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]
