How can we harness the vast potential of the internet to actively solve problems? Picture a venue where adversaries can no longer get away with just screaming past each other, but must actively answer each others' accusations, criticisms and complaints. A place where one group's vision -- or model of the world -- can be tested, dented, appraised... and possibly improved under the watchful gaze of an interested public. A site where the disprovable can be disproved, the ambiguous can be pinned down a bit more, and good ideas may get deserved attention just a bit sooner.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, but I doubt I'll see it in my lifetime (though I am old).
April 26, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The author sees the balance between "individualism" and "accountability" as being critical in the internet serving us best. Brin is calling for a virtual meeting place for opponents to hammer out differences - or better yet to find the facts/truths that make a solution evident to all - and admitted to by all. Enough of this will be (hopefully) contagious. Imagine the force of such actually working.
He says "I want something more out of all the noise." How nice that would be. How unlikely that is to happen on any broad front. It seems that too many have invested too much in creating the noise to give it up willingly. And, opinion trumping fact seems to be a national pastime.
The suggestion for an arbitration type arena, with possible broad participation by even the general public on more public issues, is both interesting and compelling. I am fearful that it calls for far more maturity in all participants than today's world is likely to put forth as the critical players. It also requires more voluntary fair play than many are willing to agree to and actually follow.
Given that those involved must disclose their "real" identity to be believed, there is no way to avoid the possible "punishment" of those who enter the arena merely because they dared put forth their insight or knowledge. There is a tremendous amount of enforceable truth and justice that would be required. How that could be guaranteed on a practical basis is unimaginable to me.
I have enjoyed the novels of the author of this piece and enjoyed reading this (presumed) non-fiction presentation of this system. I would enjoy seeing such a method of conflict resolution in action. However, as presented, it would be too laborious to be of practical use except in the most extreme situations - either extremely serious or extremely frivolous. Only those circumstances would maintain sufficient interest for the amount of time required for "resolution". The more serious may not have that much time for such to work.
Read this for some intellectual fun.
He says "I want something more out of all the noise." How nice that would be. How unlikely that is to happen on any broad front. It seems that too many have invested too much in creating the noise to give it up willingly. And, opinion trumping fact seems to be a national pastime.
The suggestion for an arbitration type arena, with possible broad participation by even the general public on more public issues, is both interesting and compelling. I am fearful that it calls for far more maturity in all participants than today's world is likely to put forth as the critical players. It also requires more voluntary fair play than many are willing to agree to and actually follow.
Given that those involved must disclose their "real" identity to be believed, there is no way to avoid the possible "punishment" of those who enter the arena merely because they dared put forth their insight or knowledge. There is a tremendous amount of enforceable truth and justice that would be required. How that could be guaranteed on a practical basis is unimaginable to me.
I have enjoyed the novels of the author of this piece and enjoyed reading this (presumed) non-fiction presentation of this system. I would enjoy seeing such a method of conflict resolution in action. However, as presented, it would be too laborious to be of practical use except in the most extreme situations - either extremely serious or extremely frivolous. Only those circumstances would maintain sufficient interest for the amount of time required for "resolution". The more serious may not have that much time for such to work.
Read this for some intellectual fun.
More About the Author
David Brin is a scientist, public speaker and world-known author. His novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula and other awards. At least a dozen have been translated into more than twenty languages.
David's latest novel - Existence - is set forty years ahead, in a near future when human survival seems to teeter along not just on one tightrope, but dozens, with as many hopeful trends and breakthroughs as dangers... a world we already see ahead. Only one day an astronaut snares a small, crystalline object from space. It appears to contain a message, even visitors within. Peeling back layer after layer of motives and secrets may offer opportunities, or deadly peril.
David's non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Make Us Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Award from the American Library Association.
A 1998 movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Brin's 1989 ecological thriller - Earth - foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. David's novel Kiln People has been called a book of ideas disguised as a fast-moving and fun noir detective story, set in a future when new technology enables people to physically be in more than two places at once. A hardcover graphic novel The Life Eaters explored alternate outcomes to WWII, winning nominations and high praise.
David's science fictional Uplift Universe explores a future when humans genetically engineer higher animals like dolphins to become equal members of our civilization. These include the award-winning Startide Rising, The Uplift War, Brightness Reef, Infinity's Shore and Heaven's Reach. He also recently tied up the loose ends left behind by the late Isaac Asimov: Foundation's Triumph brings to a grand finale Asimov's famed Foundation Universe.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI and nanotechnology, future/prediction and philanthropy.
As a public speaker, Brin shares unique insights -- serious and humorous -- about ways that changing technology may affect our future lives. He appears frequently on TV, including several episodes of "The Universe" and History Channel's "Life After People." He also was a regular cast member on "The ArciTECHS."
Brin's scientific work covers an eclectic range of topics, from astronautics, astronomy, and optics to alternative dispute resolution and the role of neoteny in human evolution. His Ph.D in Physics from UCSD - the University of California at San Diego (the lab of nobelist Hannes Alfven) - followed a masters in optics and an undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Caltech. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Space Institute. His technical patents directly confront some of the faults of old-fashioned screen-based interaction, aiming to improve the way human beings converse online.
Brin lives in San Diego County with his wife and three children.
You can follow David Brin:
Website: http://www.davidbrin.com/
Blog: http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DavidBrin1
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/cab801
David's latest novel - Existence - is set forty years ahead, in a near future when human survival seems to teeter along not just on one tightrope, but dozens, with as many hopeful trends and breakthroughs as dangers... a world we already see ahead. Only one day an astronaut snares a small, crystalline object from space. It appears to contain a message, even visitors within. Peeling back layer after layer of motives and secrets may offer opportunities, or deadly peril.
David's non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Make Us Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Award from the American Library Association.
A 1998 movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Brin's 1989 ecological thriller - Earth - foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. David's novel Kiln People has been called a book of ideas disguised as a fast-moving and fun noir detective story, set in a future when new technology enables people to physically be in more than two places at once. A hardcover graphic novel The Life Eaters explored alternate outcomes to WWII, winning nominations and high praise.
David's science fictional Uplift Universe explores a future when humans genetically engineer higher animals like dolphins to become equal members of our civilization. These include the award-winning Startide Rising, The Uplift War, Brightness Reef, Infinity's Shore and Heaven's Reach. He also recently tied up the loose ends left behind by the late Isaac Asimov: Foundation's Triumph brings to a grand finale Asimov's famed Foundation Universe.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI and nanotechnology, future/prediction and philanthropy.
As a public speaker, Brin shares unique insights -- serious and humorous -- about ways that changing technology may affect our future lives. He appears frequently on TV, including several episodes of "The Universe" and History Channel's "Life After People." He also was a regular cast member on "The ArciTECHS."
Brin's scientific work covers an eclectic range of topics, from astronautics, astronomy, and optics to alternative dispute resolution and the role of neoteny in human evolution. His Ph.D in Physics from UCSD - the University of California at San Diego (the lab of nobelist Hannes Alfven) - followed a masters in optics and an undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Caltech. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Space Institute. His technical patents directly confront some of the faults of old-fashioned screen-based interaction, aiming to improve the way human beings converse online.
Brin lives in San Diego County with his wife and three children.
You can follow David Brin:
Website: http://www.davidbrin.com/
Blog: http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DavidBrin1
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/cab801
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