Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Monday, October 8, 2007
Men are highly clueless and efficient, Women are highly talented and inefficient
--- "Lots to say about this" goes in this space ---
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Time to catch an information break? --- From not feeling appreciated to the basic nature of reality....
The world consists of two kinds of people: the geeks, and the non-geeks. I believe that the geeks from every field, e.g. the top scientists from science, the top programmers from technology, the top musicians, top movie actors, millionaires and billionaires who must have got something right, top business people and top yogis who provide enlightenment for the masses, are the ones who run this world: i.e. they create a lot of the tangible and intangible goods and information that most other non-geeks consume.
A lot of knowledge and information has thus already been generated. In some parts the wheel is even being reinvented. Yet the people of the world are growing farther apart, and thus unhappier, despite more conveniences and choices being available, because now, both the geeks and non-geeks are not able to deal with this explosion in information and goods available. Mostly, the geeks have more information about most things than the non-geeks, so their lives are a little better. But we know that the non-geeks cannot be allowed to continue to live in their relative ignorance, because: a. they make up the majority of population, and b. their ignorance can cause pain and misgivings to both geeks and non-geeks, apart from the fact that ignorance can cause misery, and part-knowledge can wreak havoc. This information deluge poses some interesting questions:
1. What are the consequences of this information explosion? Could it potentially lead to a disparity so vast that it ultimately self-destructs the human race, as most non-geeks would feel unappreciated and exploited by the geeks, so that humans would end up fighting humans ? Destruction of the world in an uprising of the non-geeks against the geeks so to speak...
2. Should the geeks consider slowing down a bit, and stop producing more goods and information, and allow rest of the world to catch up in important areas? Should they temporarily switch over from production mode to training mode, and would this help in reducing overall costs of everything worldwide (middlemen and brokers in all areas would be eliminated due to increased information at fingertips)?
3. Do we need a new structure for Education Systems worldwide, where persons are maybe required to go back to school/specialized training once they hit 35, and once again at 50, where they are brought up to date on recent developments in a variety of fields (a sabbatical of sorts made mandatory by national constitutions worldwide)
These questions give rise to more questions:
1. What kinds of information and goods are there? More importantly what kinds of goods and information are causing all this disparity?
2. Is the geek/non-geek divide and the circumstances & natural problems arising from it, the root cause for "I'm not feeling appreciated", at workplaces and homes in general?
3. Is this an issue? Does this give rise to interesting research questions in Economics, Sociology or a related field?
4. What is the age/social distribution of geeks vs non-geeks. Are most geeks in a younger age group? Are geeks mostly men?
5. In what ways can non-geeks count more, apart from making up a sea of vast number of spectators, clerks and clone-like factory workers? Are they a resource hogger on the planet?
6. - Geek perspective: "Wait a minute, I am a geek, and I'm the one who gets stuff to work at all. I make pretty good policies. Why should I talk to non-geeks more than I already do. Why would I be interested in empowering a bunch of non-geeks, and giving them some control over things. If things have to go right, I must be on top of them. Can't let stuff go haywire. We're all quite happy as it is aren't we? I created and evangelized peer-to-peer networking as a concept in technology. But I'm not so sure it works in real life with real people. And I'm doing all the philantrophy on the side, like helping undernourished kids in Africa. I'm a decent balanced person. I feel good."
- Non-geek perspective: "I feel persecuted every which way. Emotionally, intellectually, spiritually. Really what I wanted to be was a geek. If I follow what the geek says now(it's a pretty good plan I admit), I'll never be my own person. He'll always be one up on me. I always secretly wanted to be boss. If only there was a plan where I could be boss."
7. Is true equality really possible? What are the steps necessary?
8. Is the geek/non-geek divide the root cause for inaction regarding the major problems in the world today, e.g. pollution, global warming? i.e. the well meaning geeks can't get the non-geeks to cooperate coz the non-geeks feel unappreciated, and see no immediate gain in it for them, or that the well-meaning non-geeks can't take action coz they don't know how or have no resources or can't get geek-signup as their ideas are seen as coming from flawed, ignorant non-geeks?
9. What drives people?
10.What is the nature of trust?
11.Will teamwork through carefully balanced interdependence be the ultimate way to save the human race from self-destruction, prior to some unforeseen interplanetary catastrophe?
12.What is a great strategy to reach out, incase geeks and non-geeks want to come together to save mankind and create a great environment while they are at it? (PS: Blogs, NGOs or NGOs disguised as consulting companies are not acceptable
choices )
13.Are we deluded and everything is really quite alright with the world? Is it that, some people feeling not appreciated has got nothing to do with failure of mankind as a race? Is information explosion even a part of this discussion and how can it be managed to bring people closer and bridge the gap between people leading their daily lives and people actively taking steps to save mankind.
14.Is ignorance truly bliss? Or is responsibility a delusion?
