'Here Comes Everybody; How things Change when Everybody Comes Together' by Clay Shirky: Penguin Books [London] 2009 344 pp including acknowledgments, bibliography/notes and index. £9.99.
I am beginning to see so much happening that confirms the view of this author that I thought it was worth digging this review out of the archive now I am beginning to see why my daughter put me on Twitter.
This book is essential reading for those involved in politics, pressure or special interest groups. The internet means that small and large groups alike can come together and pursue their collective aims. The bloggers, FaceBookers and MySpacers escape the cell. (See earlier posting).
From business theory the author leads us through to the dynamics of networks, communications between groups and web communities, and the sociology of the web. The developments which have made sites like Wikipedea, My Space and Face Book possible are chronicled. Perhaps the most significant development for the individual computer literate is the new ease of publication which makes this posting possible. Without the net it would have to be placed with a journal willing to take it. The reviewer would not be taken on trust so a good contact, track record or luck would be needed to get it into print. Without factors such as these it would not be read by anyone other than the reviewer. Now, as explained by Shirky, we are all our own publishers at no great expense and no risk of wasting time or the costs of failure. All the conventional routes are avoided. With the aid of one or two connections it might be seen by many. Examples of such escapes into a wider context are given as examples of how things have changed. The earthquake in China, the Tsunami and the London bombings are some of the examples of how the new technology breaks the news so quickly and often gets things done.
The strength this book is found in the way the author manages to bring many different topics together to show how a new way of doing things has emerged. For the outsider the description of how Wikipedea was developed shows the potential of collaborative work taking place well away from the conventional routines of publishing. If you ever wondered why the age of the ‘amateur’ writer is so looked down on by conventional journalists, then you need not wonder long. According to Shirky they are waiting in line for their turn to disappear like the scribes before them.
Examples of the ease of organising to express grievances are also given. To take on a government or a company as an individual will be no more than a stand on principle, which brings no results, unless others take up the cause. But with the ease of joining together the game has changed. The students who had taken out accounts with HSBC were not pleased to hear, at short notice, that their interest free overdraft facility was to be withdrawn. Dispersed customers were found through Facebook and HSBC suddenly found there was a co-ordinated force planning to demonstrate at their HQ. The plan was scrapped. Only this week M&S conceded on the big bra premium they were charging.
Those parts of the book which go into computer programme development and the theoretical material could be hard going for some. but these glimpses into different worlds are worth it. You are reading about a major convergence of factors which cannot be reversed, or stopped. With an internet connection we can all be in the crowd and hear the cry, ‘look out, here comes everybody!’. Will it be a really ‘Open Society’?. ( See Karl Poppers book) Is this a new mob rule or a correction of an imbalance of power? Is this a new democracy? One thing seems certain, the new tools of liberty are out of the box and they can never be put back. However, they might be difficult to find should the lights go out.
Dacier
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Monday, 20 July 2009
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Big is Generally Ugly
Having analysed the political flyers for the EU elections and seeing we now have two BNP representatives I have reached a conclusion as to how I feel about the EU. In theory it looked quite a good idea back in the sixties when Gen DeGaulle didn’t want us in. When the UK went in without a vote it seemed worth a punt. When we voted to stay in without really knowing what we were voting for, some thought, well were in, it looks a bit early to get out. Some 25 years later we are still in, but we are now part of an unsustainable structure which like the universe is constantly expanding from the big bang that set it in motion, World War II. I now fear we are the human debris settling to the ground in the dust of ignorance. Judging by the EU election leaflets, and the results, I think that is the condition which many politicians and bureaucrats prefer. Or, it could be, that being a bit stupid themselves, they have no idea how to reverse that state of ignorance. Since rulers prefer ignorance I doubt this latter point.
I have always suspected big organisations. They usually seem to concentrate rather too many unpleasant people at the point of the pyramid. This might be sour grapes on my part, having never been invited to rise to such lofty heights. On the other hand I am sufficiently arrogant to think that I could hardly do a worse job, and I could do with the money. Many years ago I was at a meeting when one of the lightweights who was busily floating skyward to the summit of the pyramid, pointed out with all the gravitas he could muster, which wasn’t a lot at the best of times, ‘Ya know, some of you had better realise that small is no longer beautiful’. At the time I suspected he was getting at some of us greener types, thinking we were green behind the ears rather than in our life style expectations. Alternatively he could have been reading ‘Readers Digest’.
Coming from such a person this shallow prose has been enduring proof for the last thirty years that I was right to suspect big cars, building projects and super constitutional arrangements, and even big ideas, as something which for the most part can have ugly, not beautiful outcomes. I am glad to say that Mr Gravitas minor rose to the top of a rather small pyramid in a rather small pond, so perhaps he now realises that small is rather beautiful after all.
