Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted
by Malcolm Gladwell
Meant to post this a little while ago when Alec shared it with me. It's a genuinely good, insightful, and well-written article, which makes some solid points; a nice cultural analysis from a well-rounded public intellectual.
"There is strength in weak ties, as the sociologist Mark Granovetter has observed. Our acquaintances—not our friends—are our greatest source of new ideas and information. The Internet lets us exploit the power of these kinds of distant connections with marvellous efficiency. It’s terrific at the diffusion of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, seamlessly matching up buyers and sellers, and the logistical functions of the dating world. But weak ties seldom lead to high-risk activism."
"The drawbacks of networks scarcely matter if the network isn’t interested in systemic change—if it just wants to frighten or humiliate or make a splash—or if it doesn’t need to think strategically. But if you’re taking on a powerful and organized establishment you have to be a hierarchy."
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