Second Post: Danniel Leahy

Danniel Leahy
English 155
December 3, 2009
In his article, “It’s All about Us”, Steven Johnson praises Web 2.0 for letting average people be the experts. This “user-generated” internet allows people to choose what they want to read or write about and lets them ignore anything they don’t care to view. Johnson applauds this new version of the web for offering “a chance for ordinary people to converse about the local issues in their lives that the professionals largely ignore.” (446) Brian Williams challenges Johnson’s views on Web 2.0 in his article, “Enough about You.” He worries about the consequences of being such a “me” centered generation. With just the move of a mouse, the whole world is available at your doorstep. Although that may sound wonderful, potentially it could prevent people from experiencing the world that actually does exist outside their doorstep. With users having the ability to see and hear only what they want, Williams fears they might miss out on issues they need to be informed about. Although Williams’ concerns are understandable, Johnson’s position accentuates the positive contribution to society that the web has made. The internet is a convenient way to keep in touch, informed and involved.
Consider the meaning of the words World Wide Web. As its name proclaims, this is a network of information that spans cities, states, countries, and continents. A path to information which offers more than one opinion or point of view, which in turn expands the user’s exposure on any topic with informational sources ranging from expert to amateur. The web provides useful and possibly contradictory advice, which allows one to reach an educated conclusion. Just as one might visit ten different doctors and receive ten different opinions, the web is really no different. Author Steven Johnson sums it up this way, “Rather than challenging the experts, the conversations taking place on Web 2.0 are supplementing them.” (446) Meaning that the ordinary people blogging and chatting on the web are just that; ordinary people. In this arena, they are able to share information on topics that they have personal experience or are familiar with. These sources do not claim to be experts or try to dispute the them, they are merely stating their own personal knowledge which can be taken into consideration. More recently the World Wide Web is being used advantageously on a smaller scale. Communities are embracing this electronic means of communications as a way of staying informed about events or issues that pertain to their community; much like impromptu town meetings of long ago. This “new” internet is also often used as a vehicle to drive a message to the people. One such case would be a rock band by the name of Zen Rizing.
Zen Rizing is a rock band from Tennessee. Their music is a blend of old school classic rock and “psychedelic” blues. Their musical style is reminiscent of a more innocent era when rock and roll was young. Zen Rizing believes that the quality of music has greatly diminished with the onslaught of rap and misogynistic lyrics that penetrate people’s brains via their iPods. One of Zen Rizing’s missions is to expose today’s generation to music and lyrics that do not send a message of hate. Supplementing their shows in Tennessee with a Myspace page on the internet, they were able to make themselves known to people who might otherwise never have heard of them or their music. If they were truly going to pursue a musical career, Zen Rizing needed to be at the industry’s pulse in Los Angeles. So, armed with only their instruments and a computer, they made their pilgrimage to Los Angeles in a dilapidated R.V. Through the internet, they were able to keep in touch with existing fans while reaching out to their new neighbors and potential fans across the world. This World Wide Web has helped Zen Rizing to touch over 7,500 people with their music, and the number grows daily. Although the computer has been accused of being an impersonal electronic gadget, it is quite the contrary for Zen Rizing. They are able to interact up close and personal with people who appreciate their music and message. When it comes to events concerning this band, the internet has been a powerful channel to keep their followers informed, and other organizations are taking advantage of this technology as well.
Recently, neighborhoods have adopted the internet as a means to stay informed with community events and issues. In today’s fast paced world, it is hard for people to make time to attend neighborhood watch meetings, and this was reflected in the low number of attendees. Although people would have liked to participate, the meetings often conflicted with their hectic schedules. Now however, neighbors are kept abreast of current affairs through the internet. Summaries of Neighborhood Watch meetings are posted on a site for all concerned to view. This site also offers advice to combat any threat to the neighborhood. In addition, there is a link to the Neighborhood Watch officer should there be a need to communicate with them. The internet is so valuable in the process of informing people, not only as in this Neighborhood Watch example, but in other areas as well. Schools, for instance, are also taking advantage of this form of communication. In her article, “Teaching with the World Wide Web,” Sally Davidson expresses this by saying, “Students can make connections with their school, teachers, parents, and community via the Internet” (22). The ability for all concerned with a child’s education to be united and connected with each other can only be an asset to the child’s education. Many factions of society are reaping the benefits of Web 2.0.
Schools, neighborhoods, and a band from Tennessee, have all come to appreciate and rely upon the web to stay connected and informed on issues that are important to them. Without the help of Web 2.0, Zen Rizing would not have the large following they enjoy today. When asked about the virtues of the internet in regards to his band, lead singer, Scott Foster Harris, replied, “Indeed, the internet is a large factor in our success. It is our tool for advertising and promoting our upcoming shows ---and it doesn’t cost us a cent.” In other words, the internet enables them to inform thousands of people about band news instantaneously, which is a priceless device at no price paid---very important to a band living on Top Ramen in an R.V.! Their web site also offers band paraphernalia for fans to purchase, which has helped to sustain them. So, Web 2.0 has been effective in promoting their shows, advertising their music, and generating income. Without this avenue, this up and coming band might very well be just another unknown wannabe plying their music to an industry with few open doors. Zen Rizing feels that Web 2.0 has been an asset for their band and has helped to deliver their message of “love not violence”, while keeping them connected fans, family, and friends.
