Where to from here?

Well we are more than half way through this foray into the world of a digital presence and it has been very interesting.  The World Wide Web is an interesting beast and one that is ever-changing, and I feel I have a better grasp on how we communicate using these digital mediums now and some idea, albeit a small one, of where we might be going in the future.

The Web has great potential to be used for the betterment of society, but also has serious consequences if we get it wrong.  Due to the removed nature of the digital landscape, people feel removed from the social interaction they are involved in, but the problem is, anything said online is potentially there forever.  If we are talking to someone in a face to face interaction, we are able to draw on visual ques and body language to make sure our words are perceived in the correct manner,  online we don't have this luxury.

An interesting point came up during one of the lectures I was listening to this week, and that was, over time the context of what we say, or the context of a photo that is shared, is lost and all we are left with is the thing itself.  I don't know about you, but for me that is a powerful thought.  As we move more into the digital world, these out of context words and images have the potential to shape how we are perceived.

I have also noticed a trend that we only get involved in issues or discussions that are contentious.   maybe it is the way society works these days (especially if you believe or agree with anything the "current affairs" programs say on Australian TV) But I like to think that we can interact with friends or even strangers in a positive way.

I thought I might check the discussion boards of the "current affairs" shows to see what "everyday" Australians views are... Apparently we are are indeed a pack of racist, narrow minded, neanderthals...