Geek Activism

Reading Techmeme.com this morning led me to "95 Theses of Geek Activism." Hardcore and mediumcore geeks should read the '95 Theses' and consider a bit more activism than is their normal bent. A large percentage of tech enthusiasts have personalities that result in an introverted, laissez faire lifestyle. That personality is not generally given to excessive activism, but perhaps the time has come in the development of computing and advanced technology for a concerted effort at connecting geeks and making a difference in today's world.

Benefits of 'geek activism':

• Appropriate legislation is enacted
• Disruptive, innovative products can be developed by individuals or small companies
• Individuals can have a chance to change the world
• Non-geeks will more clearly see the benefits of technology
• Personal privacy will be improved in some regions; in other countries the loss of personal freedoms and privacy will be slowed
• Public policies and legislation will be more favorable to the geek population
• You'll get to meet more geeks
  
• You might enjoy it...
  

Steps to 'geek activism':

• Read the '95 Theses'
• Decide which of the actions listed in the '95 Theses' are ones you can effectively do; also try a couple that you're intrigued by, even if you're not sure you have the qualifications to do well on those items
• Consider attending or organizing a barcamp or other geek event to meet new tech enthusiasts, build new relationships and expand your technology horizons
  

Some people feel the world is getting 'smaller' because of advances in communication technology and travel. An alternate way to look at the situation is that individuals' worlds are getting a lot bigger. People can easily, economically and instantly communicate with someone on the opposite of the globe. 'Communities' are being built with people from five, ten or even twenty countries every day. Fifty years ago people thought it was a big deal to travel across the country or hear a foreign language spoken. Kids today expect to hear many foreign languages and many of them expect to travel across the world. Just this morning I read articles online talking about Anousheh Ansari, who will soon be the first civilian woman in space and about a company that will soon be offering 'space walks.'

A majority of the world's population doesn't understand technology. To ensure that appropriate, innovative and disruptive technology is allowed to happen and to improve the world, maybe it's time for technology enthusiasts to get more involved in the political process and in some of the other areas of society mentioned in the '95 Theses.'

Read the '95 Theses.' Then expand your world.