Since its creation, the internet and World Wide Web have been shaped by two competing and overlapping paths: The #OpenWeb Rooted in the DNA of internet code and culture, we see the web as a platform for collaboration, sharing, and the free exchange of information. Built for use in a world where information is abundant…
Tension, Open and Closed Web
From its creation, the growing internet and World Wide Web has been shaped by two competing, often overlapping visions: The Collaborative, #OpenWeb: Rooted in #DNA of internet code and culture, this vision is of a platform for collaboration, sharing, and free exchange of information. Built for use in a world of abundance of information, free…
Why We Can’t Enjoy life
There is a #mainstreaming story that progressives are incapable of enjoying anything and are easily offended, wildly over-analytical, snobby, pretentious, and injecting politics into everything. There is some truth to this, many left-leaning people would admit, reluctantly, that we can be pretty crap and insufferable at times. But it’s important to see the difference between…
A Positive View Of Current Trends
The challenges we face today: #climatechaos, inequality, and the social impacts of #dotcons technology are a creating a very real social mess. However, there is a potential for a positive transformation if we push the power of #openweb and #4opens technology and align it with progressive and radical grassroots politics. Addressing Climate Change with Technology…
A European Future
Changing the European Union (#EU) to be more competent and progressive on social and tech issues requires concerted effort and engagement from all the stakeholders, including activists, citizens, civil society organizations (#NGO), policymakers, and Eurocrats. I outline some #fluffy strategies for driving change within the EU: Overall, changing the EU to be more competent and…
Reminder about the hashtag family
A breakdown of the #OMN hashtags and how they are typically used as a social change and challenge project that we need: And on the positive side: Each of these hashtags serves as a shorthand for broader discussions and concepts, allowing people to participate in and contribute to conversations around these topics on the #openweb…
Should we ban TikTok
The #dotcons are about ideological control (advertising) of information for profit, #TikTok is likely one of the most advanced on this path. Whether to ban TikTok is part of the #mainstreaming mess and significant within the wider context of the move back to the #openweb Some considerations: In conclusion, whether to ban TikTok involves weighing…
Who gets to decide what this place is? How are we being represented
“An important distinction is slowly being uncovered about the definition of the term “#Fediverse.” Who is it that gets to decide what this place is? How are we being represented?” https://mastodon.social/deck/@fdrc_ff@www.foxyhole.io/112435833670527639 The lack of discussion about the nature of the space the #fediverse occupies raises questions about representation and identity within this #openweb “native” network.…
Development of technology in a community-centric direction
Shaping technology to empower people and building to their needs is core to create an inclusive and democratic digital environment. We need technology that prioritizes people and customization first: In the context of the #Fediverse and #openweb reboot, prioritizing these principles helps to steer the development of technology towards a more community-centric and empowering direction…
What names to use?
The term #openweb refers to an internet ecosystem characterized by decentralized, interoperable, and community-driven platforms and protocols. It emphasizes #4opens principles of openness, inclusivity, and user control over data and online experiences. The “openweb” contrasts with the #dotcons centralized and proprietary nature, the mainstream internet platforms, thus offering an alternative vision for the future of…
In the #openweb reboot, metaphors are a strong path
We do need to look t things differently, for example the #darkweb is in our poisoned self that has fermented for the last 40 years. It’s the algorithms of manipulation, and the #geekproblem unthinking pushiness of this fermentation. The #dotcons are the shiny surfaces of this mess. And the #openweb the seedlings to grow community…
Cyril Foster Lecture 2024: On the Declining Success of Civil Resistance
Professor Erica Chenoweth will explore the puzzling decline in the success of civil resistance movements in the past decade, even as unarmed movements have become more popular worldwide. The findings have implications for the future of nonviolent alternatives to armed struggle, as well as to the ability of pro-democratic movements to defeat authoritarian challenges. Erica…