The Verge Review

Been meaning for a while to write a little bit about a website now called The Verge. Here are two images:

I think this is probably my biggest critique. The essence of this site seams to be some sort of over-hyped, twice-removed caricature of journalism staring ex-kid-superheros.  I rarely find myself feeling pleased that I clicked in after any scrolling or peering beneath the fold.  At their worst, they seem to simply re-dish the already-reported-news next to their logos and product-pushing articles.  

Groundbreaking (for me personally) are the websites using a world view as a lens to create useful, transcendent content - not simply catching a few sound bytes of CEO's talking out of the side of their mouths about products. I'd even give Business Insider a good grade as far as an inquisitive, right on the surface, world view. Maybe take off the hip suit, come in on a Saturday in some sweatpants, and pick up the backend of all these articles that seem so chopped-off (instead of spending all the time to make, for example, a Version History of the site).

 

Another critique: too product oriented.  

In a time that most Americans (and this blog seems very American) are trying to be lean and fiscally responsible, The Verge is pushing so many devices, most of which are superfluous, down your throat. If nothing else, you have to admit that they are assuming all too often that readers want to know subtle intricicies of the feature-races in the mobile industry. The tone of product reviews are that of exclusivity and newness, both of which will leave the average reader feeling hung-over and debased unless they were actually shopping for an Android phone that day.

I want to say that I personally have an invested interest in The Verge and in human beings in general to transcend themselves and apply observation liberally and transparently. The sense of play is certainly there, and the minds aren't weak, I'd just personally rather see fewer logos and more logos.

Required Reading: Finally, The Verge | Smarterbits