NORTHERN PLANNER

Just finally got around to reading Cognitive Surplus. And you know what, I find it disappointing.

Maybe it's because what he's on about has already seeped into the way we go about our collective day jobs and I've jut got to it too late, so it's not new.

But I'm not so sure. I like books that compress half formed thoughts, suspiscions, opinions and  and habits I have into something simpler. Somtimes I need someone else to tell me what I think (that's why I like colloborating with certain people at work). Where Good Ideas Come From is one those books. It re-arranges much of what you already know pr believe into something bigger and simpler somehow.

I don't think this book does. Mostly because I don't agree with his main point. He goes on about lots of stuff we already know (social humans, technology changes but people don't etc) but adds it all up to the premise that people wasting spare time watching telly and stuff is an artificial construct and actually we'd all rather be making things and joining movements together.

I just don't buy this. If there's a fundamental principle of humans, it's that we always go for the path of least resistance. TV, reading books and stuff or just playing with the kids is easy. And most people need that because they work hard. There will be busy bodies around the fringes, but most people can't be bothered really, and until we take away long working days, that won't change. Digital stuff is really a more interactive (possibly social) form of entertainment.

That's why most people can't be arsed to upload vidoes to brand sites, vote in a manufactured community based campaign or anything else that requires too much effort.

Or at least that's what I think.

Anyway.