However (and that is a huge however), the chapter entitled, "Social Knowing" is where Weinberger really puts it all into perspective for me. He writes, "It's a pragmatic utopian community that begins with a minimum of structure, out of which emerge social structures as needed" (139). It's reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, but with grown-ups and electricity.
He also says,
"By announcing weakness without hesitation, Wikipedia simultaneously gives up on being an Oz-like authority and helps us better decide what to believe. A similar delaminating of authority and knowledge would have serious consequences for traditional sources of information because their economic value rests on us believing them. The more authoritative they are, the greater their perceived value" (141).And this, really, is the true success of the Internet.To completely dismantle the idea that only those who are in the profession of publishing can make the decisions regarding information is the web's absolute crowning glory.
And this has long-reaching implications. We already see how Wikileaks is holding the government more accountable to their actions. The posting of government documents to a format that is publicly viewable is the first step in our citizens reasserting their democracy. There is a great parallel, I believe, between our passive acceptance of information through traditional channels (Encyclopedia Britannica) and our acceptance of what our elected officials do in Washington. They are those "experts who filter and weigh the evidence for us" (143). This seems to me like the beginning of a great awakening in America. Wikipedia may well be the first sign that our country is starting to realize "government for the people, by the people."
Where does Sir Tim Berners-Lee live? I'd like to send that man some flowers.
