A Complete Explanation Of Everything

"I was on the Late Late Show for the first time on Friday night - and it is probably the scariest thing I've ever done. It's a tough gig, especially when reactions will be both positive and negative. The negative ones are full on right now. I had some common-sense things to say about property advertising and the lack of fresh ideas or alternative options for sellers. I hadn't seen the show so I decided to Google it. On some property information websites I came across what I can only describe as hate mail. From what I can tell these sites offer advice and information of you log on and chat to to others. I've always wondered about those who chat and gossip online. They clearly have too much time on their hands, especially if they're talking about me. Enough said."

Liz O'Kane

Mail on Sunday

Sunday 18 May 2008

You know I haven't bought a newspaper ever with any regularity, I used to read the Indo years ago because my Dad brought it home from work... Then I worked in a newsagents and had access to alot of newspapers, I used to read the Sun and the News of the World on the morning break for the sheer hilarity of the rubbish inside... Nowadays, if I'm travelling I might pick up The Guardian world edition or something but really the only thing I could claim to buy regularly is L'Equipe whenever I'm in France, now there's a paper!!!

Basically, Liz is bemoaning the new media in this article, those who "chat and gossip online" and actually play a role in determining the content of these chipwrappers, she quite clearly sets her stall out as not wanting a critically engaged audience, who actively want to test her arguments and assumptions...

I suppose, it's the opposite of the academic tradition, when instead of welcoming peer review (let's call it unsolicited hate mail) you actually go out and say, let me say whatever the hell I want and in no hand or shape, should you be able to take me to task.

That's what these property porn programmes are all about, I'm the expert, I'll take you round and show you places out of your budget because you've already made your mind up that you're going to part with that bundle of cash. TV screens and newspapers work in one direction only, output... That's not going to be the norm from now on, Liz...

Those who: "chat and gossip online", effectively and who root their arguments on real fundamentals including statistics and references will play an increasingly important role and the one great thing about this whole adventure of the 'pin to date is it has settled an argument I used to have with certain party members when I was in the SP.

The battle of ideas is it online, is the internet important? Coloured by their experiences with Windymedia, which unfortunately has descended into alot of vilification and online recrimination, there was a definite school of thought that the web was fast becoming untenable as a conduit for discourse. I think the 'pin has succinctly proven, that if conducted as honestly and openly as possible and with a clear sense of purpose, real discourse will breath and create effectively.

The 'pin was an interesting coalescing of a number of factors that eventually gained a critical mass, the next generation of forums that Ireland and Europe will enjoy, will be very important for the creation of the zeitgeist that will determine the content and course of our society.

In short, we've cast these words into a void and they've resonated and grown stronger.

Liz, you're running scared...