Scott Heiferman on Web 2.0
Scott Heiferman, founder of Meetup, was interviewed in the May 28 issue of Newsweek, and I plucked this observation about Web 2.0 out:
[from See You Offline by Steven Levy]What's your view of the recent buzz about "Web 2.0," which is a term for the current Internet boom based on new technology tools and user-generated content?
People don't want to generate content. They want to solve problems in their lives. They want support, they want help. I think that it would be helpful for people who are making new things to really just back to the basic Maslow hierarchy of needs. What is it that people really need in their lives, and how does the technology help people to focus?
I hate every bit of these seemingly innocuous two paragraphs.
I hate Levy's off the cuff definition of Web 2.0 as a new Internet boom, and how he doesn't mention the most critical aspect of Web 2.0 apps: people are the center of the universe 2.0. It's all about the wisdom of the crowd, the swarm logic that helps us collectively make sense of the world. Can't Levy say something about that? To humanize what is going on? Instead he makes it sound like the gas that inflates a balloon before it explodes.
And Scott goes Calvinist: the Web is all about doing good works, helping ourselves and others, and only doing things that help us focus. But if you revisit Mazlow, you will see that once our basic needs are taken care of, we can ascend to the artistic and spiritual issues. Marshall McLuhan suggested that in the new world of the global village, art would become the primary purpose for human life. So people can live online artistically, not just fixing things that are broken in politics or society, which are also interesting but not the only thing going on. The artist has a place here, too, Scott. Some people really do want to create content.
(This comment reminds me of Dave Winer telling us all at a long-ago Bloggercon that we didn't really want to make money blogging: we wanted blogging to bring us opportunities to make money in other ways. No, Dave: we'd like to make money for our blogging, as soon as the world catches up to that idea.)
And I really hate the term "user-generated content" which reminds me of beetles providing the goo that we use for shellac. It's artisan journalism, video, or audio. An ecosystem of artisans, crafting the new Web, through our posts and the responding gestures that find their way into links, comments, tags, and bookmarks as people experience and reflect the world online.
Why does it sound like a conspiracy or shell game in Levy's shorthand? We aren't trying to hoodwink anyone, and we aren't out to screw anyone. We just want to find our way.
stowe, agreed. my point was that it's not about tags & "content" & the technology -- it's about how these things help us. helping you make & share art is valuable to people; talking about tags in a vacuum does not. content is a business term. have you not seen endless new tech that solves no problem or makes life no better for people?
Posted by: heif | May 29, 2006 at 04:58 AM
It's Maslow, not Mazlow! Such a bad influence on my young, blooming mind.
: )
Posted by: James O'Beirne | May 29, 2006 at 03:53 PM
Scott - I agree that technology is search of a problem is a waste, but I just think that because of people's preconceptions about art being the frosting on the cake and not the cake itself thaat it is important to explicitly make the case for the centrality of art in our lives.
James - Thanks, J. Fixed typo.
Posted by: Stowe Boyd | May 30, 2006 at 12:56 AM
I agree with your take on 'user generated content'.
One of the local papers here in New Jersey as an ad along the same lines for their nj.com site ('stop calling it real estate, call it home'). Some terms that are used sound disembodied.
When I started writing my blog 'Serge the Concierge', I looked at it as a way to promote my business. It has now taken a life of its own. I enjoy writing it, sharing things and ideas but also asking questions.
Have a good day
Serge
Biz:
http://www.njconcierges.com
Blog:
http://www.sergetheconcierge.com
Posted by: Serge Lescouarnec | May 31, 2006 at 09:46 AM