Amateur, shmamateur.

THE CULT OF THE AMATEUR

Host Nora Young in conversation with Andrew Keen, author of The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing our Culture. While the potential of the internet is all the rage, Keen, a Silicon Valley alumnus, has written a polemic arguing that everything we know about the Internet is dangerous to the very foundations of western civilization. Keen believes that the democratization of the internet means an end to expert opinion, the very notion of truth, reasonable political discourse and the very business models that have allowed music, literature, movies, television and culture itself to flourish. Nora Young spoke with Andrew Keen from a studio in San Francisco.

This interview annoyed me to no end. Keen has a polished English accent and spoke with such venom in his voice towards an industry that obviously treated him very well. The very phrase "cult of the amateur" indicates that he believes he's above me because he's a published author. Bah. I'm an amateur through and through, Andrew. I'd trust a bunch of amateurs who have no vested interest to give me a more honest opinion than a paid journalist who's employer has proven leanings one way or the other.

In true amateur fashion, bite me, Andrew.