Re:Malcolm Gladwell Gets It Wrong – Again
by credo on Tuesday October 05, 2010 @02:15AM
(#1758772)
Excellent point.
Gladwell's thesis is that high-risk activism and revolution are "strong-tie" phenomena and require real friendships.
He contrasts that with the "weak-tie" social media scene where people are friends on Twitter or Facebook, but wouldn't really risk their necks based on what their "weak-tie" friends tell them.
The "Save the Darfur coalition" Facebook page demonstrates what a weak-tie network can do and Gladwell's essay also talks about the (limited) usefulness of weak-tie networks (when he uses Shirky's example). It doesn't refute Gladwell's point
Gladwell's thesis is that high-risk activism and revolution are "strong-tie" phenomena and require real friendships.
He contrasts that with the "weak-tie" social media scene where people are friends on Twitter or Facebook, but wouldn't really risk their necks based on what their "weak-tie" friends tell them.
The "Save the Darfur coalition" Facebook page demonstrates what a weak-tie network can do and Gladwell's essay also talks about the (limited) usefulness of weak-tie networks (when he uses Shirky's example). It doesn't refute Gladwell's point