... at least it is on MySpace.

I'm late getting to this, but I've been sifting through Ze's stuff lately. This video from "the show" talks about ugly MySpace pages or what's been called the MySpace problem. I know, I keep piling on more of the same stuff in this blog, but I do that kind of thing to accrete knowledge in a topic area. More is better in my book. But this was fun to watch because it's probably where some of the ideas from his Web 0.2 discussion emerged.

In the video Ze is talking about an Ugliest MySpace page contest that he must have proposed. He goes on to talk more about the impact of consumers conversing in the language of visual designers, namely, the deterioration of "good" taste.

"Ugly as a representation of mass experimentation and learning is pretty damned cool. ... Over time as consumer created media engulfs the other kind, it's possible that completely new norms develop around the notions of talent and artistic ability.

I doubt that anyone really believes that though or that it would ever happen. Ugliness could be accepted, just as grunginess in music and fashion is accepted as a representation of different ideas that may have appeal to some. But, remember that his point is mainly about experimentation with tools and the language of design, not about ugliness. Ugliness is just a painful result of that process, along with crashing my browser and making me listen to horrible music.