Web2.0ism

As with any label there is always online both the for and against. The recent bandwagon in reaction to the O’Reilly origin of Web 2.0 is an anti web 2.0 society. This society seems to grow daily in numbers sticking their cents, dollars, pounds and euros into the ring. Web2.0ism comes in many forms to match the range of labeled Web 2.0 products. A brief look at a rather comprehensive and probably disputed list by Emily Chang, just goes to show what is debated as being Web 2.0.

Personally, I have a problem with all this Web 2.0 bashing. I also as I have stated have an issue with the entire concept of Web 2.0. In many ways I agree with Brent Holiday’s post Two Point Oh No. I do seriously think that those creating this projects often aren’t to blame for the marketing slap put on them and the banding around of the now it seems hijacked PR term Web 2.0. I am getting a bit sick of wow link here new web 2.0 application, social networking for your hamster and every other blog being about Web 2.0. It is become a label that a range of people are whacking onto themselves in the hope that this is the next net bubble and they might be touched and made great by just calling themselves Web 2.0. Just as there is a label on what is Web 2.0 there are now anti-sheep bandwagons, anti-social bookmarking; an anti for all occasions.

I tend to have a rather different line of thought. Just looking at the list I have mentioned by Emily Chang, I am interested in the possibilities that are opening. I to be honest have give up on even defining what is Web 2.0. I realise that my previous attempts in another post really were pointless. Why this realisation, well it comes down to me being a rather simple girl really. See, I don’t like these labels we whack onto things, never have and never will. I don’t like the need humans seem to have to pigeon hole stuff and quite frankly it might be a rather naive view, but I choose to not get involved. This might be right or wrong, it is just my feelings. As a result of this I am tending to now think that whether you believe in Web 2.0 or think it more along the lines of a fairy story web designers tell each other to comfort themselves after the bubble burst on Web 1.0. It basically comes down to the one fact for me that these web things that are emerging are rather nice and some are infact darn useful.

The crunch for me is often as to whether something is useful. I come from a rather selfish stand point in regards to the web. If something gives me either visual pleasure, content fulfillment or is useful to me; then I tend to use it. I can think of a long list of to me pointless things that are being banded around as Web 2.0 along with a long range of blogs that are equally as pointless in their taking on with this tag. I really don’t care whether it is Web 2.0. All I care about is what it does, how it does it and whether I need it to do it. I did mention I was rather simple.

Thing is, ultimately I don’t think I am all that different from anyone. I believe that the vast majority feel this way about the web. It just seems in this Web 2.0 insanity some people have lost the plot with regards to user centred development and design. There will always be useless things on the web and sometimes it does feel like a gadget shop due to the odd gem hidden in a pile of bottle opener and pillow combos. I am sure there is some use to someone, thing is I am as I said rather selfish online. If I am not interested in it then it does get ignored. Therefore, my view point is rather one sided from what I will use and what just becomes research and something I know about.

I have said before that I am also sceptical whether these Web 2.0 things are infact a revolutionary move. I still think that it is part of the web evolution and maybe not such a shocking discovery. I also question if it infact is a discovery that you can shout about in such regards as putting a label on it and tracing it back to O’Reilly. Probably there was a big song and dance of shock made when the first monkey had an opposible thumb. If I had been there I would probably have seen how useful it is and grown one myself. However, I don’t think I’d have stuck that monkey on a pillar and offered god fruit up to him and proclaim him monkey 2.0.