Without junk, there is less of a chance for real quality to emerge. Let the marketplace of ideas rule.
Predictor: Kapor, Mitchell
Prediction, in context:In a 1993 article for Wired magazine, Mitchell Kapor, a co-founder of the Electronic Freedom Foundation, writes:”Direct participation in the political process, an idea fueled by Ross Perot and supported by Bill Clinton, would be well-served by open platform for video. Coupled with the interactive capabilities of computer conferencing systems, the dialogue, not the monologue, could once again become the staple of political discourse. Some argue that diversity will lead to social fragmentation. Print, the medium of the greatest diversity, reflects our culture rather than fragmenting it. Others argue that most content will be junk. Noise is just the price we pay for signal. In fact, without junk, there is less of a chance for real quality to emerge. Let the marketplace of ideas rule.”
Biography:Mitchell Kapor founded the Lotus Development Corporation and also founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation with WELL (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link) members John Perry Barlow and John Gilmore in 1990 in direct response to a threat to free speech. He was an outspoken supporter of open access to the Internet, and was asked to speak in many venues about the issue, including Congressional hearings. (Pioneer/Originator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1993
Topic of prediction: Information Infrastructure
Subtopic: Open Access
Name of publication: Wired
Title, headline, chapter name: Where is the Digital Highway Really Heading? The Case for a Jeffersonian Information Policy
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.03/kapor.on.nii_pr.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney