Comments on: No, blogging for free is not feudalism http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/ A conversation. Mon, 21 May 2012 12:30:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Aol needs to be patient with UK’s Huffington Post « MediaBriefing Experts' Blog http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/#comment-37866 Aol needs to be patient with UK’s Huffington Post « MediaBriefing Experts' Blog Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:09:53 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=13069#comment-37866 [...] have much of a history – might also be its biggest advantage. The only baggage it carries is the acquisition by AOL. That is not insignificant, but neither is it insurmountable. It is free to build an identity [...] [...] have much of a history – might also be its biggest advantage. The only baggage it carries is the acquisition by AOL. That is not insignificant, but neither is it insurmountable. It is free to build an identity [...]

]]> By: AOL needs to be patient with UK’s Huffington Post | Online Journalism Blog http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/#comment-37816 AOL needs to be patient with UK’s Huffington Post | Online Journalism Blog Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:51:18 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=13069#comment-37816 [...] have much of a history – might also be its biggest advantage. The only baggage it carries is the acquisition by AOL. That is not insignificant, but neither is it insurmountable. It is free to build an identity [...] [...] have much of a history – might also be its biggest advantage. The only baggage it carries is the acquisition by AOL. That is not insignificant, but neither is it insurmountable. It is free to build an identity [...]

]]> By: This Week in Review: Paying up with Apple and Google, Twitter and activism, free labor for HuffPo » Nieman Journalism Lab » Pushing to the Future of Journalism http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/#comment-17936 This Week in Review: Paying up with Apple and Google, Twitter and activism, free labor for HuffPo » Nieman Journalism Lab » Pushing to the Future of Journalism Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:04:12 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=13069#comment-17936 [...] others countered Carr with similar points: Web thinker Stowe Boyd, British j-prof Paul Bradshaw and HuffPo’s own Nico Pitney said that HuffPo bloggers have eminently legitimate non-monetary [...] [...] others countered Carr with similar points: Web thinker Stowe Boyd, British j-prof Paul Bradshaw and HuffPo’s own Nico Pitney said that HuffPo bloggers have eminently legitimate non-monetary [...]

]]> By: Robin Rowland http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/#comment-17935 Robin Rowland Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:17:57 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=13069#comment-17935 The problem with this article, a form of blogging egocentrism, is that it depends not on the reality of peasant economics but on the Hollywood image of feudal serfs. Unfortunately, since most classical peasant societies no longer exist, peasant economics is no longer taught or studied (unless there is an obscure course at LSE? :-) ). Charlie Beckett only hints at the complexity involved in the exchange of good, services and obligations in feudal and other peasant societies. If you knew even a little about those peasant societies, you would know that (when the people had the time) they were highly creative in visual arts, music and story telling. That creativity was often channeled into festivals, religious ceremonies, weddings etc. But the bottom line was that even in peasant society no one worked in a creative area for free/nothing. Creativity was rewarded in substantial ways through that system of exchange of goods and services, beyond getting credit for the work. After all even the local woodcarver or story teller sill had to eat. The problem with this article, a form of blogging egocentrism, is that it depends not on the reality of peasant economics but on the Hollywood image of feudal serfs. Unfortunately, since most classical peasant societies no longer exist, peasant economics is no longer taught or studied (unless there is an obscure course at LSE? :-) ). Charlie Beckett only hints at the complexity involved in the exchange of good, services and obligations in feudal and other peasant societies.
If you knew even a little about those peasant societies, you would know that (when the people had the time) they were highly creative in visual arts, music and story telling. That creativity was often channeled into festivals, religious ceremonies, weddings etc. But the bottom line was that even in peasant society no one worked in a creative area for free/nothing. Creativity was rewarded in substantial ways through that system of exchange of goods and services, beyond getting credit for the work. After all even the local woodcarver or story teller sill had to eat.

