# “Free content” magical thinking

- Link: https://www.andreidraganescu.info/2016/02/07/free-content-magical-thinking/
- Published: 2016-02-07T14:48:25+03:00
- Author: Andrei Draganescu

Blunt headline, I’m sorry, but if this article was not biased, the introduction 
would have been more meaningful. But the sway towards the lucrative problems and
issues of distributing content nullified the start.

> With all the problems of this world, these guys are spending billions on going
> to Mars and living to 200. WTF?

If we’re honest about it, we will not be very sad if they make it, and have a way
of delaying our death for about 100 years. Also considering the **political shit
storm** which Earth has going on for far longer than Jupiter has had its **atmospheric****
anticyclonic storm,** going to Mars for a change doesn’t sound like such a bad idea
either.

It is very unfair to tease us with a discussion about unleashing a Rottweiler in
the room filled with the smartest cats and then, instead, unleash Garfield who makes
smart remarks about the smartest cats.

I, random Joe of the Internets, believe “The problem” is _obviously_ not Google’s,
nor YouTube’s. What do you suggest they should do? Other than quoting Apple, who
is seriously invested in being the holy saviour of the content producers. Apple 
wants to become the exclusive carrier of quality content period. Should the content
producers give them that? Should the content producers stop producing?

### Should we start throwing milk away?

#### Again?

But I wonder, while Free Basics failed, governments ban corporate attempts to extend
connectivity even further, without any notable action to do it without corporate
interest involved, is there a content starvation in other parts of the world?

All the people (artist management, bulk copyright owners) who have already spent
decades upon decades fighting the transformation by technology of an antiqued industry,
I’m sure they never ever felt like the smartest cats in the room. No way, sir. But
in doing so, how come with all the money involved, all the content empires didn’t
do one thing other than becoming even bigger content empires?

Don’t you think it’s a bit unfair to mislabel so easily the silicon valley types,
while the others have proven how relentless they will be throwing money at fixing
the leaks in their money wells, but sparing no change on solving any of:

> All the problems of the world.

I mean, seriously, Disney? We need an army of angry mobs to stop brainwashing whole
generations with weird stereotypes, only to have them start over with different 
stereotypes. That’s the best they could do for the world’s problems.

With 400 dramatic series produced, we get how many addressing real issues? How many
dramatising any of “all the problems of the world”, and how many creating fantasy
land mind numbing sitcoms?

> When I asked in the Q & A about YouTube he said, “YouTube represents 40% of the
> streaming volume of the music business and 4% of the revenue. It’s a ripoff, but
> Google doesn’t care.” I wonder what Ruth Porat, the new CFO of Google, sitting
> in the audience thought of that?

@Ruth Porat thought: _Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too
difficult for Me?__ _Would that make any difference?

As for advertising and eyeballs, perhaps the problem is different. Maybe new generations
are so underwhelmed by over saturation by:

 * brand values
 * brand social values
 * brand social responsibility
 * branded sports
 * branded events
 * branded content
 * sponsored news
 * advertorials
 * I could make this list so long that it’d fill up the maximum document size in
   Medium’s noSQL database

Today, brands, and companies advertising for brands, would throw money at _anything_
that could shed some hope on the crumbling efforts of bringing back former glory.

How can you possibly frame that *Heineken Beer story like it is the problem of Google
or Yahoo or who else was algorithmically spending their money? Is that not showing
the crass lack of expertise of whoever entrusted that money to be spent like that?
_This is real time business, you can stop the flow of cash the minute you realise
it makes no sense. _But, ahem, how awesome is that $6 for $1 that the trapped TV
consumer was tricked to supply!

Ok, rant over, [Jonathan Taplin](https://medium.com/@jonathantaplin).

#### Oh one more thing…

### Ending with a Threat

> But unless the tech guys start looking at media with a little humility we are 
> going to be in trouble.

Is 100% not a good way to encourage dialog between the tech people and the media
people. You’re only going to make those average smart cats behave more like felines
and show some claws. Just my 2 cents.