Thursday, July 31, 2008
This Amerigocentric Internet
I've been playing with Facebook recently, the main reason for starting was to see if it could be useful as a way of letting PodBible users share with each other. So I am setting up a PodBible page. It is still rough around the edges, but I can see that it might work. But in exploring FB I've begun to notice other things, not only the cool ways FB allows you to maintain or enhance what would otherwise be somewhat distant "friend"ships, but also how appalingly amerigocentric the Internet is. Take the neat and amusing little toy Where I've Been (the link is to their main website so you do not need to use FB to see it).
Now, you may have noticed in my post "Spot the Differences" below that if I add Russia, India and China to my list the score still stays at 14% of the world, but if I add Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Dellaware, Massachusetts and Rhode Island I jump to a whopping 16%. This means that 9 smallish states of the USA count for much more than three of the largest, and most diverse countries. Take note people, for "where I've been" size does not matter, people do not count, nor is it a function of cultural diversity (not that I doubt the cultural diversity of Rhode Island, nor its rich cultural difference from Massachusetts, not having visited either I can hardly comment - though I do suspect that the cultural and geographical diversity of India and China might be considered greater by some people).
The Internet though now a worldwide phenomenon is also an American space. You might argue that this Amerigocentrism is the natural since the USA invented the Internet, you are probably right, but I'd argue back that it is now time we freed the 'net from this colonial past. Renaming the cool tool "Where I've been in America" could be a small start ;)
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Now, you may have noticed in my post "Spot the Differences" below that if I add Russia, India and China to my list the score still stays at 14% of the world, but if I add Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Dellaware, Massachusetts and Rhode Island I jump to a whopping 16%. This means that 9 smallish states of the USA count for much more than three of the largest, and most diverse countries. Take note people, for "where I've been" size does not matter, people do not count, nor is it a function of cultural diversity (not that I doubt the cultural diversity of Rhode Island, nor its rich cultural difference from Massachusetts, not having visited either I can hardly comment - though I do suspect that the cultural and geographical diversity of India and China might be considered greater by some people).
The Internet though now a worldwide phenomenon is also an American space. You might argue that this Amerigocentrism is the natural since the USA invented the Internet, you are probably right, but I'd argue back that it is now time we freed the 'net from this colonial past. Renaming the cool tool "Where I've been in America" could be a small start ;)
Labels: internet
¶ 10:37 AM
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Aw quit your belly-aching.
And for the record, I created the Internet.
Sign me up for the Pod Bible group. You guys are cool.
By 
David Ker, at
August 1, 2008 5:34 PM
