SOME OF THE MOST productive people I know want to remain off the internet. They will oblige Google Scholar when it comes to a published work and they don't mind being found next to a description of a technical paper, but they don't want rich media published about them. That means no images or video and normally that means no audio artefacts either. Their work is league-leading. Their contributions often stimulate the group around them. But when it comes to blogging their ideas, linking to professionals on social networks or participating in live virtual event, they will go only as far as sharing a desktop or showing a Powerpoint presentation. A lot of their hesitation extends from the Facebook virus--an imaginary social networking effect that they fear. They don't want to be easily linked to someone else's collection. They don't want to have a random photo tagged with their name that doesn't present a proper image. Perhaps it's an over-reaction to the stories about people spotted pissed out of their skin on Facebook and Bebo that stains the whole of the social networking universe. The immediate effect is the stifling of articulate voices who might otherwise be sharing ideas through personal blog.
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