I am a graduate of Washington University ins St Louis where I studied information management. I have before and since thought much about the way information is generally disseminated. Below is some of my thinking about how we can all use information to make our lives better together.
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Well I guess I have always suffered from massive naivete (a natural or artless simplicity). The thing is when the US Constitution says that all men are created equal. I believe it means just that. And when people try to exchange ideas there should not be any fear of being taken advantage of.
I just cannot help but believe that we would all be better off if there is a free-er flow of information. The monetary economy is a case in point. I believe it is widely accepted that, on a level playing field, the free market can be used to provide all of us with the things we need. In other words, free trade can mean that in the long run there is more for every one.
In the economy a lack of control does not always mean a lack of success. Basic economics teaches that after a monopolized market opens up and the people who controlled a monopoly may suddenly find that there are more customers participating in the product or service. The former monopoly may now have competition but the number of users or customers increases and profits go up for every one. There is more more participation, therefore more resources are being added to the mix.
I believe it has been shown that free trade is the best way to run an economy. And it follows that allowing information to flow freely between individuals makes for a better society. Unfortunately after freeing up the information economy, such as The Internet has done, changes will have to be made. Some individuals who formerly may have been in charge of things will be replaced. Also, there is no guarantee that the free flow of information will stay in place except through vigilance of those involved.
I can see that there are many ways for free flowing information to be constricted. Knowing that people work hard to understand and learn things. And knowing that people may not want to share freely with the rest of the world every thing they know. But at the same time I believe that the more information in the public domain that is also easily accessed by curious minds, the better off we all will be.
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Somehow with the massive amounts of information out there we have decided it would be better to limit the information that is passed between individuals and groups. I suppose there is something to limiting amounts of information but it is just too bad that someone has to decide what content might be available to others through management, making sure things do not get out of control, or seeking to control a situation.
Where is freedom? Where will the growth of the middle-management mindset take us? Who is to say who is qualified to determine the types of information, kinds of information, and the content of information that can be available.
The middle-management mindset says that if we do not know what something means we must supress it so no one knows something we do not know. That mindset also creates an incredibly provincial understanding of how things ought to be goverened - with people who might be the most ignorant amoung us determining what we read think and do.
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What about freedom? When I have something to say should I consider who it might effect or hurt or should I just say it?
OK. If I run a mile one morning after not exercising for some time, and am terribly out of breath. Does that mean I should not run, or does that mean I should get into shape to prepare for the next time I try to run.
It must be the same thing with knowledge. I hear something about a better way of doing something. Should I feel hurt because I have not been aware of the better way and wasted all kinds of time and effort on something. Or should I try to make use of this new found knowledge.
There is a transition from doing things one way to doing it another. Like when banks loan money and they realize the loan was a bad one. What will prevent them from making another bad loan of the same type. So if I make a mistake and never find out it was a mistake. Or if my mistake is glossed over and I never learn I have been doing things in a wrong way. How can I change? Only God can help!
Get this:
What if the only way to change things is to change massive numbers of
hearts one at a time through Jesus Christ our Lord.
By Simmo
My computer does not try to manipulate me.
My computer will share whatever it has with me and not draw back because it might hurt my feelings.
We think that shielding another person from hurt through not revealing something that might hurt their feelings is bad. But I would say that most of us are aware of that kind of deception and if we do not learn to accept being deceived as another doing a favor for us, then it is like being up a creek without a paddle.
My computer will not try to shield my feelings from hurt and after all is said and done, that is the way I like it.
My computer does not try to manipulate me.
My computer is honest with me.
If I ask my computer a question it will give an honest answer.
It may not be an good answer
It may not be a truthful answer
It may not be a useful answer
It may be a half formed answer
It may be overstated or gaudy
The answer may be way to long, complicated and wordy
The answer may have little to do with the question
If I ask my computer a question it will give an honest answer.
My computer will give out garbage if I put garbage into it. And one man's garbage might be another's treasure.
My computer will give an answer, but it will always be an honest answer
My computer will always respond to me unless it is abused too badly. And even when abused it is good to find a fix, and to bring the computer back to life.