libertango | Homo Economicus taken too far

In this conversation, someone posted:

"Bloging does not get away from the economics of news collection. Blogs are still largely dependent on newspapers paying for the collection of news that the Bloggers free ride on... There is a major free-rider issue in blogging that we are not incorporating into the analysis."

{re the first word, this is a cut-and-paste}

I replied:

"The problem with Spencer's analysis is it presumes that "news" is the sole product of blogs. That may well be true for himself and others like him. But, for myself, I read blogs because I want to learn particular people's reaction to the news. That's something that traditional news outlets just can't provide -- mostly because they don't employ the particular people involved.

In other words, for me, Spencer is saying something like: Hanging out at political bars like Frank Fat's in Sacramento, or Manuel's in Atlanta, has a "free-rider issue". That's not it at all. You're a regular at a place like that because you want to know what the other regulars think.

The overwhelming majority of blogs are written not for economic incentive, but because people like talking to like-minded people. Not only do most people usually not expect to make money doing that, many will pay for the privilege to boot. (Everything from trade shows to social bars to science fiction conventions to annual subscriptions for blogging/journaling sites come to mind.)

It's the conversation that matters."

*^*^*

A fannish follow-up: Many conventions don't get this. They think their "product" is the huxster room, or the pros, etc. The real "product" of a convention is, other fans to talk to.

A convention that does get this is Potlatch, which is being chaired by

akirlu, and will be on February 24, 25, and 26, 2006 at The Best Western Executive Inn in Seattle this year.

If you'd like the finest in fannish hanging-out, do join us.