Where Everybody Knows Your Name...No, seriously

Articles read:
"Inventing the Innovative Commons" (textbook)
"Social Networking targets the enterprise"

The internet was created through an open system where "hackers", which in the past was known as someone developing the web rather than trying to break into it. These hackers had a dream that the internet would be a public good for all to use and share information. The book "Smart Mobs" presents this idea as "nobody owns and everybody uses".

Before reading about this history I took a look at the article by Ephraim Schwartz discussing different technologies that can help businesses expand their social networking capabilities. At first glance these programs really scare me. These programs look for ways to expand businesses by going through email, internet chats, and profiles. Something about this is all very sci-fi and creepy to me. Whatever happened to old fashioned businesses where you knock on someone's door and actually shake their hand? Are those days over?

It seems like they are to me. Now we can have access to as much information as our mouse can click on, is nothing sacred any more? How does real life social networking continue to have value when my competitor can reach my new client through software while I have been trying to wine and dine the same business for months? Originally hackers felt that the internet would be a medium open to the public for all to reap the benefits. Now the internet's capabilities are probably at a level that these people could have never imagined. I fear that now our never ending abilities are making us weaker rather than stronger because it seems there is no way to gain an advantage. Everyone has access to the same opportunities making it harder to get ahead. It's wonderful that we are able to connect with so many people but at the same time, I think we are facing a situation where all of our connections are starting to cheapen because there are just so darn many of them.