Finding Roots in a Shifting Landscape: Facebook and the Future of Social Networks
http://culturalengineer.blogspot.com/2011/01/finding-roots-in-shifting-landscape.html

The Chagora Live Debate Function
http://culturalengineer.blogspot.com/2009/02/chagora-live-debate-function.html

While a neutral vehicle this won’t be built by the duopoly or corporatists. Their ears it seems are closed. It’s not in their interest to see a more engaged population.

I’m a practical man… or at least try to be. Core software is done. Enough talk.

I’m seeing lots of great theory about potentials of new technologies. I remember hearing it about television 50 years ago. Some of it came true. A lot of it ended up lost. In a larger sense than many realize, a good deal of the problem with campaign finance in the U.S. at least has arisen because the public potentials of television were given away to corporations.

I’m trying to carve our a vital corner of the Internet and protect it for the Commons. So far the lack of interest from all sides suggests to me that the Internet is heading in the same direction… ALL talk, NO action… til potentials are gone forever. and scarcely even noticed. (As has happened with the lost potentials for television to act as anything other than as a shill for corporate interests and corporate political positions.)

But the Internet is a much bigger deal than TV… and if we screw it up… get ready for a Borg future.