There’s been considerable chatter regarding this term user-generated content. I hate the term for most of what it’s applied to, though there are some instances when it makes sense.

Jon Udell’s recent rant has gotten me thinking about this more

Everything about this buzzphrase annoys me. First, calling people “users” is pernicious. It distances and dehumanizes, and should be stricken from the IT vocabulary (see Those clueless users) as well as from the publishing vocabulary. IT has customers and clients, not users. IT-oriented publishers have readers, not users.

Second, “content” is a word that reminds me more of sausage than of storytelling (see Sausage, traffic, and clueless users). As writers and editors we don’t “generate” “content,” we tell stories that inform, educate, and entertain — or should.

Jon Udell: User-generated content vs. reader-created context

My active activity online can better be grouped into three categories.

  1. Active Publishing - When working like this I am creating original works that I share with the world at large by way of this fascinating new network we have access to. It is my pulpit - free to be shared with anyone that shares my vision - and I apply the care and review protocols that I deem appropriate.
  2. Active Reading - When working like this I am an engaged reader that brings my thoughts, energies, and research into a conversation. Stowe is an active proponent of this term.
  3. Active Particating - When working in this mode, I am contributing to online resources in a variety of new and interesting ways. For example, I might be filling out a poll on Om’s blog (I love that widget), tinkering with some new widget or application, or rating other resources.This is what I believe the better use of the term “user-generated content” really is. Indeed it is content that the user is creating. It’s a thin line that separates Active Reading and Active Participating and what one individual refers to as AR might just be AP for another.

At SocialRoots, we are building the company around the notion that whenever we’re being Active, we need to be factored into the equation from all angles - readership, audience, influence and revenue.

Scoble nails this:

You see, lots of people out there think that you’re gonna do all the hard work and donate it to companies so they can put advertising next to it. Only you don’t get to keep the money from that advertising, no no no. You don’t understand your place in this world, do you?

No, they are gonna take all your content AND take all the money that the advertising generates.

Even when you build your own thing on your own domain and spend time building your own audience they’ll only give you 20%. Don’t believe me? Come to any bloggercon and compare notes and see just what percentage of the revenues folks are being offered. I’ve done that and it isn’t pretty.

Scobleizer - Microsoft Geek Blogger » The screwing of the Long Tail