Are You Disillusioned with Web 2.0?
Larry Sanger,
Citizendium,
May 22, 2009
Larry Sanger is disillusioned with web 2.0. Why? First, facelessness. "Frequently, we find ourselves in conversation with people we don't know.... The stunning diversity of humanity online does not make up for the annoying effects of anonymity and disembodiment." And second, "a variety of mechanisms that allow us to reward people who agree with us and punish those who disagree with us. Those are the tools of conformity and groupthink." It's all, he says, such a waste of time. "Are you seriously telling me that you make or foster meaningful friendships with all the silly tools and communities that exist out there?" It may surprise people, but I agree with him. I think that web 2.0 tools are woefully under-developed, the community and networking mechanisms unsophisticated. We need much better ways of creating rich and sustained interactions with each other online. (p.s. the Easter egg in his post is this link to http://www.watchknow.org/, an as-yet unlaunched video learning site.)
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