]]> By: charlie beckett http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/#comment-17934 charlie beckett Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:30:35 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=13069#comment-17934 Hi Aleek, The answer to your first question is Yes, although, let's not strain the historical analogy too far eh? And the answer to your last question is yes, do something else. I think that there are far too many writers in the world, they can't all be paid for it. cheers Charlie Hi Aleek,
The answer to your first question is Yes, although, let’s not strain the historical analogy too far eh?
And the answer to your last question is yes, do something else. I think that there are far too many writers in the world, they can’t all be paid for it.
cheers
Charlie

]]> By: aleek http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/#comment-17933 aleek Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:58:07 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=13069#comment-17933 In your argument, then, is the only difference between Medieval feudalism and modern-not-Medieval-feudalism just that it is optional? But surely the *option* still means (to use the language of feudalism for a moment) that the content 'given' to these 'kings' is always up there, for them to use any time after the physical 'serf' has left. So, it's just optional feudalism? In a world where if you are starting out as this kind of content-supplier, there ISN'T any other option. Except to give it up altogether and do something else. In your argument, then, is the only difference between Medieval feudalism and modern-not-Medieval-feudalism just that it is optional?

But surely the *option* still means (to use the language of feudalism for a moment) that the content ‘given’ to these ‘kings’ is always up there, for them to use any time after the physical ‘serf’ has left.

So, it’s just optional feudalism? In a world where if you are starting out as this kind of content-supplier, there ISN’T any other option. Except to give it up altogether and do something else.

]]> By: Tweets that mention No, blogging for free is not feudalism | Online Journalism Blog -- Topsy.com http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/#comment-17932 Tweets that mention No, blogging for free is not feudalism | Online Journalism Blog -- Topsy.com Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:55:36 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=13069#comment-17932 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chanders, Amy Z. Quinn and Aram Zucker-Scharff, Mr Blogging Themes. Mr Blogging Themes said: No, blogging for free is not feudalism: ... current domination of Facebook will turn out to be a stepping stone ... http://bit.ly/f3CqU4 [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chanders, Amy Z. Quinn and Aram Zucker-Scharff, Mr Blogging Themes. Mr Blogging Themes said: No, blogging for free is not feudalism: … current domination of Facebook will turn out to be a stepping stone … http://bit.ly/f3CqU4 [...]

]]> By: charlie beckett http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/#comment-17931 charlie beckett Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:37:29 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=13069#comment-17931 I think there is a misunderstanding of feudalism here. It was actually a system of exchange. Serfs got security in exchange for giving up some of their labour. Knights were given land by a King in exchange for some military service. So everyone 'benefits' albeit with a rather rigid hierarchical structure (plus some other downsides such as various wars and plagues). So in that sense I think Huff Post blogging might be a kind of feudalism. You write something and in return you get the kudos and reach of the Huff Post platform - this may lead to other indirect gain and even direct gain if HuffPo ends up paying you. I think the critics of the HuffPo are actually accusing it of 'slavery' not feudalism. Apologies for what is a totally pedantic point - greetings from the just out of feudalism Old World, cheers Charlie Beckett LSE I think there is a misunderstanding of feudalism here. It was actually a system of exchange. Serfs got security in exchange for giving up some of their labour. Knights were given land by a King in exchange for some military service. So everyone ‘benefits’ albeit with a rather rigid hierarchical structure (plus some other downsides such as various wars and plagues).
So in that sense I think Huff Post blogging might be a kind of feudalism.
You write something and in return you get the kudos and reach of the Huff Post platform – this may lead to other indirect gain and even direct gain if HuffPo ends up paying you.
I think the critics of the HuffPo are actually accusing it of ‘slavery’ not feudalism.
Apologies for what is a totally pedantic point – greetings from the just out of feudalism Old World,
cheers
Charlie Beckett
LSE

]]> By: Dave Saunders http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2011/02/15/no-blogging-for-free-is-not-feudalism/#comment-17930 Dave Saunders Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:18:12 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=13069#comment-17930 Thank you! I'm so tired of hearing about how how these models are like a new form of sharecropping. Ohhhh the people are oppressed. They can't get out. I've written for some of these sites and you know what? It really helped me work my chops for writing and honing my reporting skills. That alone had huge value to me, which I took to other clients. How long would it have taken to publish 100 articles for the Washington Post and enjoy the same personal benefits? I don't even want to think about it. Thank you! I’m so tired of hearing about how how these models are like a new form of sharecropping. Ohhhh the people are oppressed. They can’t get out. I’ve written for some of these sites and you know what? It really helped me work my chops for writing and honing my reporting skills. That alone had huge value to me, which I took to other clients. How long would it have taken to publish 100 articles for the Washington Post and enjoy the same personal benefits? I don’t even want to think about it.

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