I’ve been seeing this happening in the real world for all my adult life. The internet in the early 90′s was an amazing opening for social, democratic and societal change – eventually it got dumbed down to companies having homepages and hardcore capitalists playing their old games. New openings are appearing every day again, new cycles are starting – and i’m seeing the usual patterns of compromises effectively for every day that goes by limiting the potential for change in the cycle. Mostly because of ignorance of the idea, unwillingness to really understand the idea, not giving recognition to the people behind the ideas or lack of respect for the idea.

So what could be the solution? First of all realizing the huge responsibility people with insights have not to compromise the ideas, especially people in trusted positions. Secondly being very frank and open about calling out the compromises that are happening – not playing nice for fitness or a quick buck. So the next time you see someone saying they have a blog when they really don’t call them out, when they say they’re innovating when they really aren’t call them out, when they say they’re so web2.0 – but really are playing by the old playbooks call them out. Call them out in a nice way and offer your humble constructive help. Encourage long term thinking all over instead of focusing on easy realities or a easy money.
Respect the idea, don’t compromise it. I think we’ll get to tomorrow much faster and efficient if you do.

Makes any sense?

How does it relate to the traditional adaption cycle of innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, etc.?

PS. Jon Husband has a great post about the changes he thinks are needed to deal with terrorism in the meditum to long term.