Western culture is heading to complete relativism. Total cultural conformity. Fortunately our generation will retain some individual identity, perhaps even the under 10 generation, programmed by internet conformity will partially escape. But their kids will be total clones. Politically and publically, maybe, but in one's own mind and in private life, it seems like the internet encourages all kinds of eccentricities. This may eventually have an effect in physical reality. Cults, for example, especially esoteric ones. Relativism is crippling- it entails some veritable bullets to bite. Snooki's memoirs have the same merit as Shakespeare's plays. Art becomes a mere diversion. Relativistic ethics do not entail tolerance but do entail that Hitler did nothing wrong. But absolutism is also counter-intuitive- "that's not beautiful." Poets get banned from societies. We beckon the problem of universals- what are particulars?
It's because we are heading towards the singularity. It is sprung from the notion that writing is a subjective feeling and can't and shouldn't be judged in anyway. But anyone who's read a great deal know when you read a text that has been edited in the grindstone. The text have sharpness that otherwise is not to be found.
Most humans crave attention, justification, and status. The advent of the internet paved the way for a new set of media channels - this time these channels weren't regulated to shit so that the general public has access to them. People wanting to be noticed and nothing more. People continuing to be people. The reality is that the internet is flooded with media, it's actually become a catalyst that gives people an incentive to create and be creative on their own. Of course there's going to be a lot of shit to shift through. Art has always been that way. Some who had the talent made their way to the public sphere with their art, some who had the talent didn't. Some who didn't have the talent made it, some who didn't have the talent didn't make it. The internet is a vast place. If all you're using is Facebook for a sample, then you're going to be fucking disappointed. As long as the internet is inspiring people to become more comfortable with the idea that they can create art and use it as a tool to express themselves, then I'll continue to see it as a boon and not simply an aggregate of shit and woe. :)
But the internet can also be a one giant echo chamber for the uninvolved and uncreative. If anything, the definition of literature is going to collectively shift to suit these pathological games of hyperactive praise and validation. Also, alternative literature is one of the most sickening, self-involved, and self-indulgent literary circles I've ever seen and it's built from the ground up on platitudes written by whiny college assholes who've had no troubles in life apart from middle class ennui. Everyone is entitled to their feelings, even if they are wrong. Writing good is hard. Encouragement helps but if your goal is praise rather than quality, you'll probably plateau once you're good enough to surround yourself with praise.
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