It's the question that has plagued scientists for the better part of a decade: Is there life inside of Stephen A. Smith's head? It would be foolish to rule it out ... after all, life can take many forms, including the smallest of single-cell organisms. But as of now, NASA has no plans beyond sending in a tiny probe to collect rocks. Sadly, Stephen A.'s latest comments have not generated much enthusiasm for more elaborate missions.
In Part III of his interview with the Los Angeles Daily News' Tom Hoffarth, Stephen A. reveals how he would fix journalism: Prevent bloggers from "disseminating information." We understand that it originally had a laugh track.
"And when you look at the internet business, what's dangerous about it is that people who are clearly unqualified get to disseminate their piece to the masses. I respect the journalism industry, and the fact of the matter is ...someone with no training should not be allowed to have any kind of format whatsoever to disseminate to the masses to the level which they can. They are not trained. Not experts."
It's true: You will not find a writer who has more respect for the journalism industry than Smith ... with the possible exception of the guy who replaced him at the Inquirer, from which Smith was dumped for not having enough respect for the journalism industry.
"Therefore, there's a total disregard, a level of wrecklessness that ends up being a domino effect. And the people who suffer are the common viewers out there and, more importantly, those in the industry who haven't been fortunate to get a radio or television deal and only rely on the written word. And now they've been sabotaged. Not because of me. Or like me. But because of the industry or the world has allowed the average joe to resemble a professional without any credentials whatsoever."
We're not sure how Smith would police his new blog-free society; probably with some sort of expansion of the Patriot Act. Bloggers would be rounded up and sent to Gitmo, there to be made to input guacamole recipes on Rachael Ray's web site.
Smith: Blogs "Should Not Be Allowed" Big Audience [SportsbyBrooks]
Stepehn A. Smith Q&A Part III: Internet Writers Have Sabotaged Newspapers [Farther Off the Wall]