Quicksilver

More on Internet Magic

I know that many seem to fear anything as far reaching as the Internet. On the surface, it looks like a great way for one maniac to take control of the world, but all fears in this direction come from ignorance of how the world wide web works. It is not under the control of any one person or group. There is no more control over the net than our telephone system, because that is precisely how everything is relayed throughout the web, at least currently. There are actually tests in the works which would pass internet access through the same lines which provide electricity to homes and businesses.

Who 'controls' our conversations on the telephone? We do. There are, at any one time, thousands of people on the telephone talking about the same sorts of things, working on personal dilemmas, debating national issues, doing some brainstorming on global problems or just dreaming about how it all could be. BUT these are all point-to-point conversations and SO, they don't know about each other. How much more progress could they make if they could collect together and really work at problems from their vast experience, creative ideas, and variety of resources?

This is precisely what is happening on the Net. People are collecting in pools of intent, thought, concern, dreams, action. They're working on new ideas to handle old problems. They're building new roads to bypass blocked avenues. They're rediscovering secrets we've lost along the way. They are creating solutions at the speed of light and electrons. It's completely a bottom-up organization that isn't really organized at all except where Like is drawn to Like. It's all natural, despite the technology that makes it possible.

02.01.2001

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