Last week Adrew Orlowki flamed The Second Superpower Rears its Beautiful Head. His article mostly made arcane comments about google, but he took the time to trash the piece and its supporters as follows (and see the rebuttal by Kevin Marks, above):
It’s a plea for net users to organize themselves as a “superpower”, and represents a class of techno-utopian literature that John Perry Barlow has been promoting – the same sappy stuff, but not as well written – for the past ten years.
Only note how this example is sprinkled with trigger words for progressives, liberals and NPR listeners. It concludes – if you can find your way through this mound of feel-good styrofoam peanuts – “we do not have to create a world where differences are resolved by war. It is not our destiny to live in a world of destruction, tedium, and tragedy. We will create a world of peace”.
Actually, Andrew, I like this vision for the future. What is your problem, buddy? Not getting enough?
3 responses so far ↓
Dave Winer // Apr 8th 2003 at 11:42 am
He’s just a troll who got a job at a second-rate UK tabloid.
Scof // Apr 8th 2003 at 12:34 pm
His article didn’t have much substance but, I mean, your second superpower thesis did slant to the left a bit. Of course I know you realize this second superpower is a multi-headed beast (perhaps the two biggest heads being those with a liberal bent and those with a conservative bent). After all, the second superpower doesn’t exist only to confront the United States, there are many who wish to help it.
I do agree with you in that you are getting flames because people “who aren’t part of the clerisy of professional Journalists and activists are taking an interest, and actually discussing ideas calmly and rationally”. I think more & more as the second superpower grows it, or the memes it expresses, will be picked up on by the first superpower, since it (the first) is supposed to represent the second. Now whether this results in real change or just diluting the effect of the movement (like when corporations start brand-naming a recent fad or signing an “indie” band to a fat contract) remains to be seen… guess I should start joining in this discussion at the emergent democracy channel.
Frank Ruscica // Apr 8th 2003 at 12:54 pm
Jim,
The most expeditious way to derail critics is to provide an actionable blueprint for fulfilling (some of) the promise of the second superpower (S2).
You describe S2 as comprising “people who are attempting to take into account the needs and dreams of all 6.3 billion people in the world.”
Implicitly, then, S2 must assign high priority — if not outright primacy — to the democratization of opportunity, starting with educational opportunity.
Not long ago my business plan for a provider of lifelong learning and career services (LLCS) was circulated internally at Microsoft. Soon after, I received the following email from Randy Hinrichs, Manager of Microsoft Research’s Learning Sciences and Technology Group:
“Frank, you are a good man. Have you thought about joining this team? Your only alternative, of course, is venture capital. But their usual models require getting rid of the ‘originator’ within the first eighteen months. With Netscape it took a little longer, but you get the idea.”
Credibly sustainable LLCS providers will race to develop and fund their own student loan programs, as most customers will need financing in order to consume their initial bundle of LLCS, and will be drawn to the provider offering the best loan package. These loan programs will, in time, democratize access to LLCS — and hence, to educational opportunity.
So providing the aforesaid actionable blueprint equates to providing a business plan for an LLCS provider.
If this makes sense, I am happy to supply more information.
Best,
Frank Ruscica