One has to question if the online world is an exercise in homogeneity or individuality – is the consistent (and often unwisely unguarded) content of MySpace a quest for individual expression or the start of the rise of the hive mind, sentient internet, world domination and so on? New Scientist have chimed in this week with a sociologist voting on collectiveness – but without community. It’s an interest take – a social network where the collective encourages expression over introspection, but nevertheless doesn’t provide a group focus and intent. And it does make one wonder what the point of community is if the whole point of the community is to parade the individuals within.
Or maybe I’ve had too much tea and am talking bollocks…
In any case I can hardly talk. I’ve had a vanity site for years, well before they were called ‘blogs’. My only saving grace comes from my introversion – I’ve no real interest in communities like MySpace as I’ve better ways of keeping in touch with those I know and no great interest in the deepest thoughts of those I don’t. And on this line it’s a great annoyance to me that MSN Messenger won’t integrate with private or even third party sites, only Windows Live Spaces – I’d love to let my friends see new photos and the like but I’m not going to be moving services for the privilege. Not that this concept has ever troubled Microsoft…
