Class notes (Smart things to say)

Quotes to consider:
McHenry. Techcentralstation.com

"Some unspecified quasi-Darwinian process will assure that those writings and editings by contributors of greatest expertise will survive; articles will eventually reach a steady state that corresponds to the highest degree of accuracy."
(later in same graf)
"Does someone actually believe this? Evidently so. Why? It's very hard to say. One possibility that occurs to me is this: The combination of prolificacy and inattention to accuracy that characterizes this process is highly suggestive of the modern pedagogic technique known as "journaling." "


Schiff, S. "Know it all." The New Yorker.

"Wikipedia is an online community devoted not to last night’s party or to next season’s iPod but to a higher good. It is also no more immune to human nature than any other utopian project. Pettiness, idiocy, and vulgarity are regular features of the site."

On pages 3 and 4, Schiff outlines some of the philosophical underpinnings of Wikipedia. And it's pretty damn Enlightenment. Which is always pretty damn utopian.

Businessweek's series on Wiki-ality in the economic sector. Some fear here: They promote the idea of master workers, those highly skilled individuals who are driven to succeed. With wiki and open sourcing, every company has access to those individuals--and can choose them over us mediocre folks each and every time. This is tied directly to the Puritan work ethic, the Bootsraps mentality, the American Dream--why we middle class folks work so hard for so little and don't complain. We blame ourselves for not being the master worker, then work ourselves into the ground (we become our work) to do so, guilt hanging over us like clouds of chemicals we know we shouldn't ask about.

Intro article on Businessweek:
"Conventional wisdom says companies innovate, differentiate, and compete by doing certain things right. They hire and retain the "best people" to generate new ideas, make new discoveries, compete, and expand their business lines. They "listen" to their customers and protect their intellectually property fiercely. They think globally but act locally, and they execute well (they have good management and controls."
Note the sarcasm toward convention here--is this typical of busnessweek? Why do it here, then?