I just read Internet guru Clay Shirky’s new book Cognitive Surplus
The basic premise of the book is that we have spent too much time passively watching television rather than doing stuff.
This is now changed as the online generation turn away from TV to the internet where they hangout in social networks, comment on posts and upload videos.
They are using their spare time which 100 years ago people had very little of to do something creative. OK most of the stuff done is trivial but for every 100 cute cat videos there is one video of real worth.
The problem with the book is that although Clay paints a convincing picture that the internet is groovy and it brings the world the 60’s ideal of peace and love in bytes, this is only half the picture.
The heart warming stories like wikipedia and the online charitable giving of time and money are great, but they need to be balanced with the fact that the internet can be used for ill as well as good: the Jihad movements plotting the next terrorist outrage; the Russian hackers attacking a Balletic state; pedophiles grooming children online.
Clay radiates nothing but goodness, but beneath this goodness lies a dollop of evil.
