I must say that all the "cutting edge" folks here seem to go beserk 
when someone really puts a little "edge" into one of their vlogs.

Paul Knight's piece was a wee bit over the top.  However, so much of 
it was right on target.  I'd say I'd agree with 70% to 80% of the 
sentiments.  Vlogging is supposed to be about saying the things you 
won't get to see and here on TV.  I think most Americans deserve to 
be subjected to watching this attack by the two Englsihmen.  I think, 
even to extent it stereotypes and exaggerates, it is the kind of raw 
blunt over-the-top criticism that 51% of Americans richly deserve for 
electing a friggin moron as their President.

The last thing the vlogosphere needs is "political correctness" and 
blandness.  I just watched a documentary about Police abuse which I 
thought was also a bit over the top made by people who obviously 
sympathized with the anti-globalization crowd that rioted in Oregon a 
few years ago.  It did validate some of the protesters charges about 
how the police target group leaders, build photofiles of protesters 
(especially those masked) etc. That documentary failed to mention the 
wanton destruction black masked anarchists caused.  I against 
terrorism from the left just as I am against terrorism from the 
right.  I hate censorship as much as terrorism.  Let us see the heads 
being chopped off prisoners in Iraq.  Also, let us see the terrible 
carnage inflicted on innocent civilians by American military.

I thought the "battle of the vlogs" which Paul Knight's video 
produced was more stimulating than offensive.  Charles Hope did the 
most effective counter-vlog.  He ordered some English food, had it 
delivered and then ate it wearing a Union Jack Tshirt and waving a 
tiny English flag.  It was sheer hilarious understatement.  Neither 
of those videos would have been permitted on contemporary TV because 
they would have been considered "offensive".  "Offensive" really 
means they carry a strong enough message to challenge people to 
think.  Paul talked about a "virtual Hype Park".  Hyde Park is known 
as a place where even a mad man can get up and give his rant.  Paul 
lived up to that tradition quite nicely. :-)

Michael Verdi has raised the question as to whether vloggers aren't 
drifting in the direction of simply recreating traditional TV.  I 
think he is more concerned with creeping commercialism.  However, 
creeping politeness and a goody-goody mentality are just as 
destructive as commercial corruption.  You won't seek RocketBoom 
playing Paul&Paul's vlog and Charles Hope's response.

I really have resisted getting drawn into all of this beyond leaving 
comments on both vlogs.  However, the group-think and nice-talk about 
avoiding nation-bashing and stereotyping sounds to me like a 
combination of preacher-talk and me-too-ism.


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