And that is how I think about the EU as presently constructed and operated. Since the political parties can’t present specific arguments for or against I shall take refuge in the following small but not beautiful thought. In the short term the EU might be able to better regulate the environmental disaster we have created for ourselves, it might be able to improve the welfare of the masses, but in the long term I fear it’s massive superstructure will drift away from them, taking democratic principles with it before crashing down in a pile of expensive political masonry. This is not to say the European idea should be abandoned. It is more a case of recognising the dangers of high rise living and seeking a return to more humane, co-operative living. Now that would be beautiful.
Dacier
I have always suspected big organisations. They usually seem to concentrate rather too many unpleasant people at the point of the pyramid. This might be sour grapes on my part, having never been invited to rise to such lofty heights. On the other hand I am sufficiently arrogant to think that I could hardly do a worse job, and I could do with the money. Many years ago I was at a meeting when one of the lightweights who was busily floating skyward to the summit of the pyramid, pointed out with all the gravitas he could muster, which wasn’t a lot at the best of times, ‘Ya know, some of you had better realise that small is no longer beautiful’. At the time I suspected he was getting at some of us greener types, thinking we were green behind the ears rather than in our life style expectations. Alternatively he could have been reading ‘Readers Digest’.
Coming from such a person this shallow prose has been enduring proof for the last thirty years that I was right to suspect big cars, building projects and super constitutional arrangements, and even big ideas, as something which for the most part can have ugly, not beautiful outcomes. I am glad to say that Mr Gravitas minor rose to the top of a rather small pyramid in a rather small pond, so perhaps he now realises that small is rather beautiful after all.
And that is how I think about the EU as presently constructed and operated. Since the political parties can’t present specific arguments for or against I shall take refuge in the following small but not beautiful thought. In the short term the EU might be able to better regulate the environmental disaster we have created for ourselves, it might be able to improve the welfare of the masses, but in the long term I fear it’s massive superstructure will drift away from them, taking democratic principles with it before crashing down in a pile of expensive political masonry. This is not to say the European idea should be abandoned. It is more a case of recognising the dangers of high rise living and seeking a return to more humane, co-operative living. Now that would be beautiful.
Dacier
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Hard Times Waltz
At long last here are the lyrics. Music is now available. Please leave a comment should you want it sent to you. All rights reserved, see earlier blog for terms and video of the first and last performance. Lets hope this song has a short shelf life. Judging by the lack of any responses to date it looks as though this will be the case.
Hard times they have come to old England
Hard times they have come round again
We are told that it’s going to get better
But we know that they do not know when.
Now those banks that were once built of marble
With a cash point at every door
Have run out of loans of our money
And alls quiet on the factory floor
And those vaults that were once filled with silver
Have been swapped for derivative bets
But the bookies have all done a runner
Leaving us with the gift of their debts
Now we all should have seen what was coming
But our jobs seemed quite safe at the time
And we are now being robbed of our warm homes
But no ones been charged with a crime
Chorus
Now our nation is said to be wealthy
Second homes second cars plastic yachts
But the bailiffs came round, did a clear out
Now my life being sold in three lots
Now those banks that were all kept oh! so shiny
Are now owned by you and by me
But they still won’t lend us our money
Or tell us our banking is free
So who has got all of our money?
And where have those bankers all gone?
Perhaps they are hiding and hoping
That no one joins in with this song
Chorus
Is the spirit of Albion sleeping?
Is it time to strike up on Drakes Drum?
Do you think that King Arthur will hear us?
To rise from his slumbers and come
Will the monkeys still stay on Gibraltar?
And the ravens not fly from the tower?
Will Nelson set sail to our rescue?
To control those great levers of power
Will some heroes stand for election?
Will they know what they really must do?
Will they keep to their word, and surprise us
And pull poor old Albion through?
Chorus
But we mustn’t get sad and downhearted
We must pick ourselves up from the floor
Keep an eye on those banks of fake marble
And the man with the key to the door.
Yes, the boom has gone bust and the bust has gone boom
And the profits have melted away
And it’s now we must join together
And win back a bright shiny day
Because the people who have all the answers
With the power to make dreams come true
Are here with us standing together
Yes, the people of BRITAIN it’s you!
Hard times they have come to old England
Hard times they have come round again
We are told that it’s going to get better
But we know that they do not know when.