The importance of staying connected with family and friends should not be underestimated. In the past, graduating high school often meant saying goodbye to good friends forever, as people flew off in different directions to pursue their dreams. The number of times spent answering letters or calling long distance were few and far between. Nowadays, distance is not an obstacle. Family and friends can keep in touch via email, Myspace, Facebook, IM, Twitter, etc. Wherever you may find yourself, you never have to feel alone, thanks to these wonderful social networks. The transition of leaving home for the first time can be made easier as well. Parents can still know what’s going on in and be a part of their son or daughter’s daily life through this communication. Kids and parents can talk and send pictures instantly, so there are less feelings of distance. Many families, big and small, near or far, use the internet to stay connected with their loved ones.
Miles from Tennessee, it is still important to the boys in Zen Rizing to keep in touch with family and friends. Not only in regards to important events, such as the birth of a nephew, as in the case of their drummer, but with everyday affairs. Pictures and notes are exchanged regularly and their parents can all measure the band’s progress via Zen Rizing’s Myspace page. Everyone feels included in each other’s lives. Drummer, Buddy Iahn, shares these thoughts “I’m very family oriented, so it’s hard for me to be away from them. I do believe that if there was no Myspace to interact with my family, I might have gone home already because I’d be so homesick.” Proving, at least in this case, that the internet helps to keep a family unit close. Another feature that the band loves is the direct feedback on their shows or material from the fans, which they use like a compass, because knowing what works gives them direction for future projects. The internet has kept them in touch and involved with family, friends, and fans alike. It is a form of life-support that gives them strength to pursue their dream.
As with most things in life, the internet does have its drawbacks. Critics, mostly the pre-computer generation, believe that Web 2.0 and the media outlet it supports have created a “me-centered” society that lives in a bubble. They fear that its specific, one sided topic sites will lead to ignorance. Brian Williams, author of “Enough about You” worries, “with the ability to tailor our media consumption today to only those sources that reflect our already held views, we may be missing out on alternative perspectives.” (449) With the ability to filter information to only that which appeals to you, chances are, you will not be exposed to a different point of view which might enlighten you further on a subject. These criticisms are valid. It is always comfortable to surround yourself with people that have similar opinions and values but both sides of the equation need to be represented in order to find a solution or see the whole picture. However true the critic’s fears may be, one could easily remove the word “internet” from these arguments and insert the word magazine, newspaper, television news, cable news, or book. Each of these medias tend to report or reflect a one-sided slant, such as the difference between Fox News Network and CNN. People can filter their news as well as the books they choose to read or the newspaper they subscribe to. So, although the internet receives all the criticism, the reality is that people who want to be informed will seek other viewpoints while others will stay within their comfort zone. If the internet did not exist, ignorance still would.
Such a popular trend as Web 2.0 cannot be without its supporters and critics. The debate can be summed up by Theresa Foulger’s words in her article, “Moral Spaces in MySpace: Preservice Teachers' Perspectives about Ethical Issues in Social Networking”. She states, “The advent of Web 2.0 and online social networking tools has enhanced communications capabilities and at the same time has challenged traditional ideas about privacy and ethical conduct.”(3) Brian Williams sees the internet as a detriment to society’s intelligence and interaction with each other. Steven Johnson, however, looks more to the positive side, focusing on the valuable information that can be gleaned and the opportunities for social interaction found in this forum. The pros far outweigh the cons in this matter. From average people, to organizations, to a rock band with a message, all have embraced this technological venue. The internet has connected and informed many people on many subjects without discrimination as well as proving the age old adage “it’s a small world after all”.
The internet of the future will make today’s internet pale in comparison. Its potential is seemingly limitless. Communicating and retrieving information in real time is only the beginning. One will need to exercise caution when relying on the internet for information, as it will undoubtedly become more and more inundated with material and/or people. Sites will be available for any topic imaginable---currently there are websites for people with broken necks or those who have lost a dog to cancer. Fortunately, not everyone needs these particular sites, but they are out there with people logging on, so who is anyone to judge what is nonsense and what is necessary? Democracy in, and policing of the internet will evolve with its growth. As problems occur, so will changes to combat them. Currently, Wikipedia is proposing stricter editing rules on their site due to misuse. As the internet grows, so does our responsibility as users. It would be fair to compare Web 2.0 with medicine; taken properly, in correct doses, medicine is helpful, but, when abused, it can be harmful.












Annotated Bibliography
Davidson, Sally "Teaching with the World Wide Web." Kappa Delta Pi Record 37.1 (2000): 13-16. ERIC. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .
Sally Davidson argues that the web is useful for interacting with people. Her quote was used to support my evidence that Web 2.0 helps to keep people connected.
Foulger, Teresa S., et al. "Moral Spaces in MySpace: Preservice Teachers' Perspectives about Ethical Issues in Social Networking." Journal of Research on Technology in Education 42.1 (2009): 1-28. Academic Search Elite. EBSCO. Web. 2 Dec. 2009.
Teresa Foulger is the Assistant Professor for Educational technology at Arizona State University. As a teacher, she sees the positive and negatives of Myspace, and discusses them in her article. I used a quote from her article, because I felt she summarized both sides of the issue with just one quote.
Johnson, Steven. "It’s All about Us." Signs of Life in the USA. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. 446-48. Print.
Steven Johnson’s argument is that the internet is an asset to society. He also has enough faith in man kind’s intelligence to believe that people can make their own decisions in regards to utilizing this technology. I used a quote from his article in the introduction of my paper to introduce his point of view, which concurs with mine. I also quoted him in the body paragraphs to further support my position in this paper.