Using 2.0 as an association with our community, businesses and friends
It’s still surprising that a majority of Internet users don’t know what Web 2.0 is. Ya, they are submersed in it everyday - but a lot of people still don’t know what it means, what it represents and how it evolved from 1.0. As apps are developed, as more and more people understand the thinking of 2.0 and as corporate businesses become more social media hungry - I see a lot of revolt from the web/tech industry for the Web 2.0 reference. I also see a lot of chatter about 3.0, 4.0, etc…
But as any marketer knows - it’s all a bunch of artificial hype to get more investors to invest, more businesses to pay, and more users to buy into. Whether the 2.0 term remains the web’s flagship product or fades away into oblivion in the next few years remains a question to me (and quite frankly, I don’t really give a damn about the term itself anyway). And as the term becomes more and more mainstream - the less and less the power users, web/tech industry and geeks will continue to use it. After all, we’re always looking for something bigger, better and more exclusive. Right?
So F the 2.0 term. Who really gives a flying crap if we reference 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 or 10.0? Web 2.0 isn’t just a term. Web 2.0 is a way of life. It’s a mindframe. It’s the way we connect with eachother in the web community. It’s the way we feel, handle business, carry on our lives through digital & nondigital experiences. UGC, Sharing, User Control, Blogs, etc. etc. I could go on forever. Web 2.0 is an association we make with a revolutionary online experience and how we create relationships within these online territories and carry them out into our everyday lives.
Whether 2.0 is filtered through happy hours, lunches, dinners, parties - who gives an F if we use the 2.0 term as association? Let me put it this way; if I announced a Web Meetup versus a Party 2.0 - which would you prefer to attend? Knowing what you know about 2.0 - the community aspect, the hard-work and focus, the way we do business through cutting edge design and development. I see no contender against 2.0.
If you like it or not - 2.0 is a reference point, a mindset, and lifestyle. 3.0 will be the same as will 4.0…etc. I am PROUD to say I am a 2.0 Geek and I will continue to promote, attend and rally with 2.0 events and parties! While others sit on the sidelines and only jock eachother on social networks - I will be out networking, thriving within my community, and standing up for what I believe the web is…and oneday will be.
This entry is filed under American Culture, Web 2.0. And tagged with design, development, events 2.0, f 2.0, happy hour 2.0, lunch 2.0, Marketing, Web 2.0. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Allen Taylor
Interesting perspective. I totally agree with the whole “2.0″ thing and how caught up people have gotten in it. Its running its path…. and what does it all mean to the 98% of population that dont work in the industry? Not much.
As the world of text messages, IM, Twitter, and Facebook status updates (now add LinkedIn, etc. etc..) continues to make its way into the day to day of life, I hope that people dont loose track of the importance of face to face interaction.
Personally, I think Fb, twitter, and the like, help relationships form quicker and thereby inspire more face to face interaction. I have conducted many meetings that would otherwise be ‘cold calls’ if it wasn’t for these social networks.