Internet Optimists vs. Pessimists
Adam Thierer groups recent net books:
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Internet Optimists |
Internet Pessimists |
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Yochai Benkler, The Wealth of Networks |
Andrew Keen, The Cult of the Amateur |
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Chris Anderson, The Long Tail and “Free!” |
Lee Siegal, Against the Machine |
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Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody |
Nick Carr, The Big Switch |
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Cass Sunstein, Infotopia |
Cass Sunstein, Republic.com |
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Don Tapscott, Wikinomics |
Todd Gitlin, Media Unlimited |
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Kevin Kelly & Wired mag in general |
Alex Iskold, “The Danger of Free” |
|
Mike Masnick & TechDirt blog |
I note that Cass Sunstein — of whom I am an unabashed admirer — is the only author to be included on both sides. Put me there too.
Thierer goes on to map out culture/social and economics/business themes and puts himself generally in the optimist camp.
Michael Masnick, also included in the optimists, says It’s Not Internet Pessimists vs. Internet Optimists; It’s Simply Reality.
3 Responses to “Internet Optimists vs. Pessimists”
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To me, the Internet is a tool, just like radio, or television, or newspapers, or whatever. How it is used, and how well, depends on who is using it. The Internet is not inherently crappy, or evil, or whatever. It's just that there are some people on it who have an over-inflated sense of their abilities, or who use it for bad ends. Put me, if you will, in the “whatever” column.
[yawn] The Internet is simply the newest popular medium. It is over-hyped. Much more relevent this election year as well as in general is the common view, at the risk of mischaracterization because it is far from consistent, that liberals are largely optimists and have a positive mindset when contemplating the goals they have for our future, while conservatives are seen complimentarily as pessimists with often a negative mindset.