Thing 2

I was struck while reading about the controversy around Library 2.0 that Socrates is getting his revenge. I think back in college I heard this story:

The reason we don't have any writings directly from Socrates is because he refused to learn to write. He believed it was a bad invention that would eventually kill conversation and reflective thought. When you write your thoughts instead of discussing them in a conversation, you are only talking to yourself. You don't have the benefit of other people's questions and comments. When you read the words of another person who is not with you, you cannot talk back to them. Writing is a one-way street. It leads to dictatorial thinking. Truth can be gained only trough "Socratic dialog".

I also read essays in college about how society changed after the printing press spread infomation. It killed off verbal storytelling and recitation of poetry as entertainment.

The Web will undoubtedly "kill off" libraries as we know them now.

Interestingly, it will also bring back a form of socratic dialog on a far greater scale than any heard in Athens! For the first time, I can have a conversation with the librarians whose words I've only read in articles. I can now questions them and get a reply. I can make a comment and hear their take on it. I can also move beyond the medieval boundries of my own school and talk easily with colleagues across the country.

I think I really like this new connectivity! (I still think avatars are ridiculous.)