Now those banks that were once built of marble
With a cash point at every door
Have run out of loans of our money
And alls quiet on the factory floor
And those vaults that were once filled with silver
Have been swapped for derivative bets
But the bookies have all done a runner
Leaving us with the gift of their debts
Now we all should have seen what was coming
But our jobs seemed quite safe at the time
And we are now being robbed of our warm homes
But no ones been charged with a crime
Chorus
Now our nation is said to be wealthy
Second homes second cars plastic yachts
But the bailiffs came round, did a clear out
Now my life being sold in three lots
Now those banks that were all kept oh! so shiny
Are now owned by you and by me
But they still won’t lend us our money
Or tell us our banking is free
So who has got all of our money?
And where have those bankers all gone?
Perhaps they are hiding and hoping
That no one joins in with this song
Chorus
Is the spirit of Albion sleeping?
Is it time to strike up on Drakes Drum?
Do you think that King Arthur will hear us?
To rise from his slumbers and come
Will the monkeys still stay on Gibraltar?
And the ravens not fly from the tower?
Will Nelson set sail to our rescue?
To control those great levers of power
Will some heroes stand for election?
Will they know what they really must do?
Will they keep to their word, and surprise us
And pull poor old Albion through?
Chorus
But we mustn’t get sad and downhearted
We must pick ourselves up from the floor
Keep an eye on those banks of fake marble
And the man with the key to the door.
Yes, the boom has gone bust and the bust has gone boom
And the profits have melted away
And it’s now we must join together
And win back a bright shiny day
Because the people who have all the answers
With the power to make dreams come true
Are here with us standing together
Yes, the people of BRITAIN it’s you!
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Friday, 5 June 2009
Dear Roy and Clare: we are moving on
Last week I caught Roy Hattersley on Newsnight dismissing the possibility of more independents in Parliament as a waste of time because we would finish up with a load of single cause campaigners who could decide nothing. Party politics was what was needed, not celebrities. In similar vein Clare short had a go at Lynn Faulds Wood on Womans Hour. She in effect dismissed Lynn’s possible candidacy to stand for Parliament as naive, by asking whether she was right or left wing? This is all arrogant nonsense from yesterday’s people.
Thinking that only political parties have the answer is misguided. With the richer getting richer and the poorer getting poorer and the world going to hell in a sieve, I don’t think they do. Why should political dogmas derived from the 19th century, whether from Marx or Adam Smith still be thought to hold the solution to our growing problems. If they do, they seem to be taking a long time about it.
Traditional politicians think that the move to have independent people in the political fight would achieve little. Political parties are no more than structures for organising a list of objectives which individual candidates must adopt when presenting themselves for election. In fact it is from within this idea that the contradiction arises. What or for whom is the voter voting? In practice it will always turn out to be the alleged wish list from which the leadership will draw from when forming a government. It is a convenient way of both organising and funding the bid for power by those who have rallied round the manifesto. Unfortunately the individual within this group is seen as a threat.
Those who might now seek a place in Parliament might think that their judgement will be better than many of the present members. Let’s face it; some of them seem to have no judgement at all as to morals or even political sensitivity. A new intake would have to work hard to adopt worse judgements than those who took us into a war on the incompetent reading of so called intelligence, all in the face of the largest demonstration against government policy in the history of political action in these islands.
Dacier
Thinking that only political parties have the answer is misguided. With the richer getting richer and the poorer getting poorer and the world going to hell in a sieve, I don’t think they do. Why should political dogmas derived from the 19th century, whether from Marx or Adam Smith still be thought to hold the solution to our growing problems. If they do, they seem to be taking a long time about it.
Traditional politicians think that the move to have independent people in the political fight would achieve little. Political parties are no more than structures for organising a list of objectives which individual candidates must adopt when presenting themselves for election. In fact it is from within this idea that the contradiction arises. What or for whom is the voter voting? In practice it will always turn out to be the alleged wish list from which the leadership will draw from when forming a government. It is a convenient way of both organising and funding the bid for power by those who have rallied round the manifesto. Unfortunately the individual within this group is seen as a threat.
Those who might now seek a place in Parliament might think that their judgement will be better than many of the present members. Let’s face it; some of them seem to have no judgement at all as to morals or even political sensitivity. A new intake would have to work hard to adopt worse judgements than those who took us into a war on the incompetent reading of so called intelligence, all in the face of the largest demonstration against government policy in the history of political action in these islands.
Dacier
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Book Review: 'Here Comes Everybody!'
Book Review: 'Here Comes Everybody; How things Change when Everybody Comes Together'by Clay Shirky: Penguin Books [London] 2009 344 pp including acknowledgments, bibliography/notes and index. £9.99.
This book is essential reading for those involved in politics, pressure or special interest groups. The internet means that small and large groups alike can come together and pursue their collective aims. The bloggers, FaceBookers and MySpacers escape the cell. (See earlier posting).
