Is the Web Utopia or Switzerland?

In my highly implausible bloggery about the Web as utopia, I wrote:

The Web is a world that is profoundly social. Its geography itself is social, a map of connections and passions. It is thus a world that we’ve made for ourselves that is a reflection of our best nature and a place where can imperfectly perfect our imperfect natures.

Kurt Kurosawa puts his finger on the issue in an email to me:

Nah, it amplifies the powers not only of trolls but True Evil.

There’s a lot of truth to that. In fact, it’s undeniably true. But, ultimately (i.e., indefensibly) I don’t think it’s a neutral technology. It’s an amplifier because it’s connective, and connectedness isn’t neutral.

The real question is: How would we ever settle this issue?

Categories: Uncategorized dw