Comments on: What’s it all about Alfie?

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:39:29 +0000

A great read.

It’s unfortunate that the statistics about literacy makes it appear as though you have a racial bias.

Your conclusion is appealing and well-written.

Quoting you:
“We will discover that most of them have the same underlying insight – that the problem is to be found in the nature of our relationships – that we have substituted kinetic or the use of power over emotion or the use of Trust.”

That’s merely an effect, an emergent phenomenon. The real insight is to be found in the set of causes of this… Fiat money is one.

By: Rob Paterson

Rob Paterson — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:45:16 +0000

Dennis – I did not say that social media is a silver bullet nor did I say that it on its own has anything to do about literacy – I said that it enabled people to connect to each other in a more human way that the power over approach in the traditional institution.

I obviously have not been clear enough and I will use your comment to expand on my post

Thanks even though you are being I think a bit rude
Rob

By: Dennis Howlett

Dennis Howlett — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:36:37 +0000

Social media is a silver bullet? It’s the answer to falling literacy? Can I have some of that dope you’re smoking please?

By: Rob Paterson

Rob Paterson — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:10:13 +0000

Bill – I agree and its not only in other countries but at home – I posted today coincidentally about this when referring to PEI – http://smartpei.typepad.com/robert_patersons_weblog/2007/07/wireless-on-pei.html

Our government paid millions to our Pipe who did not do what they were asked to do – leaving the rural part of the Island cut off. Now a private group are going ahead instead

By: Bill Ives

Bill Ives — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:03:17 +0000

Your perspective is a wonderful addition to this conversation and I look froward to reading more. I have heard a bit about the work of the Digital Divide group – http://www.digitaldivide.org/dd/index.html – that you are likley quite aware of. They seem to be exploring similar ideas and actions.

By: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:27:28 +0000

I completely agree with this – and the other potential of Web 2.0 is to enable us to learn to listen to the polyphony of all voices, not just the privileged ones with the biggest megaphones.

By: Rob Paterson

Rob Paterson — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:20:18 +0000

Thanks all of you
Rob

By: Jeremy Thomas

Jeremy Thomas — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:41:16 +0000

Rob – well put and very passionate. This is the first time I’ve heard the social computing revolution compared a “renaissance”, and I must say I like the analogy.

By: Jon Husband

Jon Husband — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:14:29 +0000

Very well done, Rob.

I’m guessing you know what I think .. and extrapolated forward, yes we are in for some very exciting times. As transparency spreads and more humans get more used to operating in this new environment, the pressures on the previous social architectures and established institutions can only grow.

Unless … governments and corporations act together to constrain and control, for example through denying / blocking net neutrality legislation. And if they do, it will at least be clear that it has happened and the critical mass will have (by and large quietly) acquiesced.

By: Marc Rigaux

Marc Rigaux — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:23:52 +0000

Simply brilliant.