"Social Singularity"

This concept put forth in a correspondence by my good friend, Warren Bonesteel, is definitely more than worth pondering:

"Social Singularity."

Currently there are more than one billion people on the internet. Some scholars and researchers claim that the next five years will see at least another one billion people join us. That latter number does not take into account internet capable iPods and cell phones, etc., which are projected to become even more available and ubiquitous over the next few years. In America alone, there are currently two hundred and eleven million people on the internet. More than seventy percent of them get some or all of their news and info from the WWW. The People are now beginning to flex their new-found muscles and take over the aggregation and implementation of memes and narratives that have traditionally been handled by other institutions.

Initially, I could find no name - or even peer-reviewed work - for the phenomena which I have witnessed. It is a trend that I have only recently come to fully notice and to fully appreciate in my travels and adventures on the Internet. Although I have recently spoken about the trend with a few of my friends, I was still searching for the words to properly describe what I'd seen and realized. I mean, how do you describe something that none of us has ever seen before? The closest descriptive term I've seen used is 'panarchy,' but even as all-inclusive as that term seems to be, it doesn't quite touch on the phenomenon that I, and others, have witnessed. This phenomenon crosses ideological lines as well as national and cultural boundaries in a very unique and profound fashion.

It is the sort of thing that we've only previously heard or read in the ramblings of daydreamers and fools. More than two hundred million people in America, and tens of millions more around the world, however, are beginning to take their dreams and hopes for the future more seriously than ever before. New technologies aside, the internet alone has so profoundly changed our personal and professional interactions that few of us can begin to articulate those changes. The power that has now been granted to more than one billion individuals around the world is difficult articulate in a coherent fashion.

The patterns of this phenomenon are readily apparent when a synthetic, multi-disciplinary approach is used. An objective look at the data speaks for itself. The trend appears to be building momentum. Except for the occasional "griefer," the trend crosses multiple disciplines, venues, spiritual beliefs and ideologies. I also believe that we're not speaking of several tens of thousands - or even hundreds of thousands – of organizations that are involved. We're speaking of several hundred million individuals from around the world who are working more or less independently of one another and coming to the same conclusions. This is not only about their concern for humanity or for the future of humanity. The common phrase you hear is that they wish to change the world for the better. Quite a number of them are even discussing what that actually means and what version of "better" they should consider, discuss, and hold as a standard.

This is not about their personal ideology or religion, although it is about that, too. It is about the realization of their newfound and individual power to influence and change the outcomes of current and future events and long and short term trends. It is about their ability to exchange facts, information, ideas, plans and concepts with others around the world. It is about their power and ability to coordinate ad hoc political and social movements in real time. It is organic, fluid, leaderless and very, very adaptable to changes in its environment. The People are beginning to work together towards one goal and one goal alone. The betterment of humanity, as they, themselves, have defined that goal.

This is a true mega-trend. We're going to see more signs of credibility and accountability as the primary standard of interactions. We're already witnessing the decline of unquestioned (and almost) religious respect for those who have lengthy CV's, high social status and other traditional credentials. We're also seeing a rise in creativity and in the sharing of ideas. There are even now growing trends in multi-disciplinary approaches to problem solving, no matter the venue or discipline. There also appears to be a growing trend towards Open Source works in nearly every discipline, particularly among those who wish to make the world a better place to live. Most of mankind's traditional institutions are so far behind the curve on these issues that they will never see it coming.

The media, our cultural and social institutions, the powerbrokers and politicians no longer control the memes and narratives of our society. The changes that we are going to see will be deep and profound. I have had a very positive feeling about the future since I - finally - understood what I was seeing. What is happening won't end in Xanadu or Utopia, but, in time, it should result in much better scenarios than we presently face as a world culture and society.

One point one billion People around the world are on the internet, with another one billion people projected to join them in less than five years. For our traditional information and educational Gatekeepers and for traditional bureaucrats, politicians and power mongers, this is fearsome news, indeed. For the rest of us, this is empowerment of a type and kind never before seen or imagined. This is true Democracy.

Two hundred and eleven million Americans are presently online. More than 70% of us get some or all of our news and info from the internet... (And not all of us use Google or Yahoo.) Conservative talk radio, at its very best, reaches ten per cent of that number. Fox News reaches a million or two viewers during the best of times? Maybe fifteen million per twenty-four hours? The newspapers are losing readers and revenues on a daily basis. The traditional TV news gatekeepers are now below a nightly audience of 15 million viewers.

Future currency for everyone will be credibility and transparency. Indeed, that is even now becoming the 'currency' for us all. That credibility is predicated upon accountability. If we do not tell the truth, if we do not strive for accuracy in our spoken and written words, we will be held accountable. If we are not willing to accept correction or admit to our mistakes and immediately correct them, we lose credibility.

The future will not be about ideology, ambition or agenda. It will be credibility.

This is called a "Social Singularity."

S.

Warren "Bones" Bonesteel
Author and Researcher
Sgt USMC 1976-1983

You have to agree with Warren's take on this matter. More and more people are beginning to find their independent voice in this, the ultimate marketplace of ideas. My post here, in which DFL loyalists were unwilling to drink the enviro-whacko kool-aid proves that this quest for societal betterment in defiance of what used to be unquestionable standards is proof positive of its effect across party lines. Internet-based dissension in what was once one of the most bleakest and oppressive societies is further testament to the human spirit's longing for self-determination stretching across international boundaries.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the true, brave new world.