Even if your heart is in the right place, Chris, trying to tell other people what tag to use kinda sorta defeats the purpose, don'tcha think?
Posted by hugh macleod at July 28, 2005 12:38 AM | TrackBack>sorta defeats the purpose, don'tcha think?
Actually, um...no.
I don't give a rip "what" tag is used. So, this is much more of a "hey, how do we do this?" vs. a "telling." If something is better than "newvoices," hell, let's all go for it. (This certainly doesn't preclude someone from using any tags they want in *addition* to "newvoices"...but if we all agree on a common tag to indicate a new intro we'd like to make to our respective communities, we may want to do it all the same way, as will be explained below.)
Also, frankly, don't even care if a tag-based system is the solution. The pieces are here, the investment cost is near-zero, and the impact is huge. So, why the heck not?
Let's back up. There is a problem, as I see it. (And if you disagree, would be very interested in having that conversation as well.)
The problem is thus: It's really easy for people who get already get a bunch of links to get a bunch more links. It's moderately easy for a person who gets a few links to get an occasional link. However, like trying to start a campfire without enough oxygen (not FUEL mind you, but oxygen), those occasional links to the occasionally linked don't get the fire going.
The need is for a way to provide some leverage for those who aren't A-listers.
This is a way to provide that leverage. This is a way to provide a *common* "social gesture" ( http://www.greg-brooks.com/000072.html )...a common way to indicate the following complex thought:
"HEY! I'd like you to meet someone new who I think is really neat."
If we all do this in a similar manner, that gesture can be easily identified as something that might be of interest to those who are interested in breaking out of the same old patterns.
Posted by: Christopher Carfi at July 28, 2005 2:57 AMI hear ya, Chris... thanks for the further explanation.
It's a neat idea, anyway...
Posted by: hugh macleod at July 28, 2005 9:17 AM