15.What are the questions we really need to ask?
Disclaimer: A geek here is meant to imply a person who is a highly productive or successful individual in society influencing economic conditions greatly or creating livelihoods for many. Non-geeks are those who are regarded as ordinary people in society and are dependent in some way on geeks for their livelihood and social standing.
A lot of knowledge and information has thus already been generated. In some parts the wheel is even being reinvented. Yet the people of the world are growing farther apart, and thus unhappier, despite more conveniences and choices being available, because now, both the geeks and non-geeks are not able to deal with this explosion in information and goods available. Mostly, the geeks have more information about most things than the non-geeks, so their lives are a little better. But we know that the non-geeks cannot be allowed to continue to live in their relative ignorance, because: a. they make up the majority of population, and b. their ignorance can cause pain and misgivings to both geeks and non-geeks, apart from the fact that ignorance can cause misery, and part-knowledge can wreak havoc. This information deluge poses some interesting questions:
1. What are the consequences of this information explosion? Could it potentially lead to a disparity so vast that it ultimately self-destructs the human race, as most non-geeks would feel unappreciated and exploited by the geeks, so that humans would end up fighting humans ? Destruction of the world in an uprising of the non-geeks against the geeks so to speak...
2. Should the geeks consider slowing down a bit, and stop producing more goods and information, and allow rest of the world to catch up in important areas? Should they temporarily switch over from production mode to training mode, and would this help in reducing overall costs of everything worldwide (middlemen and brokers in all areas would be eliminated due to increased information at fingertips)?
3. Do we need a new structure for Education Systems worldwide, where persons are maybe required to go back to school/specialized training once they hit 35, and once again at 50, where they are brought up to date on recent developments in a variety of fields (a sabbatical of sorts made mandatory by national constitutions worldwide)
These questions give rise to more questions:
1. What kinds of information and goods are there? More importantly what kinds of goods and information are causing all this disparity?
2. Is the geek/non-geek divide and the circumstances & natural problems arising from it, the root cause for "I'm not feeling appreciated", at workplaces and homes in general?
3. Is this an issue? Does this give rise to interesting research questions in Economics, Sociology or a related field?
4. What is the age/social distribution of geeks vs non-geeks. Are most geeks in a younger age group? Are geeks mostly men?
5. In what ways can non-geeks count more, apart from making up a sea of vast number of spectators, clerks and clone-like factory workers? Are they a resource hogger on the planet?
6. - Geek perspective: "Wait a minute, I am a geek, and I'm the one who gets stuff to work at all. I make pretty good policies. Why should I talk to non-geeks more than I already do. Why would I be interested in empowering a bunch of non-geeks, and giving them some control over things. If things have to go right, I must be on top of them. Can't let stuff go haywire. We're all quite happy as it is aren't we? I created and evangelized peer-to-peer networking as a concept in technology. But I'm not so sure it works in real life with real people. And I'm doing all the philantrophy on the side, like helping undernourished kids in Africa. I'm a decent balanced person. I feel good."
- Non-geek perspective: "I feel persecuted every which way. Emotionally, intellectually, spiritually. Really what I wanted to be was a geek. If I follow what the geek says now(it's a pretty good plan I admit), I'll never be my own person. He'll always be one up on me. I always secretly wanted to be boss. If only there was a plan where I could be boss."
7. Is true equality really possible? What are the steps necessary?
8. Is the geek/non-geek divide the root cause for inaction regarding the major problems in the world today, e.g. pollution, global warming? i.e. the well meaning geeks can't get the non-geeks to cooperate coz the non-geeks feel unappreciated, and see no immediate gain in it for them, or that the well-meaning non-geeks can't take action coz they don't know how or have no resources or can't get geek-signup as their ideas are seen as coming from flawed, ignorant non-geeks?
9. What drives people?
10.What is the nature of trust?
11.Will teamwork through carefully balanced interdependence be the ultimate way to save the human race from self-destruction, prior to some unforeseen interplanetary catastrophe?
12.What is a great strategy to reach out, incase geeks and non-geeks want to come together to save mankind and create a great environment while they are at it? (PS: Blogs, NGOs or NGOs disguised as consulting companies are not acceptable
choices )
13.Are we deluded and everything is really quite alright with the world? Is it that, some people feeling not appreciated has got nothing to do with failure of mankind as a race? Is information explosion even a part of this discussion and how can it be managed to bring people closer and bridge the gap between people leading their daily lives and people actively taking steps to save mankind.
14.Is ignorance truly bliss? Or is responsibility a delusion?
15.What are the questions we really need to ask?
Disclaimer: A geek here is meant to imply a person who is a highly productive or successful individual in society influencing economic conditions greatly or creating livelihoods for many. Non-geeks are those who are regarded as ordinary people in society and are dependent in some way on geeks for their livelihood and social standing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)