We Don't Live in a Bubble

There have been many things shared by LDS speakers concerning the importance of controlling our use of digital services such as social networking and gaming.  Through all of these tips, suggestions, and teachings I feel that it is most important to remember that we are not isolated.  Often, as we use technology, we have the tendency to feel that our actions only affect ourselves and that they only affect us in that moment.  However this isolation of time and relationships is a lie.  The choices we make right now affect our future and those around us.  Someone who engages in pornography or an excessive use of any technology brings upon themselves the consequences of these actions.  These consequences can manifest themselves in a warped self-image and relationships with others.  The risk for these behaviors is not worth any supposed reward.  As we consume what technology has to offer we would be wise to think of how our actions will affect us and others in the future.

We Should Be Initiators, Not Just Participants

In his book, "Here Comes Everybody," Clay Shirky comments that after the initial creation phase, groups or ideas sometimes take off and can change the world.  In his Wikipedia example he explains that one person merely has to stub out an article to get the process going.  Eventually, through minimal efforts of many and the large efforts of a few, the article can then become robust and lengthy.  Shirky goes on to say that a key benefit of technology is the ability to "lower the hurdles to doing something in the first place." (p. 181)  These ideas got me thinking about initiators, people that help others join in just by starting a discussion.  Personally, I know that I am more likely to join a discussion that has already been started than start one myself.  I think that behavior is typical of the average person as well.  Great responsibility then lies with those who start discussions because they enable everyone else to participate.  As I came to this realization I also realized the strong connection it had to the LDS Church's doctrine of agency.  When we contribute to a discussion someone else started we are being acted upon but when we can be the initiator, we are acting and using our agency as it was intended.  If we have something worthwhile to say the chances are there are others who agree with us.  The tools are there to say it and who knows, we may provide the platform for people to join in, participate, accomplish something great, and even change the world.

The Open Source Movement

In learning about the Open Source movement and its goals I have been impressed with the effectiveness of the movement.  The Open Source movement allows ultimate freedom because software can be developed outside of the restrictions of industrial work.  There are trade offs to be made but I think the advantage of having only interested developers working on software is well worth it.  The best work is done by those who actually want to do it and with Open Source, there is an avenue for anyone to work on a quality piece of software that they are actually passionate about.  This empowerment supplied by the Open Source movement has allowed it to produce software that rivals the best products that industrial development can produce and has furthered what the industry can do.  I am all for Open Source and what it can do to free developers and allow them to work at peak capacity.