Supposedly RSS represents the democratization of the dissemination of information. We’ve discussed it on previous shows, but I still have some trepidations as to what that actually means. The presumption, of course, is that one has the necessary technology to access our collective plethora of information. Having gone through periods of feast and famine, this conundrum bothers me quite a bit. This is a revolution, but it’s seemingly a revolution only the bourgeoisie can – for the time being – access.

Then, of course, there’s the question of hegemony. A ticket for today’s digital Revolution is fairly expensive – even for most Americans. Socrates called the pursuit of Knowledge Man’s highest calling. I can’t disagree, but if you want to receive podcasts you need an iPod or similar media playing device. Hell, for that matter you need a computer and high-speed Internet access. There’s something disingenuous about a ‘revolution’ accessible only by the wealthy and privileged of the world. There’s something disingenuous about a ‘revolution’ reliant on a product marketed and manufactured by one of the world’s largest corporations.

But ahh, maybe that’s just the White Guilt talking.

My conflict is that, well, I love this shit. For those of us privileged enough to have access to this technology, it truly is a brave new world. We’re fortunate enough to be living in a golden era of information and technology. As creepy as they are, I love most products by Google. I love having a simple home studio for recording and distributing podcasts. I love keeping in touch with friends via Trillian.

I have reluctantly entered the world of blogging, whereas I jumped at the concept of podcasting. My background is radio, and with the constraints currently placed on the FM dial, podcasting seemed to be a very natural progression for me to make. One of my early mentors taught me the fine art of Radio. Radio (as opposed to today’s ‘radio’) has a long history and tradition of being a true art form. Stations like KFRC and KFI in the 60s proved that the best mix-tape in the world combined with unique and creative personalities could truly serve the public good. Living in Northern California a few years ago, I heard over and over how San Francisco radio of the 60s literally changed lives. I don’t need to detail for you the waste-land that is contemporary radio in America. Say the word ‘radio’ to a stranger, and you can almost guarantee the reaction will be ‘ugh,’ or something similar.

Mention podcasting, however, and the people familiar with it seem to be overcome by a sense of excitement that I have no contemporary frame of reference for. I’ve been told that certain radio shows of the 60s were an escape for the disenfranchised. Regardless of was going on in your life, you could turn on 610 AM late in the evening and groove to fantastic music presented by someone who actually gave a shit. It was a safe place to come, if only for an hour or two. That’s the type of feeling I get when listening to a well-made podcast.

Now, by no means do I wish to go on some nostalgia trip, longing for the ‘good old days’ that never existed. The past is just that: the past. It’s time now to make our own history. Only, with the advent of so-called New Media our history will be forever logged, modified and updated, but never really go away. Brave New World indeed.

So, having issued that disclaimer, I thank you for reading. Hopefully future posts will be less pretentious and more casual. My only real fear about doing this – blogging – is that it will only be read by those who agree with me or share my sentiments. Or that it won’t be read by those who have no concept of a blog. Still, I guess it’s better to shout to a crowd than to not shout at all.

Thanks.

Update on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 1:01PM by Dan Patterson

This was my first blog post, originally posted on the Creepy Sleepy blog, which later became my personal blog.   This was not my first publication online.  That came in August 2004 with the launch of Creepy Sleepy as a podcast stored on the servers of Black Hills State University, and was later iterated on Diamond Mine Media, our first publisher.  But the above was my first, official foray in to blogging as a medium.

After five years the web has changed and matured.  Though I still share the sentiments expressed in this post, my involvement with and relationship to the web has also evolved.  In the 5 years since this post was written I've acquired my domain name, www.danpatterson.com and used the occasion to write a few thoughts on the web and identity online.

5 Years Later: Read the Updated Post on Domains, Identity, and Blogging

Thanks.