TOO MUCH COVERAGE
An EXPERT is giving a press conference.
EXPERT
And we expect that the current financial crisis will not
clear up until at the earliest the second quarter of next year. Yes?
REPORTER
Mike Kimble, Wall Street Journal. Any chance of property
values going back up soon?
EXPERT
Too soon to tell. Yes?
DUDE
Tristan Boylston, The Independent Financial Thinker. Can we
see this crisis as a failure of capitalism
EXPERT
As big as the crisis is, we feel that's too harsh a verdict.
Yes?
KID
Luke Purdy -- you can call me mags. I'm here for my blog.
What's up with the economy?
EXPERT
I'm sorry I prefer to restrict these briefings to more major
media outlets.
REPORTER
What's your opinion on the state of the blogosphere today?
EXpERT
I haven't given it much thought, honestly, and I'd prefer to
stick to questions on the financial crisis. Um, Luke I told you I don't answer
questions from bloggers.
KID
Actually my question is for this guy (indicates REPORTER)
What's your opinion of the man running this briefing?
REPORTER
Let's see. He's credible. Ducking the tougher questions but
mostly a cooperative source.
EXPERT
MOSTLY cooperative? I'm giving you all the information we can
verify...
DUDE
I have a question for the blogger.
EXPERT
There's no time for that...
DUDE
(excited)
How does it feel to be talking to a reporter of the WALL
STREET JOURNAL --- right at this moment?
KID
Let's see. Invigorating. Exciting. I feel a sense of
validation that my career is going the right way.
DUDE
And you do consider your blog a career?
KID
Absolutely. As well as my creative voice.
REPORTER
If I may interrupt...
EXPERT
Please do.
REPORTER
I have a question for you, but I should tell you that this
question is for my blog.
EXPERT
You're putting me in a tough spot.
REPORTER
I realize that.
EXPERT
You may ask your question.
REPORTER
Do you like me?
EXPERT
Next question.
KID
Do you like me?
EXPERT
No questions from bloggers!
KID
Man, you just answered HIS question!
DUDE
I will answer that question. No, he does not like you.
KID
That is my opinion also.
EXPERT
Hey, it's not that I don't like you -- it's just that I have
important information to get out here...
KID
So you DO like me?
DUDE
Can I quote you on that?
REPORTER
(to DUDE)
What's it like to be asking these questions in front of a
reporter for the WALL STREET JOURNAL?
EXPERT
People, please!
REPORTER 2
Liz Carey, Investors' Daily. Would you mind moving to the
right a bit?
EXPERT
Not at all. (moves) Is that right?
REPORTER 2
Great. You were sort of our of line of my webcam. I'm
live-blogging the coverage of this press conference by bloggers.
KID
Could I ask you what it's like to be live blogging such an
important event?
REPORTER 2
You can ask me that, of course.
KID
Do you like me?
REPORTER 2
That is not what you said you were going to ask.
KID
I changed it.
EXPERT
This is probably a good as time as any to tell you people
that I am not in fact a financial expert but a live blogger who has created
this press conference merely as an art experiment of the behaviors of people
when confronted with an expert. Results will be on my Facebook page.