Google Sidewiki: Groovy

OR Google Sidewiki: Danger?

Jeff Jarvis has a debate going over at buzzmachine.com.

He and a host of others seem to think they've somehow lost control with the launch of Sidewiki, that Google just hijacked all the juicy future user-generated content that would otherwise plump their personal domains.

This view feels like an odd mix of insecurity and hubris. It shows zero confidence in authors/publishers being interesting enough to keep an audience engaged and participating when that audience suddenly finds there's another place to type.

Wait... there have always been other places to type, other conversations. Even the most loyal reader/contributor reads/contributes to other conversations (sometimes simultaneously with browser windows side-by-side - loyalty and promiscuity are not mutually exclusive on the Web).

If what you have to say is interesting, people will continue to talk to you. If you're LUCKY, they may even talk about what you have to say in other conversations. Maybe in Sidewiki. If what you have to say is not interesting (or inflammatory or abusive), good luck.

If an individual or entity makes a public statement free to anyone via the Web, I believe any and all reactions should be publicly stated (if desired) at no cost on the spot. Many sites still operate under the old print paradigm of one-way communication and make no provision for public user response. We're well past the days of one-way. Other sites require membership which requires the payment of valuable demographic goodies and/or personal contact info. That may be a good business model, but in social, conversational terms, it's extremely impolite.

So, let'em have Sidewiki. I firmly believe the audience at large has thoughts and opinions enough to fill every available channel to capacity. They'll fill them with suggestions and praise, corrections, indignation and bile (and spam). It will get messy. So? Clutter can be adjusted for. It could get ugly. Welcome to the Web.

Fear of trolls, prejudice, unfair competition, grudges, pettiness, hate and other human sins does nothing to dispel them. Bringing such filth into the light and up to the surface may make for easier cleanup.

With every contributor also acting as moderator, Sidewiki should be self-correcting. Posts will reach dominance through consensus (and a little algorithmic help).

Sidewiki isn't just "another" conversation. And it isn't an evil Google-devised content sinkhole. If Google has gained more control, it's only after offering every single individual a new degree of personal control over our collective conversation via this peer-to-peer-to-peer, dynamic, context-sensitive community of interest.

It seems to me the only thing lost with Sidewiki is the ability to pretend contrary views don't exist (ha ha Foxnews).

OR maybe I'm wrong. It's really hard to tell sometimes with Google. They're shady.



Link to this entry as posted on buzzmachine...
http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/09/25/sidewiki-what-google-should-do/#comment-401937

still playing with this idea of mobile-anywhere-like-kinda blogging. iPhone at the dub, but too self-conscious maybe to say anything of respectable substance... so I blather

took my fifteen-year-old straight son to see MILK this afternoon. had to procure rock band 2 first to get full buy-in on a two-hour historical political drama; "gay" was the very least of his aversion. enlightened child that he his, he walked out saying "awesome" right along with me: best picture '08, best director, best actor, best screenplay, etcetera, etcetera...

"bringing the bling" and giving thanks with the good people at the dub. thanks with the idiots too.

it works for what it's worth

mopho bloggin' ho

ppps

ppps - current-state partial sms memory transcription follows

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/2/07 SUN 12:29am | I just got this. You alright? Need a drink?

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/3/07 MON 2:47pm | Well here it goes... My mother just told me i was as fat as she's ever seen me



Elizabeth LOtR: 12/7/07 FRI 3:17pm | I have luke this weekend. Can i get a rain check for monday?



Elizabeth LOtR: 12/10/07 MON 5:50pm | Cool. I'm at target with del. Sorry i didn't hear the last text alert. I'll meet ya at the dub in a bit

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/10/07 MON 6:05pm | God you've already forgot my name

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/10/07 MON 6:09pm | :)


Elizabeth LOtR: 12/11/07 TUE 3:57pm | Gonna do christmas stuff tonight. You guys don't get caught jerking each other off. Let me know what time and I'll call in tickets

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/11/07 TUE 8:16pm | I just got home. I can't leave in the middle of making something

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/11/07 TUE 8:19pm | K



Elizabeth LOtR: 12/17/07 MON 9:21am | I can't tonight

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/17/07 MON 12:01pm | Jamie and lisa are having some problems so i didn't want to impose on them.

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/17/07 MON 3:53pm | 940 i think

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/17/07 MON 4:02pm | I can't talk right now. Let's talk tomorrow

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/17/07 MON 4:11pm | I already put a down payment on the apartment


Elizabeth LOtR: 12/18/07 TUE 5:26pm | I didn't think you were being that way.



Elizabeth LOtR: 12/22/07 SAT 1:02pm | Would you care to get together for breakfast tomorrow?

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/22/07 SAT 6:55pm | Let's do all good at 11. i can meet you or whatever

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/22/07 SAT 7:17pm | Why don.t ya. It'll be easier

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/22/07 SAT 7:21pm | K sounds good

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/23/07 SUN 11:07am | Trying to wake up...

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/23/07 SUN 11:26am | I'm going to feed Tj's cat. I'll let ya know when i get back

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/23/07 SUN 11:37am | Heading back. I could meet ya at your house if you like



Elizabeth LOtR: 12/29/07 SAT 5:41pm | Feel free to come by the inwood for a drink and a movie if you like

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/29/07 SAT 5:48pm | Awesome!

Elizabeth LOtR: 12/30/07 SUN 1:07am | Fucking picky mother fuckersout here...can't breath



Krissy new o7: 12/31/07 MON 11:23pm | And I'm 15 mins into the new year! C u guys in 45 mins! Love u all!

+12144562236: 1/1/08 TUE 12:36pm | Happy new years bitches! Xoxo!!

beerd: 1/2/08 WED 7:18pm | Your are more of a man than I am. And you're sick. Dude that video is the movie the ring.

7001: 1/3/08 THU 8:20am | Your T-Mobile bill is past due. You may make a payment using our automated system by dialing *7001

7001: 1/3/08 THU 10:08am | Thank you for your online payment. $185.98 paid on Jan 03. Confirmation #3358275.



Elizabeth LOtR: 1/3/08 THU 3:01pm | Barely alive. Still got that fucking cold and it's making me miserable. Got moved in for the most part. Hanging with luke cause i couldn't last night

Elizabeth LOtR: 1/3/08 THU 3:16pm | Thank you! I'd feel so much better if my face would just explode already

Elizabeth LOtR: 1/3/08 THU 3:27pm | That's not what i meant silly lol

Elizabeth LOtR: 1/4/08 FRI 7:19pm | It's too soon

aaa-me: 1/4/08 FRI 7:29pm | too soon??
aaa-me: 1/4/08 FRI 7:40pm | i'll give you a dollar if you give me a brief courtesy call
aaa-me: 1/4/08 FRI 7:55pm | was that a we-just-broke-up"it's too soon"
aaa-me: 1/4/08 FRI 7:58pm | i hit the button too soon. i'm stupid, but i'm not scary. just give me a quick call. super pretty please?
aaa-me: 1/4/08 FRI 8:35pm | oh man i AM stupid. one-way texting rocks! call me tomorrow, please, as a friend.

Elizabeth LOtR: 1/5/08 SAT 12:07am | Sorry i had started to watch a movie... I just feel like i need more time
aaa-me: 1/5/08 SAT 12:14am | send me right back one emoticon smiley of your choosing and i'll guarantee an immediate and sincere "ok" followed by time and space of your explicit design
Elizabeth LOtR: 1/5/08 SAT 12:15am | You're silly :)
aaa-me: 1/5/08 SAT 12:16am | ok