Continued from page 1
3 - Social, Political, Cultural:
The Internet is not only for business. Already you find such things as cancer support groups, art shows, concerts, voting. Many organs that are now in development, will be just as important, and perhaps more important than
business organ.
* The Internet is alive! A network for learning.
THE GLOBAL SOCIETY Not only is
Internet a living organism, it is a living society comprised of living people. People on
Internet form networks to make choices and to learn.
1 - People Network
The Internet is not merely a living creature. It's a living society. Every aspect of its life is caused by people, not machines. The machines are there only to enhance relationships among people. Don't be distracted by robots. All of them are servants of people.
The Internet is not a highway for information, but a network for
flow of ideas, for learning. Everything is mental, not physical. Everything happens fast, because communication is instantaneous.
2 - Chaotic Idea Flow
Ideas flow through
Internet in unpredictable ways. Very unlike TV. On TV,
advertiser does not bother with ideas. He sends "information" one way - direct to you. On
Internet, all people may partake in
flow of ideas. As a result ideas on
Internet may:
BRUSH - One idea doesn't meet another idea, but brushes it slightly. They may warm each other as a result. Sometimes
brush enhances further development of one of
ideas.
MERGE - Two ideas, when brought together produce a bigger, richer idea. They feed on each other and mushroom into something better
COLLIDE - Ideas may come from opposite directions and bang into each other to produce sparks. The sparks may lead to brilliant breakthroughs.
Brush, merge, collide. These are only suggestions of
possibilities. Serendipity occurs in all places and at all times, making possibilities infinite. I visit a site and like its format. I copy it with a little modification, as my own. Someone else visits my site and makes further changes for her purpose. I send email to a colleague making a suggestion; he modifies it and uses it for a very different purpose. It's as though you're part of a never-ending brainstorming session.
3 - Personal Choice
People are individuals on
Internet. They are autonomous. They make choices. Something they can not do when watching TV. On
Internet a person may:
ACT - Initiate any type of action: go to any site, start his own site, send a message to anyone. On TV, only
advertiser may ACT
REACT - Respond to another's action: buy something, reply to a message. REACT is all a TV watcher can do
INTERACT - Be part of a to-and-fro exchange: a dialogue, a discussion, a transaction. This is one of
most important characteristics of
Internet, one that gives it power
Act, react, interact. They represent various aspects of
power of a person to be an individual. The Internet, unlike TV, awards each person with
gift of autonomy. And each person uses it. Each person has choice. The consumer, unlike
consumer of
Industrial Society, has power.
* The Internet is alive! It places power in people.

Paul -the soarING- Siegel is a provocative Internet speaker and author of HELPFULNESS MARKETNG, a book stressing learning, cooperation and community. Learn about it at http://www.learningfountain.com/helpfulnessmarketing.htm Subscribe to newsletter, LearningFOUNT; send blank email to: mailto:LearningFOUNT-subscribe@topica.com.