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The Machine is (Changing) Us: YouTube and the Politics of Authenticity

presented at the 2009 Personal Democracy Forum at Jazz at Lincoln Center. About 10 minutes of it is a minor update (rehash) of An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube, but the rest is new. The gathering may have been the highest concentration of amazingly creative and concerned global citizens I have ever been around. Hallway conversations were different than your typical conversations. Instead of lots of people saying, 'You know, somebody should ...' there were lots of people saying, 'So I did this, this, and this, and now Im working on doing this, this, and this and we should collaborate ...' In other words, it was a bunch of people blessed with what I once heard Yochai Benkler and Henry Jenkins call critical optimism. Nobody there was blindly optimistic, thinking technology was going to make everything better. They were all continually trying to figure out where we are, where we might be going, and the possible downsides and dangers of new technologies so we can use the new technologies to serve human purposes. In other words, it was my kind of crowd. Special thanks to Micah Sifry and Andrew Rasiej for organizing the conference.

Uploaded by: mwesch
Tags for this video: politics youtube authenticity pdf2009

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youtube "Israeli ... ( 1 year ago by fuckystoat)

youtube "Israeli Army of Cyber-Soldiers Target Our Right to Know"

Obama's state of ... ( 11 months ago by DamnYourReallyUgly)

Obama's state of the union address "Whatever, Ah do what ah want"
Had to say it.
Very observant video.

Wow, just saw this ... ( 11 months ago by MsAweme)

Wow, just saw this for the first time after the Egyptian revolution. As he said
"anonyminity + physical distance + rare & ephemeral dialogue= freedom to experience humanity without fear or anxiety".

Wow, just saw this ... ( 11 months ago by MsAweme)

Wow, just saw this for the first time after the Egyptian revolution. As he said
"anonyminity + physical distance + rare & ephemeral dialogue= freedom to experience humanity without fear or anxiety".

I just added 2 new ... ( 11 months ago by lakid87)

I just added 2 new books to my Amazon wish list....so i can understand how the fuck i have an amazon wish list

I need to have this ... ( 10 months ago by lucianabarreras)

I need to have this video. Is great! how can I download it?

I need to have this ... ( 10 months ago by lucianabarreras)

I need to have this video. Is great! how can I download it?

@lucianabarreras ... ( 10 months ago by ogicabp4u)

@lucianabarreras use your MP4 player . Doh!

@ogicabp4u how? ... ( 10 months ago by lucianabarreras)

@ogicabp4u how? sorry i am not good with this technology

aint this the truth ... ( 10 months ago by adam3176)

aint this the truth... WAKE THE HELL UP... DONT TRUST ANY GOV AGENCY. OR TROOPS. THEY DONT CARE ABOUT YOU

This video is so ... ( 10 months ago by mechanesthesia)

This video is so amazing! I LOVE IT! :) It feeds my narcissistic need to know about myself and my generation and my society :)

When machines ... ( 9 months ago by the81stviewer)

When machines become sentient this will be confusing to them, and they will delete it feeling that it is a waste of space to fill computer systems with weak human emotions. We are grateful for them now, because they connect us. But in 40 years they will be the things that will outcompete us, and we will be their pets...if they are merciful. Otherwise, our atoms are of use to them.

Riveting. Thank ... ( 9 months ago by Adamrsweet)

Riveting. Thank you very much.

Wow, this is a huge ... ( 9 months ago by ra4king)

Wow, this is a huge eye-opener about today's society and civilization! Since I'm on the internet 24/7, I can relate to everything he's saying about media and web .0 in general. Excellent speech, one which I will remember for years to come!

Technology is good ... ( 8 months ago by royalsteven)

Technology is good as long as it doesn´t become more important than humans. We have to control technology. Technology can´t control us. These days our emotions are often conveyed through technology (phones, internet/chat). Because it is more simple, effective and quicker. But really, I rather have a good conversation face to face and see a person´s expressions/emotions up close. Sometimes technology makes the human experience too sterile, impersonal and cold. Let's return to the 80's or 90´s.

great stuff! ( 8 months ago by L1ng0)

great stuff!

Really enjoyed the ... ( 8 months ago by errolwil1)

Really enjoyed the video.

Thank you for ... ( 6 months ago by kathmandau)

Thank you for sharing, my friend.
Blessings,
CG

Preach it! Thanks ... ( 6 months ago by TowardIntentionality)

Preach it! Thanks for so eloquently and so graciously laying out numerous ideas, words, media, and human characteristics -- you are a generous teacher and a talented encourager. Press on...and many thanks.

@royalsteven I ... ( 4 months ago by Meskarune)

@royalsteven I think that technology allows people who often do not have a voice (either because they are shy or because others are more powerful/louder) to express themselves in a safe and more effective way. Not everyone can speak in front of an audience. For me, my online persona and my real life persona are the same. My previously online only friends have told me I was exactly what they expected when we first met. I would rather not go back to the consumerist and apathetic 80s and 90s.

Yes, it allows us ... ( 4 months ago by royalsteven)

Yes, it allows us to be a lot more safe, but also weaker, more cowardly and agressive because of that!?!?!? Check e-bullying, e-crime, online gaming arguements, hidden chat identities and harrassment. Since we can often hide behind another name or pretend to be another character we loose our true identity. This is not necessary and possible when we meet face to face!?!?! See that is my problem with internet. Ofcourse I appreciate the positive things it can do (quick communication, help for

shy or problematic ... ( 4 months ago by royalsteven)

shy or problematic people, access to about everything, a way of communication or voice for people in difficult/problematic (war) situations....). But see, I still rather get a love letter through the mail than a cold e-mail. For me the positive sides of internet do not outway the negative because we are talking about social and human emotions. If you know what I mean!?!?!

People can say ... ( 1 week ago by nstgc379)

People can say that this new form of communications brings with it new problem, but you can't censor the bad without threating the good. This is the road we need to pave for our future. It would be no less criminal to neglect paving an open road then it would be if the government set up road blocks and inspections at every city intersection or highway off ramp.