Peer to Peer are the most dangerous words on the planet.
A Peer is a person who has equal standing with another or others. Like you and I.
On December 10, 1948 in New York City, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is Article 19:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
There are essentially only two methods of communication. Monologue and Dialogue.
A Monologue is a speech made by one person, often monopolizing a conversation.
From the invention of movable type in the 14th century, to books, newspapers, radio and television, Monologue has been the communication vehicle of government, business and entertainment. The 20th century saw the rise of vast broadcast empires devoted to Monologue. Despite the seeming diversity of subjects, the direction, content and distribution of communication of all forms became increasingly centralized, and your participation was limited by your economic circumstances.
You still have all of the rights in Article 19, but you probably don't have enough money for your own newspaper, television, or radio show.
Enter the Web
The Internet is creating the largest shift of communication power in history. With a computer, an internet connection and a browser, life as we know it has changed. The power to create, distribute, and communicate has been shifted from governments, businesses and corporations to individuals around the world. In the 10 years since the creation of the web, it has grown into a network of computers containing over 4 billion web pages. The majority of these pages have been created by individuals. This has brought about the shift from Monologue to Dialogue. Dialogue is dangerous. It undermines the 'authority' of the Monologues.
There are no secrets on the web. The emperor has no clothes here. Business does not understand this. The last 18 months have shown that Monologue doesn't work anymore. We are not interested in one sided 'conversations'. Peer to Peer are the most dangerous words on the planet.
A Dialogue is an exchange of ideas or opinions.
Dialogue is responsible for the protocols and standards that make the internet possible. It is responsible for the vast collection of websites we see.
Dialogue allows us to test assumptions and present viewpoints unique to our experience. It requires exposure to the possibility that what you believe may not be correct. It also means that you are brave enough to express yourself and listen to the opinions of others.
By creating web sites, we are inviting each other to spend some time together. We are exercising the "right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers"
I am saying that you are my peer, and your words are as important as mine.
