Following the Perez Hilton Example

Ben Metcalfe wrote an incredible post today about the current state of the tech blogosphere. The entry, which carries the title Puppets, theatre and the conflation of 'successful' with 'popular,' notes that much of the posturing around the hallowed halls of Techmeme High is not so much an effort toward producing quality reporting and analysis, but rather, an effort to be the coolest kid on the block.

Even online, the tech blogosphere is still but a tiny corner of the world. Whatever fame and fortune await tech bloggers, it isn't mainstream, and it's doubtful it ever will be. My parents still have absolutely no idea what I do, much less who any of the players are, nor do most of my friends. All of them, however, know who Perez Hilton is.

What has made Perez Hilton a household name is a combination of timing, gimmick, and drama. A good portion of his notoriety comes from the frequent lawsuits against him, as well as the nature of his blog, which offers a major dose of celebrity trainwrecks. Everyone likes a good trainwreck, and I don't consider myself immune from that voyeurism, whether it's one that's out there in the mainstream media or in the tech blogosphere.

However, what Metcalfe points out is that nothing is produced out of a trainwreck, nor the gawking at it while it happens. It's entertainment for the sake of entertainment, but is doesn't build anything, promote anything, or support anything, and at the end of the day, are pageviews drawn in by the carnage really what anyone wants to consider a measure of success?

Many of us are drawn into the tabloidesque spiral, and Metcalfe's post is a good reminder of what working in this industry, in any capacity, is really supposed to be about.