Internet and community

Who will the cultural winners be in the age of the Internet?

It seems to undermine centralization, so it may make “social justice” less of a threat. On the other hand, it puts everybody and everything in immediate touch and so puts everything somewhat on a par, with exchange (that is, money) and arbitrary choice the organizing principles.

So a big challenge will be limiting its effect on communities. I think to meet the challenge a community will have to have quite a strong organizing principle and discipline. So things look good for the Amish and strict Orthodox Jews, I’m not sure just who else.

Posted by Jim Kalb at May 11, 2002 05:02 PM | Send