In days gone by it was only just beginning, the internet, proud and new was being marvelled at as a wonder that would take us further than we had realised back then. Forums and chat rooms started bringing people together in a more open manner, email became common place and it was easier than ever to find information on practically anything you ever wanted to know about (and some things you didn’t want to know). Social media was taken up by anyone and everyone that could get online, Facebook and MySpace pages became the norm and almost anyone who is anyone or wanted to be someone had an web presence. Soon Twitter, Identica and other such services popped up giving us a more open way of sharing our thoughts and randomness with the world.

During the elections, the Obama campaign made an impact on the online community by shouting out over twitter and other social media, using it to make themselves more visible to potential voters and contributors (and we all know how that turned out). Companies, TV stations, and Celebrities use social media more and more to get their opinions and endeavours out to the public, and are recognising the enormous benefit that these forms of communication can have.

But it was not until last week that I truly understood the power that social media can have, and the impact it can make on someone’s life. On Sunday 17th January, this message was randomly blurted out over Twitter and Facebook from Shawn Powers, an Associate Editor for Linux Journal. After a few minutes there was an online fluster abound regarding Shawn’s post, people wondering what was going on, was anyone hurt? An hour or so later it was confirmed by Carlie and Justin over at LJ that there was indeed an incident at the house and Shawn was in trouble, and an hour or so later there was a Chipin page up and ready to help Shawn and his family (and might i add most of this happened while Shawn was out of touch and he had no idea this had been done for him to start with). Now what stunned me was what came next. My email and twitter feed lit up, blogs were rumbling with news and links, IRC was awash with people asking what they could do, where they could send money, clothes and anything else that might be needed.

Now not to belittle Shawn in anyway, but this was one normal guy with a normal family and a (mostly) normal job, who had just suffered a terrible tragedy, he didn’t have George Clooney standing on stage speaking his name and rallying the world, he didn’t have major TV networks plugging his story day and night. What he did have, is one of the most amazing circle of friends and peers I have ever had the humbling experience of knowing. In the space of less than 48 hours, the power of social media had been driven into an unstoppable force, and on Tuesday afternoon, almost $12,000 had been raised on behalf of him and his family. During those 2 days I sat online watching the conversations, tweets and retweets, mass emails and blog posts going out constantly, updating over and over again, by more people than i could count, pushing harder and harder for someone that the majority of them barely knew or had never even spoken too.

Social media didn’t give birth to this wave of good will, social media proved that the good will was there, and gave people a chance to help, even if it was only a few $$’s in the pot. Now Shawn knows I’m not a religious person, and many people who know me are aware of my opinions on the subject, but blow me if even I didn’t stop for a few minutes and mutter a few words under my breath that day. I was amazed and astounded by the reaction the community of people involved in helping.

The power of social media grows as the understanding of its impact and possibility grows, and i now realise that the possibilities will always be further than we can see, and the impacts we can make deeper than we can feel.

One incident changed a families life that day, and then one comment helped change it again.

Beep :P

(for shawn)

Everyone’s beloved, crazy, big-hearted Linux Journal editor and Indian Lakes school district system administrator Shawn Powers, has lost his family home today to a fire. We have limited data about the extent of damages at this time, but can report that all people (his amazing wife, Donna and three girls) are all ok. Unfortunately his animals were all lost in the fire.

We’ll report more as we hear it, but in the meanwhile wanted to set up a fund to help the Powers’ family get back on their feet as quickly as possible. Please, if you can, every dollar will help. Computer equipment donations, we know, would also be greatly appreciated and the folks at Linux Journal will help coordinate any equipment donations (e-mail publisher Carlie Fairchild, carlie@linuxjournal.com for details).

And in the meanwhile… ?all the thoughts, prayers and best wishes to the Powers family.

http://helpshawnpowersfamily.chipin.com/help-shawn-powers-family

Big content providers are constantly fighting consumers on the front of content piracy.  They see people who choose to download and watch illegal copies of major motion picture releases as thieves, damaging the movie industry and taking vital funds away from the people that make the material that has been released and would be released in the future.

Now as much as I am totally opposed to theft in any form, I do however fall into the grey area of opinion on this issue.  Why you may ask?  Well it comes down to (in my limited opinion) the notion of accessibility and fairness to the consumer.  Let me explain…. Read more

Currently Undergoing a little cleanup/ redesign at the moment, please bear with me.

beep :P