4 ms·

This presumes there is no social benefit from the Internet. But there are loads of margalized groups who have been able to find a group and community thanks to

by rmc 13y ago

This presumes there is no social benefit from the Internet. But there are loads of margalized groups who have been able to find a group and community thanks to quick and easy communication of the Internet. Just look at a lot of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people who wouldn't be able to find people like themselves in many places. I'd even think the more common acceptance of atheism is a result of this too.

icebraining 13y ago
I'm failing to find the original article, but from the quote, I don't think the author is arguing against the Internet, but small stuff like iPhone apps and other "small impact" startups. Besides, is the Internet really an accomplishment by Silicon Valley and its startups? ARPA and BBN certainly don't fit the model.
- rmc 13y ago
  is the Internet really an accomplishment by Silicon Valley and its startups? Well, look at Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and reddit. These are "Silicon Valley startups". They are tools that empower minorities to do things. Here's a video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBeNfSoMqjY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBeNfSoMqjY ) of someone who started @EverydaySexism on Twitter, talking about how that project has empowered her and lots of other women with compating low level sexism. A "trivial" website like twitter is fighting sexism (while also have lots of cat pics and memes). The big game changer with the internet isn't so much the technology, but the fact that so many mundane average people are on it. For that we can thank Silicon Valley's push for "growth" and "user count", the end result is people (incl. marginalized groups) having access to the tool. It's not the technical superiority of the tools, but the widespread availability of the tools, that is the game changer.
  - dragonwriter 13y ago
    > Well, look at Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and reddit. These are "Silicon Valley startups". None of those are Silicon Valley startups, and Facebook and Twitter never were Silicon Valley startups.

by rmc 13y ago

icebraining 13y ago

I'm failing to find the original article, but from the quote, I don't think the author is arguing against the Internet, but small stuff like iPhone apps and other "small impact" startups. Besides, is the Internet really an accomplishment by Silicon Valley and its startups? ARPA and BBN certainly don't fit the model.

rmc 13y ago
is the Internet really an accomplishment by Silicon Valley and its startups? Well, look at Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and reddit. These are "Silicon Valley startups". They are tools that empower minorities to do things. Here's a video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBeNfSoMqjY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBeNfSoMqjY ) of someone who started @EverydaySexism on Twitter, talking about how that project has empowered her and lots of other women with compating low level sexism. A "trivial" website like twitter is fighting sexism (while also have lots of cat pics and memes). The big game changer with the internet isn't so much the technology, but the fact that so many mundane average people are on it. For that we can thank Silicon Valley's push for "growth" and "user count", the end result is people (incl. marginalized groups) having access to the tool. It's not the technical superiority of the tools, but the widespread availability of the tools, that is the game changer.
- dragonwriter 13y ago
  > Well, look at Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and reddit. These are "Silicon Valley startups". None of those are Silicon Valley startups, and Facebook and Twitter never were Silicon Valley startups.