The Leading Edge…
- TreoBenny.com
- My social networks (twitter/seesmic/12seconds/last.fm, etc.)
- My work for, and participation with In The Zone, LLC
- My studies at IADT Online
- My general energetic funloving attitude
What are all these things REALLY? Fun & games?
Yeah, to an extent. But to me it’s so much deeper and more involved than that. In short, I believe we are approaching the height of a Renaissance-like revolution in how we communicate and more importantly, how we think. Through my 12-Step inspired travels of the last 6+ years, I’ve also internalized the concept of service. That if any situation or entity is worthy of my criticism, it’s worth me offering to help. I feel that we, (that is, all of us on this planet) are approaching a potentially historic period. But not in a good way. I fell that this revolution in communication and thinking is so profound and inevitable, that it will eclipse any previous cast system to date.
Hold up, what did he say? Cast system? Like nobles & peasants & thangs?
Yes.
Don’t misunderstand me, there are few things new under the sun, (arguably none,) so all of the concepts driving the revolution I speak of are as old as the days are long. However, because of the World Wide Web and advancements in manufacturing, the access to these ideas is more widespread today than ever before. Some of the topics discussed without batting an eye on networks like twitter and facebook, would have been reserved for conferences and forums attended by only the globe’s leading minds and other notable persons. Basically, the gates to a huge percentage of the world’s knowledge have been opened.
Here’s where it gets interesting. The concept of giving the masses access to this knowledge isn’t new either. But, people think differently today than they ever have, in my opinion. We are, in general, more open to new ideas, thanks to technology and (being totally honest) changes to the Earth’s climate and other natural events. People are no longer able to stick their heads in the sand and label forward thinking individuals as heretics and madmen. Instead, it has become quite fashionable to challenge previously unchallenged schools of thought. So, it’s a happy story I’m telling right?
Wrong.
Quite the opposite. I believe we, (again, I mean the whole planet) are in danger of a serious social conflict. On one side are those that embrace this revolution of thinking and communication, on the other side, those that do not. There has always been conflict between revolutionary thinkers and the status quo, but in the past the revolutionists were such a minute population that the disparity in thought only grew at a snail’s pace. Now, it’s much closer to 50/50. What happens when two conflicting schools of thought gain equal power? I think the U.S. Civil War is a perfect example. (In case you believe the Civil War was fought because of slavery, it wasn’t. It was a war about economics and lifestyle, like ALL wars in the last 300 – 400 years.)
Confused yet? Don’t worry, here’s the point of all this: I’m active in social networks and I actively seek knowledge of the latest in personal technology not only because it’s in line with my career goals or a match for my personality.
I believe I have no choice.
Being on the leading edge is no longer for the radical few. If you aren’t on the leading edge, you’re gonna get left behind. Period. The speed of innovation and implementation is exponentially beyond anything we’ve ever seen to date. But, I’m not gonna willingly leave anyone behind. I have a personal mission to inform and as many people as possible about the communication and technology renaissance. Not like standing on the corner shouting, but as I encounter people, I try to introduce them to anything that I’m involved with. I won’t withhold knowledge that I believe is changing the world. I feel the continued pursuit of this knowledge is my duty to my fellows – my 12th Step if you will.
