Greg Verdino: Friction is stranger than the truth

If you're feeling fed-up from a rough week at work and are looking to let off some steam, you might want to visit Friction.tv, a new video sharing site out of the UK that is positioned as a forum for topical debates. Ostensibly "an online platform for user generated news and opinion," it actually amounts to a platform for people with extreme points of view on a given topic can egg each other on. Opinionated citizens spark a new debate by posting a video op-ed piece and site visitors join in the debate by posting video responses or text comments.

Check out this gem in which a British radio personality argues in favor of global warming (possibly/probably with tongue-in-cheek, but still) -- this video has prompted 70+ responses (mostly anonymous, interestingly enough, and some quite serious.)

[Feed and email readers click through to watch - all others, if you don't see the video controls, click on the still to activate them.]

I'm all for conversation and love the idea of a platform that spurs genuine consumer-to-consumer debate, but I wonder if a site that seemingly caters to the crazies (or nutters, as they say in the UK) does more to hurt the mainstream perception of consumer generated media than to help it.

What do you think? I'd especially love to hear from my British readers. Or if you're feeling particularly ornery, feel free to start a debate at Friction.tv and post the link in the comments here. :-)

[via PSFK and Urban Junkies]

My Books & eBooks

Download my FREE marketing and social media eBook. In it, I present 24 'signature' posts from my first two years of blogging. Feel free to share '4 & 20 Blog Posts' with your friends and colleagues.
The second Age of Conversation volume features chapters from 237 authors in 15 countries. My contribution explores social media fatigue. As with the original Age of Conversation, all proceeds benefit Variety.
Buy The Age of Conversation, the unique collaborative book featuring contributions by more than 100 bloggers, including me. All proceeds go to Variety, The Children's Charity.

About

Greg Verdino is a futurist, marketer, writer and speaker who works as Chief Strategy Officer at marketing consultancy crayon LLC. His first book, microMARKETING, is due from McGraw-Hill in summer 2010. This blog looks at trends in media and marketing, as these industries grapple with the changes being brought on by disruptive technologies, new business imperatives and the rise of the empowered consumer.

July 2009