From business theory the author leads us through to the dynamics of networks, communications between groups and web communities, and the sociology of the web. The developments which have made sites like Wikipedea, My Space and Face Book possible are chronicled. Perhaps the most significant development for the individual computer literate is the new ease of publication which makes this posting possible. Without the net it would have to be placed with a journal willing to take it. The reviewer would not be taken on trust so a good contact, track record or luck would be needed to get it into print. Without factors such as these it would not be read by anyone other than the reviewer. Now, as explained by Shirky, we are all our own publishers at no great expense and no risk of wasting time or the costs of failure. All the conventional routes are avoided. With the aid of one or two connections it might be seen by many. Examples of such escapes into a wider context are given as examples of how things have changed. The earthquake in China, the Tsunami and the London bombings are some of the examples of how the new technology breaks the news so quickly and often gets things done.
The strength this book is found in the way the author manages to bring many different topics together to show how a new way of doing things has emerged. For the outsider the description of how Wikipedea was developed shows the potential of collaborative work taking place well away from the conventional routines of publishing. If you ever wondered why the age of the ‘amateur’ writer is so looked down on by conventional journalists, then you need not wonder long. According to Shirky they are waiting in line for their turn to disappear like the scribes before them.
Examples of the ease of organising to express grievances are also given. To take on a government or a company as an individual will be no more than a stand on principle, which brings no results, unless others take up the cause. But with the ease of joining together the game has changed. The students who had taken out accounts with HSBC were not pleased to hear, at short notice, that their interest free overdraft facility was to be withdrawn. Dispersed customers were found through Facebook and HSBC suddenly found there was a co-ordinated force planning to demonstrate at their HQ. The plan was scrapped. Only this week M&S conceded on the big bra premium they were charging.
Those parts of the book which go into computer programme development and the theoretical material could be hard going for some. but these glimpses into different worlds are worth it. You are reading about a major convergence of factors which cannot be reversed, or stopped. With an internet connection we can all be in the crowd and hear the cry, ‘look out, here comes everybody!’. Will it be a really ‘Open Society’?. ( See Karl Poppers book) Is this a new mob rule or a correction of an imbalance of power? Is this a new democracy? One thing seems certain, the new tools of liberty are out of the box and they can never be put back. However, they might be difficult to find should the lights go out.
Dacier
This book is essential reading for those involved in politics, pressure or special interest groups. The internet means that small and large groups alike can come together and pursue their collective aims. The bloggers, FaceBookers and MySpacers escape the cell. (See earlier posting).
From business theory the author leads us through to the dynamics of networks, communications between groups and web communities, and the sociology of the web. The developments which have made sites like Wikipedea, My Space and Face Book possible are chronicled. Perhaps the most significant development for the individual computer literate is the new ease of publication which makes this posting possible. Without the net it would have to be placed with a journal willing to take it. The reviewer would not be taken on trust so a good contact, track record or luck would be needed to get it into print. Without factors such as these it would not be read by anyone other than the reviewer. Now, as explained by Shirky, we are all our own publishers at no great expense and no risk of wasting time or the costs of failure. All the conventional routes are avoided. With the aid of one or two connections it might be seen by many. Examples of such escapes into a wider context are given as examples of how things have changed. The earthquake in China, the Tsunami and the London bombings are some of the examples of how the new technology breaks the news so quickly and often gets things done.
The strength this book is found in the way the author manages to bring many different topics together to show how a new way of doing things has emerged. For the outsider the description of how Wikipedea was developed shows the potential of collaborative work taking place well away from the conventional routines of publishing. If you ever wondered why the age of the ‘amateur’ writer is so looked down on by conventional journalists, then you need not wonder long. According to Shirky they are waiting in line for their turn to disappear like the scribes before them.
Examples of the ease of organising to express grievances are also given. To take on a government or a company as an individual will be no more than a stand on principle, which brings no results, unless others take up the cause. But with the ease of joining together the game has changed. The students who had taken out accounts with HSBC were not pleased to hear, at short notice, that their interest free overdraft facility was to be withdrawn. Dispersed customers were found through Facebook and HSBC suddenly found there was a co-ordinated force planning to demonstrate at their HQ. The plan was scrapped. Only this week M&S conceded on the big bra premium they were charging.
Those parts of the book which go into computer programme development and the theoretical material could be hard going for some. but these glimpses into different worlds are worth it. You are reading about a major convergence of factors which cannot be reversed, or stopped. With an internet connection we can all be in the crowd and hear the cry, ‘look out, here comes everybody!’. Will it be a really ‘Open Society’?. ( See Karl Poppers book) Is this a new mob rule or a correction of an imbalance of power? Is this a new democracy? One thing seems certain, the new tools of liberty are out of the box and they can never be put back. However, they might be difficult to find should the lights go out.
Dacier
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