So, moving right along to be no more late than I am, I had to choose something from Weinberger's Small Pieces Loosely Joined since I read that book eagerly when it first came out in 2002 (I had just discovered Cluetrain Manifesto around that time). Back in 2002 this book resonated perfectly with my COMPLETE JOY in the Internet, a joy that continues to this day I should add. Reading this paragraph made me remember the happy discovery that the Internet was, and still is, the answer to all my textual prayers. Here is the paragraph:
The Web, on the other hand, breaks the traditional publishing model. The old model is about control: a team works on a document, is responsible for its content and format, and releases it to the public when it's been certified as done. Once it's published, no one can change it except the original publisher. The Web ditches that model, with all its advantages as well as its drawbacks, and says instead, "You have something to say? Say it. You want to respond to something that's been said? Say it and link to it. You think something is interesting? Link to it from your home page. And you never have to ask anyone's permission." Then it adds: "And how long will it take to do this? I dunno. How fast do you type?"
I LOVE THIS. Let me take it one small piece at a time. Loosely joined.
~ ~ ~
The Web, on the other hand, breaks the traditional publishing model. The old model is about control: a team works on a document, is responsible for its content and format, and releases it to the public when it's been certified as done. Once it's published, no one can change it except the original publisher.
I have published several books with traditional publishers and, I am pleased to say, NEVER AGAIN. For me, as a writer, self-publishing is the only way to go. I've now self-published four books, and I do that in a process that is Internet-based, with a blog to book to blog cycle. More about that here: Blogging: Websites, Blogs, and Books. Want my books? Take them: the PDFs of all four books are sitting on the Internet waiting for you to take/make your own copy: Special Edition: #PDFTribute to Aaron Swartz.
~ ~ ~
And we ALL have something to say. It's called... democracy.
(Liberian proverb)
~ ~ ~
You want to respond to something that's been said? Say it and link to it.
It is ALL a conversation. It can happen face to face in real time, or it can happen over hyperlinks, transcending time and place. Connect however you want, whoever you are!
~ ~ ~
You think something is interesting? Link to it from your home page.
The world is SOOOOOOOOOO interesting. I remember being bored as a child, which seems incredible to me now. I have never ... never ... been bored as an adult. For example, the Internet is now the biggest library in existence. Link to Internet Archive. Link to Project Gutenberg. Link to Hathi Trust. Link to LibriVox. Link to Sacred Texts Archive. More books than could ever fit in my house. More books than I could ever read.
Result: happiness!
Knowledge is the sunlight of the mind.
~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~
And you never have to ask anyone's permission."
That, to me, is THE KEY. As someone with a very checkered academic career, where permission was denied for many things that I considered of great importance, the Internet has been the one place where I always already have permission. Where I cannot be stopped. Where I will never stop! :-)
I know not by what power I am made bold.
~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~
Then it adds: "And how long will it take to do this? I dunno. How fast do you type?"
I don't know about you, but I type really REALLY fast. I hope my students can learn to type fast too. It's an advantage. So, seize that advantage! Typing Game: Ninja Cat.
~ ~ ~
And, in conclusion, I say to everybody:
SEARCH
CLICK
CLICK
READ
WRITE
LINK
Repeat as needed.
It works for me. :-)
