Does the internet really support democratic movements? It's 10:58, but really intriguing info! Watching the cartoons being drawn makes it go fast! But seeing how Saudi Arabia gov't gets You Tube to pull offensive videos, and how Iranian protestors are uploading pictures of themselves so their bodies can be identified later is sobering.
"iPod Liberalism: People who have iPods or any other sort of Western technology are likely to support Western values and Western Democracy."
"Drop iPods not bombs"
But this is too simplistic...for example, do dictators and foreign government leaders really fear the internet, and flow of ideas, as is assumed? This isn't supported by observation. Why does the government support information flow?
"We confuse the intended consequences of technology with the actual uses..."
"What you don't hear is the distinction between Digital Renegades and Digital Captives which I think is a much more important one because we need to know exactly how technology influences civic engagement and their propensity to actually go and engage in protests."
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
Information has very little effect upon politicians. They live in their own little fantasy world.
Consider our own politicians.
In our lifetimes we can remember multitudes of high profile politicians who are caught in lurid sexual affairs and their careers have been ruined. Lesson for other politicians? Nope. They always think that the other fellow was just not shrewd enough. The exposure and embarassment of others does not deter politicians.
This is true for being exposed for graft, criminal acts, and every other sort of act. Politicians are people who have lived a life if extreme good luck and lies. They believe that they are blessed and no bad fortune will ever come their way.
Because of their belief that they live a charmed life, they have no fear of the information spread by the internet.
I think it's hard for Americans who have relatively free access to information to appreciate how precious a commodity it is. Many of those who have endured our military activities in their countries don't even know why we are there. They have only a vague knowledge (if that) of 9 11. It's a paradigm shift of monumental proportions.
The internet has MASSIVE impact on politics and foreign affairs in general. FACEBOOK has 700 MILLION users - enough said. Google has 400 MILLION users
and I2 is being built out with fiber and satellite backbones. The turmoil in the Middle East is driven by internet (and cell) tech - the answer is all too obvious. NOW can idiot, unsophisticated pols not use it to advantage
at their peril.<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="
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The new 285BOUND owner IMHO should fully explore the applications available via GOOGLE and FACEBOOK and incorporate accordingly. Also explore [url=http://www.ning.com......which" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]www.ning.com......which[/url] for small fee permits anyone to create a unique social net.........get this all together - and roll out in 3-6 months - you will take the show up here.......and make a bundle. DO this or someone else will.
The new 285BOUND owner IMHO should fully explore the applications available via GOOGLE and FACEBOOK and incorporate accordingly. Also explore [url=http://www.ning.com......which" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.ning.com......which[/url] for small fee permits anyone to create a unique social net.........get this all together - and roll out in 3-6 months - you will take the show up here.......and make a bundle. DO this or someone else will.
Communities Bound has some new features coming up for all our sites and the new sites coming up. We love to get input from our users but not clear on the items you are talking about so we will PM, get your ideas and then we will post them here.
I was watching on Fox News a Stossel Report about privacy and they have this amazing new device that sends live footage right to a website to be stored until you want to broadcast it. Fascinating so even if the Iranian Secret Police destroy your phone and lock you up, your video can be posted by friends all over the internet.
Personally I love it! Even in the countries who are punishing the protestors hard like Syria know that the rest of the world is seeing their brutality. When Assad's father faced similar protests 20 years ago, thousands died unseen.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.