Comments on: Truth, Taste and Wikis

By: Clicknoise » AOpenIDL

Clicknoise » AOpenIDL — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:43:52 +0000

[...] I haven’t posted about OpenID in some time. Not surprising, considering the weight I’ve had to give to DRM, indie music, and related business, because of things like this occuring on a more-than-daily basis in recent weeks. Anyway, there’s some big news in the area of decentralized identification systems. Now, not only has Microsoft stepped up to the plate and embraced the OpenID system, but AOL has followed suit. [...]

By: Clicknoise » Everybody Loves a History: Formats, Archiving, and Hoaxes

Clicknoise » Everybody Loves a History: Formats, Archiving, and Hoaxes — Wed, 24 May 2006 19:42:29 +0000

[...] But something of the plasticity and usability of contemporary media formats is troublesome for history. Almost anyone can do it, and in the absence of expertise or knowledge leadership, what are we to believe? Aside from the benefits of wikis in giving more people a voice (even though they can get trolled and shouted down by those with megaphones), are there dangers in this? [...]

By: Richard Smith

Richard Smith — Sat, 13 May 2006 06:11:30 +0000

Sean, thanks for noticing the post and for a thoughtful comment. I think you are right – wiki’s don’t inherently overcome anything, and especially not powerful interests. But we have to avoid painting ourselves into a corner with absolutes. Like the comment about “everyone” believing X. The only saviour against powerful interests are other people. Not technology. And not everyone will believe X, even if they see the advertising. For example, I watched television this evening and saw endless claims about the powers of shampoo to transform hair from a variety of problems that hair – yours and mine, I guess, although the models had very long hair – seems to develop in the sun or from old age, or when it is greasy or when it is dry. Anyway, I believe none of it. I am fighting back against shampoo ads. And I don’t need technology to do that. Well, maybe I do, since I am writing about it in your blog. Hmmm.

Anyway, what I DO want to say is that you raise a good point. We shouldn’t be naive (as the famous professor of journalism from Thompson Rivers University pointed out in the Globe article) about the powers of wikis. Or pens. But I am powerfully persuaded – perhaps naively so – about the power of human beings to think for themselves. And, given a wiki, or a soapbox, or a pen and paper, to tell others. Let’s hope it continues.