[Am-info] Microsoft Ad Unravels -- Lessons (Semi-OT)

[Eric M. Hopper]

On Wed, 2002-10-16 at 19:05, Mitch Stone wrote:
> 
> Slashdot's readers, members of a powerful community, got on the case. They 
> were the first to show that something wasn't kosher with the Microsoft 
> page. They deserve much of the credit for the story coming out in the 
> first place.

One characteristic of online communities like Slashdot is that they
consistently underestimate their own power and effectiveness.  I wish I
knew why this happened.  Perhaps it's necessary in order for the
community to retain it's power and effectiveness.

> This is tomorrow's journalism, a partnership of sorts between 
> professionals and the legions of gifted amateurs out there who can help us 
> -- all of us -- figure things out. It's a positive development, and we're 
> still figuring out how it works.

I agree with this wholeheartedly.  I'm always amazed by how quickly
Slashdot uncovers shady hoaxes.  Slashdot managed to figure out, well in
advance, that there were a couple of Linux companies that were
fly-by-night operations.  If Slashdot hadn't done that, investors
might've invested in those companies, lost money, and blamed Linux.

Slashdot has proved its value time and time again, despite the poor
copy-editing, duplicate stories, and posting of hoaxes, or just plain
erroneous stories.

Have fun (if at all possible),
-- 
The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they
be properly armed.  -- Alexander Hamilton
-- Eric Hopper (hopper@omnifarious.org 
http://www.omnifarious.org/~hopper) --