The Cluetrain Manifesto and Illegal Immigration

Basically, Cluetrain authors Rick Levine, Chris Locke, Doc Searls and David Weinberger attempt to inform readers of the ways the web has affected business and markets.

They present 95 Theses and try to convince readers of their theories with stories. While anecdotes and analogies are typically more engaging than more academic-like material, the particular stories used didn’t exactly thrill me. That along with the fact that there were 95 theses presented. Wouldn’t 10 have worked? These theses certainly could have been fewer in number. They all referred to a relatively small number of underlying ideas.

Besides presenting anecdotes, the book says that because of networks, it is easier for people to communicate. For instance, at work, you can communicate with co-workers without ever leaving your desk. While an unintended consequence of email may be the proliferation of office gossip and mindless chatter, employees are able to get more points of view on their work from coworkers they may have never even met before. Therefore, the quality of work improves and results in even better ideas, products or projects for the company.

Another interesting point made by the authors is that the internet will cause advertising to become obsolete. Because it is relatively easy for consumers to compare companies and scope out the truth, “word of web will trump word of hype, every time.” Now, this book was published in 1999 in the midst of Y2K chaos. But, eight years later, just as the Y2K scare did not come to fruition, this idea the authors had has yet to be seen. There is still an abundance of advertising and many people are still brand loyal to products that may not be the best or may not live up to the “fluff” its advertisers come up with. I would even argue that we have seen an increase in advertising because of the internet. Nowadays there are websites, besides the product and/or company sites, that are created by advertising companies with the purposes of more subtly promoting the product. Not to mention pop-up ads and web sites relying on advertising to stay up and running.

I will say that the book is an interesting read, if you enjoy reading about the possible affects of the internet.

Also, for your viewing pleasure: YouTube Videos!

Glenn Beck's History of Illegal Immigration


Was Rudy's Phone Call Staged?


Another Video About Rudy: