Via Vodkapundit
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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has criticised the new web-based media for “paranoid fantasy, self-indulgent nonsense and dangerous bigotry”. He described the atmosphere on the world wide web as a free-for-all that was “close to that of unpoliced conversation”.
Bit of friendly advice: if you’re intent on criticizing web-based media, Dr. Williams, I’d start with the way they permit quotes to be taken out of context and how that leads to relentless mocking of public authorities foolish enough to suggest conversations, in any context, should be policed. I’m guessing you’re about to learn first hand what that feels like.
To be fair, his criticism was more aimed at journalism that’s rushed online than blogs, but he might have chosen his words more carefully…not unlike the misinterpreting (willful or otherwise) of Senator Durbin’s words, the Archbishop’s speech is sure to confirm existing prejudices and provide further fodder for those determined to pummel their opponents.
FWIW, I saw the story this morning, noted the inflammatory lede, read the rest of the story, noticed it seemed quite reasonable, decided it wasn’t worth taking note of without reading the whole speech in context, and concluded that it seemed an effort unlikely to prove worth the time.
But that’s just me.
But, although I may be wrong, I’m pretty sure this story was written in a printed newspaper.
“…web-based media […] permit quotes to be taken out of context….”
This makes them different from this non-web-based story, or from printed media, how?
“unpoliced conversation”
Quel horreur!
But, although I may be wrong, I’m pretty sure this story was written in a printed newspaper.
“…web-based media […] permit quotes to be taken out of context….”
Reading comprehension: it’s the nature of web-based media that permit[s] quotes to be taken out of context…that’s what the good Dr. should have criticized, not the (most carelessly worded) “unpoliced” conversations.
This was covered rather well by Harry’s Place: the Times (print) took Williams out of context, incidentally, and the blogger corrected them. See my name-link.
I have a permit to take quotes out of context from print right here, officer.
Yeah but that just proves the Bishop’s point since you’re on the web, Gary. I think you’d have to look long and hard to find a print journalist taking a quote out of context…
“I have a permit to take quotes out of context from print right here, officer.”
But do you have a poetic license?
“But do you have a poetic license?”
Are they in season again? Really, I’m afraid I become queasy when it comes to the gutting and skinning part. You can have my quota. I’ll just take these snaps.
Are they in season again? Really, I’m afraid I become queasy when it comes to the gutting and skinning part.
Now, now. It’s perfectly humane as long as you use every part of the poet.
There’s nothing in Williams’ speech to suggest that he thinks unpoliced conversations are a bad thing. He merely points out that they lead to different outcomes to traditional journalism.
WTF is all the fuss about?
Speech in full here.
Archibishop Williams has been a huge disappointment to liberal Anglicans with his mealy-mouthed appeasement of the hysterical conservatives on the issue of gay clergy. The man has no backbone at all.