Collaborative processes are obviously an enticing idea. The thought of having no curators, managers or censors in the development of a story ( a brand story or a media story or a personal story) is both exciting and dramatic. Kind of a dreamy process, in which everyone is entitled a vote and, with no representatives mediating the will and the action, the collective power would make options.
The internet gives hope to those who believe there should be no middle men between stories. Wikipedia needs no editors to stand between people and information. Couchsurfing needs no hotels to stand between people and the real city. Brands are shifting away from stories that they themselves tell, towards providing their consumers and ambassadors with tools for them to spread the brand’s message.
And yet, human nature cyclically proves them wrong.
“ Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that has drawn some decidedly juvenile pranks, is looking to impose more discipline with new restrictions on the editing of articles. The latest changes come as Wikipedia tries to balance a need for credibility and a desire for openness. While anyone can still edit entries, the site is testing pages that won’t register changes until they are approved by an experienced Wikipedia editor. If the site’s users respond well to the test run, the new restrictions will apply to all entries for living people in the next few weeks. The idea is to block the kind of high-profile vandalism that has marred some pages.” (via AP)
Because, in order to achieve reputation and credibility, you have to trust the source. In order to block out the vandalization of information - which is inevitable when everyone can edit it - you have to have censors. Because openness is cool, until it lacks credibility. And when one deals in information (which is pretty much everyone in the world…) credibility is relevance. And no relevance means no business.
This is great news for old school media companies. Because it reminds the audience that they have journalists, which can be held accountable for news - you remember journalists, those information curators, right? No so great news for “people rule the world 2.0″ folks.
Wikipedia is the kind of project that makes some people dream of a world with no politicians - curators of the people’s will. No brand managers, just brands. No art, just personal taste. But hey. Ok. Yes, I’m being a total drama queen. Sorry about that.
I’d say, somewhere in the middle resides the solution… Empower the people in your universe. Just don’t let them take over your leadership.
Oh, the humanity…
Cheers,
Pedro Rocha, total drama queen.
