Doing vs. Watching

I have a special hate in my heart for the attitude that looks at someone doing something he or she enjoys, and says, "You've got too much time on your hands." First, because it's squarely judgmental and petty to say, but second, because of the blind hypocrisy of the statement.

Because the things YOU do for fun aren't wasted time, right?

Clay Shirky is shilling a book, but he's also got some excellent ideas about the Internet and people spending their time doing stuff on it. Please read his talk, Gin, Television, and Social Surplus, for non-boring ideas about how things are shaking out for us, society-wise, thanks to the Internet.