Questions from a Masters student in Australia

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Naomi Civins <naomicivins () netspace net au>
Date: September 28, 2005 7:59:45 AM EDT
To: Esther Dyson <edyson () edventure com>
Cc: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: Questions from a Masters student in Australia


Hi Esther,

Thank you so much for the prompt response, this is a great help.   
It's always fascinated me that people halfway across the world will  
respond so quickly to emails from an unknown student in Australia,  
whereas trying to get the same timely reaction from academics and  
theorists in Australia can be like pulling teeth!

I'll definitely take up your offer of posting to Dave Farber's list  
(hi Dave) - the more feedback, the better (I'd quote cybernetic  
principles of feedback here but I've used up all my big words in my  
thesis).  I really appreciate your consideration and help with this.

Thank you,

-Naomi.

On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 21:27:13 +1000, Esther Dyson  
<edyson () edventure com> wrote:


> Naomi -
>
> this is very short, but I hope it's helpful:
>
>     * When looking ahead and making public policy regarding the  
> future of the Internet, such as funding, infrastructure or  
> education, what is the most important issue concerning the Internet  
> to remember?
> that all those things have little to do with "Internet policy." As  
> far as the Internet goes, it's vital to remember  that things  
> should remain decentralized: The Internet is a network of nodes,  
> and the nodes should be managed locally - albeit with some  
> consensus rules (yes, how to achieve that is a challenge).  Any  
> attempt at any kind of global control always raises the danger of  
> centralized, corrupted power.
>     * In all of your arguments and discussions you've had about the  
> Internet, what is the most common misconception you always find  
> yourself having to respond to?
>   that there is such a thing as "internet governance."  Usually,  
> they are talking about government of people on the Internet, which  
> is a completely different thing.
>     * When explaining the Internet to someone who isn't familiar  
> with it, what analogies do you use?
>   it depends what part I'm trying to explain.  conversations,  
> highways, telephone systems, bees in a hive
>     * What is, or will be, the biggest threat to the Internet in  
> the next five years?
> people, of course!  people on it behaving badly; people off it  
> perceiving it as a threat or as a vehicle for power over others
>
> I hope that helps!
>
> PS - would you like me to post this to Farber's list in order to  
> get you some more answers?  If so, please reply to both me and Dave  
> Farber, cc'ed above, with permission.
>
> Esther Dyson

<snip>


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