How cool! The author actually tells most of us were just too stupid to read his stuff. Good for him.

I agree with Mr. Steele below that there are too many false dichotomies in this article. I also do not see much Darwinian evolutionary thinking in it. Essentially, will the Internet help the species survive? Ah, or will the internet help the gatekeepers, like Mr. Wantabe Gatekeeper, Brin, survive?

Yes. It allows more and more people to communicate, even if only in alleged 'stupid' ways. Even drunks at a dinner party sometimes say wonderous things. The internet is truly weird, as weird as humanity. Perhaps you don't like humanity, though?

But on to that 'evolution' thing. If the internet allows us to communicate and organize to defeat global warming, to stop war, to limit religion, to overcome peak oil, to crush the financial rulers of the world, in essence - then it will HELP human evolution by preserving the species. Evolution's aim is survival - and anything that leads us down the path of environmental, social or financial destruction acts against survival.

I see, however, no social concerns from Mr. Brin. So what is his real interest in 'evolution'? Perhaps something far more subtle. Like we are becoming 'enlightened' beings, drifting on seeds of air. But I do agree on that monster Plato.

The printing press was the greatest invention of the last millennium. Books brought knowledge, history, religion, art to the general population.

Let's hope the internet lives up to it's predecessor.

"Childhood's End"

But this Brin dude

Just keeps trippin' off

The Deep End...

how about Batman on blu-ray?

well maybe not

I just love me

Some multi-millionaire Bat

That Bruce Vain dude's

Got Blue-Ray

An entertainment center

An Armani Sweater

And All I got

Was a few rocks

'O Batcrack...

For any anti-evolutionist seeking irrefutable evidence look no further than any internet discussion forum. Darwin wasn't only wrong, he had it backwards.

Stands tallest

In all the land

"Luddism has always been a lame and deep-down hypocritical option"?

The Luddites were not hypocrites -- they were starving. The knitters' livelihoods had been destroyed by the machines, and the only safety net offered was a noose. Byron commented

Some folks for certain have thought it was shocking,
When Famine appeals, and when Poverty groans,
That life should be valued at less than a stocking,
And breaking of frames lead to breaking of bones.
If it should prove so, I trust, by this token,
(And who will refuse to partake in the hope?)
That the frames of the fools may be first to be broken,
Who, when asked for a remedy, sent down a rope.

The benefits of new technology must not go only to the rich and powerful. I'm a techie, but would side with the frame breakers unless we can spread the wealth around.

I'm glad to hear it

I admire very much

Your liberty and fraternity spirit