Did the Internet Do It?

Many of the items I post here, though without criticism nor even always much/any comment, I don't necessarily agree with.  Here is an intriguing one:

“... a word that manages to convey both a capacity for mercurial insight and a lack of practical job skills."

I don't think it's anywhere near so simple a cause and effect, but considering aspects can help in looking at a whole.

What do you think?  Was Kodachrome really rose-colored, one of those examples of how things "used to be better" ... ?  Is the story here the hero's death, or something more complex?  White boy dreds never inspire confidence in me (and this article is from Salon, after all) - but this guy claims discipleship to no less than Richard Feynman.  So do we call him and say "Surely you're joking, Mr. Lanier" ... ?  Could be an interesting read, the book this shills.

We shall see, of course.  The question is whether we'll actually look - or learn.