Comments on: I can't believe it's free – Chris Anderson

By: Stephane Hamel

Stephane Hamel — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:24:12 +0000

Good post Marshall,
I also commented on Gladwell vs Anderson at http://blog.immeria.net/2009/06/free-or-fee-gladwell-vs-anderson.html

But what strikes me in your post is this quote: “THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE I DONT HAVE THE CHOICE OF GETTING IT ANYWHERE ELSE BUT WHERE THEY DICTATE.”

Wouldn’t it be ridiculous… isn’t Web 2.0 supposed to be about “when I want, where I want, on the device I want, reusable the way I want and contribute the way I want” and end up being locked down by the lure of “financially free” dictating I don’t have any other choice?

Free in the eye of the purchaser always seems a good deal, free in the eyes of the seller is just fine when you have so much money and power you can leverage it otherwise…

Anderson might be playing the game of the “Attention Economy” (another really good book by Davenport)… and interestingly, it seems his speaker fees and his book are far from being free! (plus, the scandal about his willingness to use free content from Wikipedia – whole paragraphs – without giving due credit)…

Stéphane

By: Marshall

Marshall — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:28:42 +0000

Hi Aimee,

Seems like WSJ and The Registar started debunking LT last year (http://www.google.com/m?source=mog&gl=us#/m/search?uipref=6&q=The%20Long%20Tail%20questioned&channel=gp1&gl=us&source=mog&og=gp&source=gp)

Argument was Chris made the numbers fit his concept. When looked at by economists, flaws shows up (it’s an easy error to fall into, btw, though his first book ought to have had more critical review, sounds like).

My personal impression of Chris, he’s pretty good speaking in frount of audience, selling whatever ideas he has, but it didn’t feel, to me, as if Free, had as much substance, as he claims.

And I noted, he’s fromenting debate about his book (not sure it’s published yet, or not); just wondering why John Battelle hasn’t said anything (unless I missed it), they’re old friends from Wired and Industry Standard.

By: Marshall

Marshall — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:26:14 +0000

Thanks Warren, first, I have to set the profile up, later tonight. Usually, I have a question I’m trying to answer, in this case, how much debate about Free is real, vs. Fake publicity drummed up to generate awareness and sell more copies of his book. I’ll work on it before the fireworks!

By: Warren Sukernek

Warren Sukernek — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:59:20 +0000

Marshall, great provocative post as always. The debate is definitely generating buzz for Free. I am anxious to see what else your Radian6 analysis turns up.

Warren Sukernek
Director of Content Marketing
Radian6

By: aimee

aimee — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:42:09 +0000

interesting post. Who/what post do you think has the running start at debunking long tail?