM on March 19, 2009
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 12:00 PM on March 19, 2009
He came to the Portland (OR) meetup that I was at last year, so hes a real MeFite. He's a classy act.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:33 PM on March 19, 2009
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:33 PM on March 19, 2009
I followed his link to the "free book", but it only has another link to a 400 dollar used copy in Amazon.
What a liar.
posted by dirty lies at 1:08 PM on March 19, 2009
What a liar.
posted by dirty lies at 1:08 PM on March 19, 2009
There is at least one more response in the original thread. That response was posted after this thread was opened.
posted by mwhybark at 4:35 PM on March 19, 2009
posted by mwhybark at 4:35 PM on March 19, 2009
Which is a another reason why comments like 'X should shut his stupid mouth' make all of us, not just the commenter, look bad. Our discussions about random shit spread their tentacles wide.
It's not nice to snark, and it's less nice to snark at people who we assume aren't even around to respond. Robust intellectual assault and battery, sure, why not, but.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:40 PM on March 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
It's not nice to snark, and it's less nice to snark at people who we assume aren't even around to respond. Robust intellectual assault and battery, sure, why not, but.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:40 PM on March 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
He did take it all pretty well. I hadn't had a chance to regard him as a person one way or the other but his posting didn't change the relatively low esteem that I hold for the originally linked article much, though. I still think it was a piece of gross oversimplification in many ways.
though I'm glad I didn't call him a slimy commie or anything like that.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:09 PM on March 19, 2009
though I'm glad I didn't call him a slimy commie or anything like that.
posted by Devils Rancher at 8:09 PM on March 19, 2009
In case you missed it, Douglas Rushkoff...
Don't you mean MetaFilter's own Douglas Rushkoff?
posted by Lush at 11:48 PM on March 19, 2009
Don't you mean MetaFilter's own Douglas Rushkoff?
posted by Lush at 11:48 PM on March 19, 2009
There should be some kind of musical accompaniment to the phrase "Metafilter's Own blahbidyblah". I guess that's my first pony request.
posted by From Bklyn at 3:28 AM on March 20, 2009
posted by From Bklyn at 3:28 AM on March 20, 2009
There should be some kind of musical accompaniment to the phrase "Metafilter's Own blahbidyblah". Something lika a, "Twadle-de dah dee-dAHHHH."
posted by From Bklyn at 3:32 AM on March 20, 2009
posted by From Bklyn at 3:32 AM on March 20, 2009
...and the accompaniment should be in the form of an automagically generated link from the words "Metafilter's Own"
posted by mwhybark at 2:18 PM on March 20, 2009
posted by mwhybark at 2:18 PM on March 20, 2009
It was ballsy for him to show up. But. He didn't really address the actual arguments made against him at all. Like the fact that if the world economy collapses — and that is what will happen if western banking institutions completely fail — million of people will starve to death. he just say's it won't be that bad. Reeealy. You know about 100 million people world wide fell into hunger almost over fucking night last November, right? It's easy when you have all this infrastructure and wealth all around you to have these fantasies about letting it all crash down. Until you realize what it will do the most vulnerable people on the planet. Shit rolls down hill.
I've read lots of his stuff and generally I really like it. But the linked article was total ill-thought bullshit. And he should know better. It really lost him my respect. Him showing up rationalizing wasn't any refutation.
posted by tkchrist at 5:32 PM on March 20, 2009
I've read lots of his stuff and generally I really like it. But the linked article was total ill-thought bullshit. And he should know better. It really lost him my respect. Him showing up rationalizing wasn't any refutation.
posted by tkchrist at 5:32 PM on March 20, 2009
so mefimail him asking for a longer discussion, Todd; you know he's listening now. He may not agree to do so - man's gotta eat and AFAIK only Mathowie + pb are afforded that opportunity from our furious pixel coloring hereabouts. BUT. You can ask!
I don't think he even attempted a refutation, just, as he noted, some minor corrections of fact and a clarification which amounted to a partial plea of hyperbole.
Doug is certainly familiar with Zerzan's stuff. I think the question you may be after with regard to the piece under discussion is does Rushkoff actually agree with Zerzan? It seems to me clear from his responses that he does not. Unless you are really just interested in him copping to a retraction, which seems unlikely.
Anyhoo. t-minus a couple hours until we see how it all ends anyway, amirite?
posted by mwhybark at 7:49 PM on March 20, 2009
I don't think he even attempted a refutation, just, as he noted, some minor corrections of fact and a clarification which amounted to a partial plea of hyperbole.
Doug is certainly familiar with Zerzan's stuff. I think the question you may be after with regard to the piece under discussion is does Rushkoff actually agree with Zerzan? It seems to me clear from his responses that he does not. Unless you are really just interested in him copping to a retraction, which seems unlikely.
Anyhoo. t-minus a couple hours until we see how it all ends anyway, amirite?
posted by mwhybark at 7:49 PM on March 20, 2009
Doug is certainly familiar with Zerzan's stuff. I think the question you may be after with regard to the piece under discussion is does Rushkoff actually agree with Zerzan? It seems to me clear from his responses that he does not. Unless you are really just interested in him copping to a retraction, which seems unlikely.
I suppose I'm merely superstitious. As in people had better be very careful what they wish for... the cumulative effect of all this schadenfreude (and I certainly can understand it) and we might end up with an economic Monkey's Paw.
posted by tkchrist at 7:17 PM on March 22, 2009
I suppose I'm merely superstitious. As in people had better be very careful what they wish for... the cumulative effect of all this schadenfreude (and I certainly can understand it) and we might end up with an economic Monkey's Paw.
posted by tkchrist at 7:17 PM on March 22, 2009
He did take it all pretty well. I hadn't had a chance to regard him as a person one way or the other...
Doug's been interacting online a long time. I haven't seen him in person since the mid-90s but he was very cool then. I'm in "The Genx Reader" because he posted a note on the WELL saying, "hey, I got a contract for this book! If you've got anything that might fit, send me an email." First thing I ever had published, I had zero credentials but it fit the project and he was open to that.
posted by msalt at 1:50 AM on March 23, 2009
Doug's been interacting online a long time. I haven't seen him in person since the mid-90s but he was very cool then. I'm in "The Genx Reader" because he posted a note on the WELL saying, "hey, I got a contract for this book! If you've got anything that might fit, send me an email." First thing I ever had published, I had zero credentials but it fit the project and he was open to that.
posted by msalt at 1:50 AM on March 23, 2009
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posted by Artw at 9:14 AM on March 19, 2009