Anyone listening to the IT Conversations posts of some of the talks at BloggerCon III has undoubtedly heard Dave Winer get really upset when vendors try to speak or comment during the talks, specifically if they mention their affiliation in any manner. I guess I thought this was of interest because in terms of the mainstream podcast content, all the users, developers, and vendors have for the most part been on a honeymoon. Ya know, partying together. Part of the draw of the medium (or it’s content?), for me anyway, was the honesty and the good-natured sense of banding together to do what’s right for everyone involved.
Perhaps the euphoria is over? I’m still not a regular subscriber to Dave’s text blog, but I feel like over the past several months, I have come to know him well. As far as I can tell, he was holding this iteration of the Blogger’s conference for the users and by the users, and any attempt to infringe on that was immediately (and with a rather negative vibe) curtailed.
I’m really torn on what to think about people like Dave, because on one level, I see his genius ideas and hear him so accurately parse problems and organize solutions in mid-conversation. At the same time, I just feel deep down that if he were to refine a few of his mannerisms, some of his revolutionary thoughts would be understood faster by the masses. Adam Curry serves to tone him down a little bit. But I don’t think I’d like it any less if he quit “sticking it to the man”.
Dave, you’re brilliant, and I’m a whiny critic. Keep it up.