Like the teenager it is, Web has begun to flaunt its potential and distance itself from its disenchanted, uptight parents, Desktop Software and Print. While proud of their offspring’s above average intellect, and even a bit envious of its youthful gregariousness, Web’s parents can’t help feeling overshadowed and, therefore, contemptuous of the globe-spanning nightclub Web seems to have designed as its workspace.
Underlying its naive exuberance is Web’s fundamental belief that it can be anything it wants to be, befriend anyone anywhere on earth, engage in creative collaborations of breathtaking scope, openly express its mercurial moods without backlash, conduct a quick search for the sources of genuine wisdom (because it’s feeling lucky), and in a few short years land an absurdly fun job with a six-figure salary and nine weeks of paid vacation.
Web’s parents, while scraping by on five figures, are reminded of their own glory days, which weren’t very glorious because they occurred during a period of economic depression, widespread unemployment, and bad haircuts that are inexplicably back in style. They want Web to thrive, but they can offer their progeny little assistance; their best techniques are obsolete. Mostly, they worry that Web might make the same mistakes they made. So they watch, hold their breath, and hope…
…that Web will do the right thing.
Tags: OneWebDay
Fri, 21 Sep 2007, at 9:16 am |
Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious…
(Sorry, couldn’t resist)
Sat, 22 Sep 2007, at 2:13 pm |
Some of you noticed this post links to a brand new WordPress blog called cantheworldhearme. I happened to find it while tag surfing, minutes after I posted the allegory about OneWebDay, and it seemed to epitomize what I’d just written.
I hope the cantheworldhearme co-bloggers truly are precocious high school students and not simply poseurs launching a viral marketing campaign. I hope they’re lucky enough to have teachers who believe in the value of lifelong learning and who continue to adapt to new methods and technology themselves. An old professor of mine once insisted that only if the university made the use of interactive Web-based software a condition of keeping her job would she take the time to learn.
I hope the cantheworldhearme kids never encounter Michael Dirda, who, on behalf of the Campaign to Save Book Reviewing (in print media, of course, as it’s flourishing on the Web), felt the need to express his humorless disdain for litblogs:
I’d like Dirda to explain why anyone should rely on his professional ability to filter and assess the quality of the books he reviews, when he doesn’t think filtering and evaluating commentary in the blogosphere is worthwhile.
What can you say about authority figures whose minds are blocked to learning, except that they’ve already been replaced?
I’m anticipating great things from cantheworldhearme. And thanks, WordPress, for the filter that allowed me to discover them.
Sat, 22 Sep 2007, at 2:52 pm |
OK, Memento time.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious…
Now I think you have the key to sorting out ‘atrocious’
Sat, 22 Sep 2007, at 3:04 pm |
Michael, the question is why you would select that particular line as your allusion. I prefer “a little spontaneity keeps conversation keen.”
Sat, 22 Sep 2007, at 5:35 pm |
Hello there Robin and thank you for the motivational comment and post. When I first read this, it was like almost an exact metaphor to what I am and what my friends and I are trying to make our blog to be. You are right that we do believe we can be anything we want to be and maybe that does spawn from our naivety. But we will never take anything for granted and will work hard, trying to find our potential. We have fully understood that glory does not come overnight and will not be disappointed in the end.
Yes we are really high schoolers trying to make a dream come true and we hope you continue reading our blog. You will not be disappointed.
Sat, 22 Sep 2007, at 7:31 pm |
Welcome to the blogosphere, cantheworldhearme. Challenge our complacency. Work hard to maintain your high standards. And don’t let either praise or skepticism dull the cutting edge.
Sat, 22 Sep 2007, at 10:46 pm |
I’ll put in the praise, too, and have cantheworldhearme on my favorites to follow along with. Good reading…