Comments on: Virtual numbers http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/ by Jeff Jarvis Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:42:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Andy Freeman http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250495 Andy Freeman Wed, 27 Dec 2006 06:50:29 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250495 The claim of uniformity comes from MSM - I'm just accepting it. The claim of uniformity comes from MSM - I’m just accepting it.

]]> By: Barney Lerten http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250494 Barney Lerten Wed, 27 Dec 2006 06:46:25 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250494 One thing missing from the tale is Wired magazine's "tour guide," which I'm sure touted some of the numbers. Another missing thing is the 25th letter of the alphabet - WHY don't folks who sign up use it? And I recall a posting to a breathless BizWeek piece on SL online, where a lady expressed her frustration about how every time they upgraded the program, she had to upgrade her video card. I have a 14-month-old computer and it doesn't meet the minimum SL requirements for a video card (integrated graphics). I'll get a card, as will many to hit the mainstream middle ground for Vista. But I'm sure that's a big reason why there are more sign-ups than users - they don't set a minimum requirement (or even a fee!) to sign up, and folks don't check out the system requirements first. I'm no gamer or I'd be going for the latest overclocked liquid-cooled thingamabobs. But Iwould like to dive into this virtual world, and they've simply set the bar too high. One thing missing from the tale is Wired magazine’s “tour guide,” which I’m sure touted some of the numbers.
Another missing thing is the 25th letter of the alphabet - WHY don’t folks who sign up use it? And I recall a posting to a breathless BizWeek piece on SL online, where a lady expressed her frustration about how every time they upgraded the program, she had to upgrade her video card.
I have a 14-month-old computer and it doesn’t meet the minimum SL requirements for a video card (integrated graphics). I’ll get a card, as will many to hit the mainstream middle ground for Vista. But I’m sure that’s a big reason why there are more sign-ups than users - they don’t set a minimum requirement (or even a fee!) to sign up, and folks don’t check out the system requirements first.
I’m no gamer or I’d be going for the latest overclocked liquid-cooled thingamabobs. But Iwould like to dive into this virtual world, and they’ve simply set the bar too high.

]]> By: Christian http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250456 Christian Wed, 27 Dec 2006 04:51:20 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250456 <blockquote cite="Andy Freeman">Moreover, as Jarvis repeatedly points out, “reporters” as a class are still in a “bloggers aren’t journalists” mode.</blockquote> An increasingly silly assertion. A recurring theme here is the injustice of slagging all bloggers for the inelegance and inaccuracy of a few. I notice no similar compunctions in regards to "reporters as a class," or "the MSM," or what have you.

Moreover, as Jarvis repeatedly points out, “reporters” as a class are still in a “bloggers aren’t journalists” mode.

An increasingly silly assertion.

A recurring theme here is the injustice of slagging all bloggers for the inelegance and inaccuracy of a few.

I notice no similar compunctions in regards to “reporters as a class,” or “the MSM,” or what have you.

]]> By: Ming666 http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250162 Ming666 Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:50:37 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250162 in the second life citation in wikipedia they reference the notion of "signed up" vs. actually using/living. based upon the "reporting" or "hype", i have downloaded the client and tried to experience my "second life". i can only say that as a retired catholic, it struck me as what purgatory must be like. in the second life citation in wikipedia they reference the notion of “signed up” vs. actually using/living. based upon the “reporting” or “hype”, i have downloaded the client and tried to experience my “second life”. i can only say that as a retired catholic, it struck me as what purgatory must be like.

]]> By: I.F. Stoner http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250153 I.F. Stoner Tue, 26 Dec 2006 20:19:46 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250153 >>> When will reporters catch up with the facts? Given that Reuters is the official news agency there, not bloody likely. >>> When will reporters catch up with the facts?

Given that Reuters is the official news agency there, not bloody likely.

]]> By: Paw http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250136 Paw Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:32:40 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250136 This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to measuring anything empirically in the online world. Unique users, advertising impressions, whatever it may be - unless a set of standard definitions is created and overseen/audited by a third party measurment service (and adhered to by ALL legitimate online businesses), this sort of monkey business will continue. And BTW, isn't this a Sarbanes Oxley issue - the overstating of the volume of a business in order to make the asset appear more robust than it truly is? Don't count on the MSM to help figure any of this out - they don't even know where to begin asking the right questions. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to measuring anything empirically in the online world. Unique users, advertising impressions, whatever it may be - unless a set of standard definitions is created and overseen/audited by a third party measurment service (and adhered to by ALL legitimate online businesses), this sort of monkey business will continue. And BTW, isn’t this a Sarbanes Oxley issue - the overstating of the volume of a business in order to make the asset appear more robust than it truly is?

Don’t count on the MSM to help figure any of this out - they don’t even know where to begin asking the right questions.

]]> By: Andy Freeman http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250135 Andy Freeman Tue, 26 Dec 2006 19:31:43 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250135 What about them? Surely you're not going to claim that they're the norm? If they were, Shirky wouldn't have a story.... Moreover, as Jarvis repeatedly points out, "reporters" as a class are still in a "bloggers aren't journalists" mode. If Shirky isn't a reporter, his connection to facts tells us nothing about reporters' relationship to same. You don't get to say bloggers are reporters when it makes reporters look good and not when it doesn't. What about them?

Surely you’re not going to claim that they’re the norm? If they were, Shirky wouldn’t have a story….

Moreover, as Jarvis repeatedly points out, “reporters” as a class are still in a “bloggers aren’t journalists” mode. If Shirky isn’t a reporter, his connection to facts tells us nothing about reporters’ relationship to same.

You don’t get to say bloggers are reporters when it makes reporters look good and not when it doesn’t.

]]> By: Choire http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250093 Choire Tue, 26 Dec 2006 17:55:12 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250093 Really, Andy? And what about reporters like Clay Shirky? Really, Andy? And what about reporters like Clay Shirky?

]]> By: Andy Freeman http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250071 Andy Freeman Tue, 26 Dec 2006 17:07:30 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/12/26/virtual-numbers/#comment-250071 > When will reporters catch up with the facts? Why would they even try? A reporter's job is to string together sentences so someone will look at the story long enough to see the ads around it. > When will reporters catch up with the facts?

Why would they even try?

A reporter’s job is to string together sentences so someone will look at the story long enough to see the ads around it.

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