On Friedersdorf, Conor and James kick things off by discussing Tom Scocca’s viral Gawker article defending snark and attacking smarm. They consider the perils of Internet fame for regular people. How will today’s kids come to view the difference between the online world and real life? Conor worries that the surveillance state is causing Americans to self-censor their communications. James extols the virtues of “view from somewhere” journalism. And they conclude by discussing millennials, the “passion economy,” and the dark side of geeking out.
Play entire videoTom Scocca on smarm
Upworthy
James on smarm
Conor on the NSA collecting cell phone location data
Rod Dreher on writers’ fear of surveillance
Jay Rosen on the “view from nowhere”
Bill Keller vs. Glenn Greenwald
How Conor’s phrase ended up on an Occupy sign
James on the budget deal
James on the passion economy
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