Monthly Archive for September, 2008

It started in July when Shel Israel asked if “social media (is) becoming a vast wasteland?”

There seems to be a growing sense that social media just ain’t what it used to be that it too, is starting to emerge as yet another wasteland for product pushers and shameless self promoters.

Then Brian Oberkirch asked

If your nips perk up when hearing about an app that mimeographed every feature (official and unofficial) and UI pattern of another stupidly well-known app, then tacked on some gating and integration mechanisms, have at it.

Finally last week, Tim O’Reilly wondered if tossing sheep was really the best use of our time. Or if this is the best that our best and brightest can come up with – especially with a collapsing economy, looming climate disasters, multiple wars and political deadlock all breathing down our collective necks.

You may have noticed that my blog output has declined significantly over the past few months. That’s because I’m trying to change the tone here. I’m tired of “Six Ways Social Media Can Grow Your Business” and “Why You Should Be On Twitter” – it’s been done and done again.

It’s time for some new conversations. Like how are we going to use social media to teach the next generation?  How can we prepare them for the jobs that will be waiting for them when they are off on their ownsome? What tools can we use to keep an eye on our government? How can we keep an eye on other, less enlightened, governments? How can we all – all of us all over the world – use social media to get to know each other a bit better so we don’t have to resort to blowing each other up?

That’s where my head is at these days. If you are interested in joining in the conversation, please stay tuned.