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. With In The New York Times Magazine: Freerice.com
Posted Under: Consumed
Lexicographical Beneficence:
Time-wasting edification for a cause.
Online entertainment improves on older forms, like television, by way of its activeness. For example, watching a presidential debate on TV is passive. Hunting for, commenting on, remixing and forwarding a YouTube video of someone being Tasered at a political event is active.
Despite the unassailable nature of this popular critique, engagement can be judged in other ways. For example, among the many time-killing activities the World Wide Web makes available is FreeRice.com. While it is surely a diverting time killer, it is more than that: it’s a self-improvement time killer on behalf of a greater good.
Read the Consumed in the March 9, 2008 issue of The New York Times Magazine, or right here.
Consumed archive is here, and FAQ is here. Consumed Facebook page is here.
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Kim Fellner's book 
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Reader Comments
You gotta admire a guy like John Breen, but this is why I don’t care too much for FreeRice.com:
http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2008/01/03/feed-a-starving-child-and-a-needy-ceo/
FreeRice is pretty open about being ad-supported, it’s explained in the site’s faq. It’s also noted clearly in the column, along with the plan to move to a more dedicated-sponsor model. I understand your view on this, but it’s not like it’s a secret.
On another note, I’m never really sure how to reply to comments that are basically links to the commenter”s own blog. Should I be replying there, with a link back here? I’m wondering how the Murketing reader feels about having to toggle around to follow.
Anyway, thanks for weighing in.