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Sep
17
Offline cannot handle trolls
Filed Under Social web, Events
Last week I went to a debate with Andrew Keen at the Front Line Club. I wouldn’t normally bother but for two reasons. The discussion was moderated by Richard Sambrook, whose opinions I respect and hearing him talk to Andrew Keen sounded intriguing. Secondly, having read many refutations and critiques of Mr Keen’s book, meeting the man had a marginal interest. Irritatingly, debating with the man invariably leads from his arguments to the person he is. It is like trying to have a conversation about a picture or an image with a colourblind man. He is looking at the same thing but, in his vision, there are colours missing and so in his mind the resulting image may be fundamentally different from reality. In the end, you find yourself insisting that the colours are really there and that he should just take your word for it. He, on the other hand, insists on describing what is in front of him without taking any notice of others telling him that his vision is flawed.
This is would be a kind interpretation of Mr Keen’s predicament. The unkind is that the shift from his arguments to himself is precisely what he wants. He delights in people attacking him, debating him, telling him how mistaken is about the internet. As long as people engage with him and as long as he enrages, his book and his visibility are doing well. Mission accomplished. This view is supported by two things at least. One is that every time Mr Keen encourters a counter-example to his assertions and a counter-argument to his statements, he sidesteps - he was writing about the music industry or the media industry, in the US, not anywhere else etc etc. The fact that never stopped him from making sweeping statements about the internet, the Web and the Web 2.0 and a number of other things that he doesn’t like never gets aired. Andrew Keen’s Great Resetting Act is a wonderful way of staying on the circuit and reaping more publicity. It has never been about the ball, but always about the man… who wants to reinvent himself as a polemicist (a la Christopher Hitchins, I am told ).
One of the reasons he can get away with this is the format of ‘debates’ he is invited to. There is no real debate, in a set-up where Keen is on the stage, with a microphone permanently attached and anyone wanting to disagree or pick up on a point has to wait his turn for the microphone and the floor. During his talks Keen makes so many ridiculous statements that in the end you just want to throw the towel in and with an exasperated ‘what’s the point?!’. And that’s just fine by Mr Keen.
The other tactic is sucking up to journalists, the media and music industry, loudly supporting their position as self-appointed priesthood and echoing their anguished cries as the internet re-routes around their expensive temples. So it is rather fun to watch many people within the industries who know better and find themselves arguing against Keen’s elevation of their craft. Richard Sambrook was correcting Keen on a number of points, namely Keen’s definition of a professional journalist - you are paid and your writing is edited, you made it to the priesthood. I cannot think of any other motivation for Keen to make such a patently absurd statement than his desire to get attention from those journos who feel slighted by the barbaric bloggers.
It is Andrew Keen’s ability to employ both tactics successfully that made me realise that the offline doesn’t know how to handle trolls! He is a troll:
… someone who intentionally posts controversial or contrary messages in an online community … with the intention of baiting users into an argumentative response.
The word likely gained currency because of its apt second meaning, drawn from the trolls portrayed in Scandinavian folklore and children’s tales; they are often ugly, obnoxious creatures bent on mischief and wickedness.
I rest my case, ladies and gentlemen… To anyone used to online interactions and communities, this is clear as day. It is the offline with its formalised approach to controversy that gets baited again and again. The advice is ‘Don’t feed the troll!’
Note: I will post my notes from the discussion in the next post, otherwise the above would be sitting in the draft even longer. 
Comments
7 Responses to “Offline cannot handle trolls”
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London VRM meetings
Great post - I couldn’t nail down what it was about (even w/ the post’s subject, must be a slow day for me brain-wise) at first, but you painted a great picture there.
The troll label can be applied haphazardly in certain environments, as there are plenty of clubhouses throughout the web where merely speaking opposite to the prevalent worldview, respectfully, can earn you a troll hat.
Identifying them in real life…I can’t understand why it hadn’t occured to me until I read your post, and that’s why I’m commenting…how could I have been throwing around the troll word for so many years, yet not even think to have applied it to actual people, as opposed to screennames?
Food for thought - - - - I’m linking to your site, and hope to have the time to post on this one right here. Peace - Al (http://deadissue.com)
Lovely post. Had heard some blah-blah re: Keen but wasn’t keeping track of him. Your link to Weinberger really rounded it all out too. Thanks
Paul
Somewhat short notice - but given your attendance at the above, you might be interested in Thursday’s Social Media Club discussion - which is intended to not be another Keen bashing session, but rather to try and discuss the more serious points underneath his theatrical lament - namely who or what is going to be the mediator in the world of social media.
Would be great if you (and anyone else interested who reads this comment) could come. Here is the link for registration. http://www.eventbrite.com/event/66874022
Regards,
Richard
[…] suspect that this may be pertinent to followers of the Andrew Keen trolling that the Net makes everything worse… Posted by alecm on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, at […]
Off-line does not know how to handle ‘trolls’…
A few days ago we quoted Adriana sticking it to Andrew Keen. Well she is at it again in a bit more detail this time. Irritatingly, debating with the man invariably leads from his arguments to the person he is. It is like trying to have a conversation a…
[…] Update: Adriana comes to the realisation that offline can’t handle trolls. […]
That’s hilarious. And well said. I was thinking about going to this too but realised it would be a waste of time and money for the reasons you offered. But you put it better than me! Heh.