I’m exercised by this post in Scott’s Workblog

It refers to a large diagram (not Scott’s I hasten to add) which purports to give some idea of people’s digital identity, but does it? To me it is more of a mish-mash – anyone can sit down, think about what electronic traces they leave in the world, and roughly categorise that into something with a little visual appeal. But on deeper analysis, what is there? What is it actually saying?

It’s a phenomenon I think of as the triumph of presentation over content. I see it as what politicians are good at – giving the impression of being not only terribly concerned about whatever problem might be salient, but with some good policies to tackle it. Or so it seems at first glance, which is all voters often give.

And people who go in for this strategy seem averse to any real critique. They don’t offer much, and they brush off any they receive. What they criticise is only things that are easy to demonise. Straw men proliferate, as long as people don’t recognise them as straw men.

I’ve seen this too many times now. No, I’m not going to name names. I just invite readers to use their critical faculties. Think. Reason. Don’t be afraid of criticism: just make it constructive, and kind whenever possible.