The big blog

Hey, I’ve enjoyed the Twitter media absurdity as much as anybody. In fact, I’ve used it as fodder for humor or dismay in more than a few posts here. The overblown, over-hyped, patently ridiculous nature of the whole phenomenon has been a harmless enough source of amusement and bemusement, and the backlash has been particularly satisfying to observe. 

But there’s a point when over-the-top becomes too-far-gone, and it’s just not funny anymore.

The creation of Twitter…is as significant and paradigm-shifting as the invention of Morse code, the telephone, radio, television or the personal computer.
—Ashton Kutcher

Really? Really? It’s hard to believe this quote was meant as anything but parody, but frankly it’s too broad and daft to be funny. And taken as a sincere statement, it’s just…well…insulting. I didn’t think my intelligence could still be insulted by the mainstream media—my hide is too scarred and calloused from past offenses—but apparently there are a few nerve endings still active. Of course, Pretty Boy can say whatever he wants, and it’s silly to overreact to the mutterings of anyone of such meager talent. But the above quote was printed in an article in Time. As if it meant something. As if it might represent a legitimate point of view.

I mean, it’s no surprise that the callow Mr. Kutcher clearly doesn’t know the definition of paradigm (I was impressed, though, that he’s heard of Morse Code). But the folks at Time magazine ought to have at least looked the word up. Note to editors: Just because you hear everyone else using a word doesn’t mean you know how to use it, too.

So, you know what, Ashton? Time magazine? Until you’ve all read Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientfic Revolutions (which first popularized the terms paradigm and paradigm-shift), lay off the claims regarding Twitter’s historical significance. In fact, it’d be nice if you’d stop talking about Twitter altogether. No more Oprah interviews. No more articles. And, heaven help us, no more tweets.

It’s just not funny anymore.