Comments on: All Web Sites Are The Same? http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/all-web-sites-are-the-same/ A premier personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sun, 27 May 2012 14:19:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/all-web-sites-are-the-same/comment-page-1/#comment-25486 Paul Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:56:00 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/06/12/all-web-sites-are-the-same/#comment-25486 Well, as long as we are getting existential -- all websites literally are the same. With a medium as grossly self-referential as the internet, it is inevitable. Many sites are nothing more than a smattering of original content far outweighed by the number of links to other sites and material that is (with or without credit) republished from other sites. On the one hand, this is part of the magic of the internet. On the other, it is ripe for the type of abuse that cheapens the very value of the internet. Do we need 15 sites like marketwatch.com, all running a story entitled "Is the housing boom over?" and all quoting Mark Zandi from economy.com? Even in the event that these are not just rewrites of wire stores, you can't help but get the creepy and depressing feeling that either: A. Internet journalists aren't terribly bright, and all run the same obvious story. B. There is a massive conference call each week where they all decide what the "stories" for the next week are going to be. Real journalism is really hard. The internet makes publishing easier, which just means that the overall quality of discourse is lowered. Well, as long as we are getting existential — all websites literally are the same. With a medium as grossly self-referential as the internet, it is inevitable. Many sites are nothing more than a smattering of original content far outweighed by the number of links to other sites and material that is (with or without credit) republished from other sites.

On the one hand, this is part of the magic of the internet. On the other, it is ripe for the type of abuse that cheapens the very value of the internet. Do we need 15 sites like marketwatch.com, all running a story entitled “Is the housing boom over?” and all quoting Mark Zandi from economy.com? Even in the event that these are not just rewrites of wire stores, you can’t help but get the creepy and depressing feeling that either:

A. Internet journalists aren’t terribly bright, and all run the same obvious story.

B. There is a massive conference call each week where they all decide what the “stories” for the next week are going to be.

Real journalism is really hard. The internet makes publishing easier, which just means that the overall quality of discourse is lowered.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/all-web-sites-are-the-same/comment-page-1/#comment-24724 Flexo Mon, 12 Jun 2006 16:12:46 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/06/12/all-web-sites-are-the-same/#comment-24724 All magazines are the same, all newspapers are the same... but the ability to publish is not democratized, which I think is the point of the article. Coca-Cola is not going to produce a magazine that has the value and potential reach as People Magazine, but Coca-Cola and People Magazine can both produce websites that contain articles, video features, podcasts, etc., if they desired, and have the same reach. All magazines are the same, all newspapers are the same… but the ability to publish is not democratized, which I think is the point of the article. Coca-Cola is not going to produce a magazine that has the value and potential reach as People Magazine, but Coca-Cola and People Magazine can both produce websites that contain articles, video features, podcasts, etc., if they desired, and have the same reach.

]]> By: 2¢ Worth http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/all-web-sites-are-the-same/comment-page-1/#comment-24721 2¢ Worth Mon, 12 Jun 2006 15:10:57 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2006/06/12/all-web-sites-are-the-same/#comment-24721 Hey Flexo, maybe someone ought to tell him the corollary - all magazines are alike, with glossy pages, black and white and color print, and more ads than content - so regardless of their owners or subscribers, they can do the same thing! Ultimately, whether website, print or other media, there are two parts that'll decide success or failure 1) The content (and presentation), which determines public and customer success and 2) The business and revenue model, which determines sustainability and financial success. Napster had the first, but not the second - and there are probably many more such examples around. Hey Flexo, maybe someone ought to tell him the corollary – all magazines are alike, with glossy pages, black and white and color print, and more ads than content – so regardless of their owners or subscribers, they can do the same thing!

Ultimately, whether website, print or other media, there are two parts that’ll decide success or failure

1) The content (and presentation), which determines public and customer success and

2) The business and revenue model, which determines sustainability and financial success.

Napster had the first, but not the second – and there are probably many more such examples around.

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