10.13.2004

On the nature of news

What people define as newsworthy has always intrigued me. This intrigue peaked, of course, in the publications of my middle school and high school, but also in the newspaper of my beloved childhood home, the Chappell Register (where "news" consisted of letters from Santa schoolchildren were assigned by their teachers to write).

Still, these pieces of journalism suffered because of a lack of news. There simply isn't much to report in a town of only 1000 people (other than gossip of course). I am far more likely to give Chappell a pass than I am for a national publication, such as Wired News, in whom I was disappointed for this story, which actually wasted the hard drive space on some server on the internet with a story about how some iPod users don't want to wear the distinctive white earbud headphones because of their self-asserted "individuality" (never mind the fact that there are lots of them doing this). Granted, this may be a cultural phenomenon, but I simply do not see any relevance to anything here.

This may, of course, be because I do not own an iPod and am not part of the Cult of the Mac. Any thoughts, Andrew (who trendily owns both an iPod and an iBook, and has even sold his blog's soul to iTunes)? What about you, Christy (who owns the iPod and iBook, and is thinking about selling her blog's soul to iTunes).


Update:

Christy reminded me that Chris also has both an iPod and an iBook. Sorry Chris! You can feel free to comment too (but it would be great it you got an account)!

12 comments:

andrew said...

The Cult of the Mac has no official opinion on this matter.

Christy said...

I mostly agree with you. Even as a zealous iPod promoter and supporter, that article seemed relatively pointless. It's one thing to report on Apple's next big development or software program, but this was silly. I would assign the "cultural phenomenon" label to iPods in general, but that doesn't mean we don't have better things to do with our time (like blogging! hello?!?) than read about how someone doesn't want to be like someone else, and iPods happen to be involved! Gasp!! (Don't, however, misconstrue this as a lack of Apple enthusiasm on my part. I'm especially excited these days to have my iBook back.)

Here's something else that bugs me about the content of this article: One of my pet peeves in terms of principle is this whole obsession with being different and unique. People don't often acknowledge or even realize that if they choose their wardrobe, restaurant, or gadget based on being different from the crowd, they are STILL making their decisions according to the group! (So if I'm Bush and I decide to wear a blue tie just because Kerry's sporting red, I am still fundamentally relating my choice to his.) The oppositional nature of the black headphone choice seems relatively arbitrary to me; in my mind, these people have still ultimately failed to attain and utilize their precious independence. Instead of conforming to the group, they have chosen to conform to "not-the-group," which is still, in fact, a group.

Jacob said...

Before I get any hitmen sent my way from Steve Jobs, I should probably clarify that I have a deep respect for Apple. Partially I like their dogged determination to break back into the market; they remind me of the Nebraska Bookstore, whom I also admire.

Mainly because they have the best (easiest with the most stability) system out on the market. Linux (and the other UNIX systems) is too complicated, but very reliable; Windows is very easy to use, but it is bloated and often slow. Mac's OS X is based on the BSD kernel, but its GUI (Graphical User Interface) is so gorgeous and easy to use! In fact, I'm seriously debating getting an iBook for my next computer (which I might need by next summer--we'll see). Also, I really want an iPod. I don't really have anything other than my big stereos in which to listen to music now.

So, I wasn't dissing Apple & friends--I was mainly dissing the idea that someone's earphone choice was news. By the way, if you to the Wired News page today (the story I linked to was from yesterday), this story is in the "In case you missed it" section. Hmmmm...Maybe people missed it on purpose?

Jacob Gerber

andrew said...

I would also like to remind you, Jacob, that Bethany is a proud owner of an iPod and a Mac. You probably gathered that by her post, but I just felt the need to bolster the solidarity of our Mac cult.

I'm going to be honest for a second (and just for one second.) I found the article interesting. I haven't read much on wired, but I found it more interesting than the average headline I see there ("Google to Introduce Internet Coffee Roaster," "New Google Search Engine Will Even Locate Car Keys," etc.).

Why you ask? Because it wasn't really about technology. (You might therefore argue it shouldn't be on Wired. No contention here.) Instead, it showed how our attitudes/mindsets are reflected in, rather than altered by, current technology. As our good friend Thoreau says, "An improved means to an unimproved end."

It was also interesting as a study of what happens when "non-conformists" become the conformists. Those who can't tolerate being a part of any sort of mainstream break off yet again to form their own subculture within a subculture. Interesting stuff.

Actually I just didn't want to conform to the popular opinion of the article.

Jacob said...

I suppose I should note that the story was not a particularly bad one from the terms you stated. Still, I take great issue with the fact that the sort of headphones people are wearing counts as news. No one has ever written a story on how many Q-Tips I used in a day, nor on how long I have had my cell phone, and I have a hard time seeing how those issues are any more or less newsworthy than the fact that certain people with an axe to grind against conventions wear unconventional headphones. Perhaps if I joined the cult I might think differently, though...

Christy said...

Actually, if you truly joined the cult, you'd think different.

andrew said...

Jacob,
It still seems you're thinking that the story is about the headphones. I posit (what a great word) that it is only superficially about that, much in the same way that "The Old Man and the Sea" is superfically about a boring fishing trip.

I realize that I'm in an argumentative mood tonight, so don't take anything too personally. It's 1:00 AM and Hegel is getting under my skin.

Jacob said...

Andrew--
You're actually comparing Ernest Hemingway to a staff writer for Wired News? Maybe you shouldn't read Hegel ever again (which I don't think you would mind).

skoenig said...

ew. i hate hemingway.

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