[decasteve]

I'm much more optimistic about it. To be connected to every corner of the globe in near real time, not to mention connected to people and robots in outer space. I'm connecting with fascinating people in my local community as well, talking about an ever diverse set of topics.

My biggest concern about connectivity is in the school system. Kids get a connection to the world through the internet but we cut them off from their local communities by placing them in a bubble--the physical school building.

[CraigRood]

My concern isn't really the 'connective-ness' of these networks/web in general. It's the 'reward' system and instant gratification via the 'point systems' - re-tweets, karma, Likes etc. The way we interact with these networks is entirely based on gaining more 'points' and using them as a measure. We are almost going back to the playground where if you did something funny and everyone else laughed, regardless of its worth you would do it again. There's no substance, there's no real value, It's your hourly 'fix' of self worth. I try to avoid the game, It's not only dangerous but I would also consider it depressing in that you start measuring your own worth against someone else because they got a better reaction - playground again.

[grimtrigger]

Bingo. It's embarrassing how good it feels to get a bunch of "likes" and how much of the conversation gets slanted that way.