Comments on: How The Arab World Remains Blind To The Value Of The Internet And Social Media http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/ A Jordanian Blog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:40:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Kman http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135473 Kman Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:29:59 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135473 In response to P, I would urge you to check out http://www.startuparabia.com to see just how many arab entrepreneurs are actually giving it all they got. As for the post itself, I sort have matured in that I cannot openly condemn the preacher on television who said that the internet may be full of time-wasting junk. We are a new generation in every single sense of the world. Bare in mind that the first black and white TV was introdued in the late 40s. We're only 60 years down the road. With that said, the internet has not been around for such a long time; its still a young 15 year old, so misconceptions about the internet revealed by a preacher with a beard on an islamic show should be nudged away without much criticsm, internally accepting the man's intentions and lack of insight about this new technology. I agree that everything can be used for good and bad. Tools can be used to build, or destroy. Some may argue... "That's not true. Take, for instance, a gun! How can it do anything but destroy and kill!" A gun in the possession of the right individual can be used for protection, a safeguard. The industrial revolution was the result of engineered mass production. So in this case, the "tools" gave the revolution impetus to rise. For a cultural revolution, although we do need tools to achieve this, we more so need a "mental" renaissance, where we change the attitudes and beliefs within us so that we can operate available "tools" under different light. In response to P, I would urge you to check out http://www.startuparabia.com to see just how many arab entrepreneurs are actually giving it all they got.

As for the post itself, I sort have matured in that I cannot openly condemn the preacher on television who said that the internet may be full of time-wasting junk. We are a new generation in every single sense of the world. Bare in mind that the first black and white TV was introdued in the late 40s. We’re only 60 years down the road. With that said, the internet has not been around for such a long time; its still a young 15 year old, so misconceptions about the internet revealed by a preacher with a beard on an islamic show should be nudged away without much criticsm, internally accepting the man’s intentions and lack of insight about this new technology.

I agree that everything can be used for good and bad. Tools can be used to build, or destroy. Some may argue… “That’s not true. Take, for instance, a gun! How can it do anything but destroy and kill!” A gun in the possession of the right individual can be used for protection, a safeguard.

The industrial revolution was the result of engineered mass production. So in this case, the “tools” gave the revolution impetus to rise. For a cultural revolution, although we do need tools to achieve this, we more so need a “mental” renaissance, where we change the attitudes and beliefs within us so that we can operate available “tools” under different light.

]]> By: P http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135225 P Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:46:04 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135225 I totally agree with you. I must admit that I was on your antagonist's camp (I'll spare you the long psychoanalysis behind it!), but it's mostly because for a while, I actually thought that the web was at the brink of its demise (again, I'll spare you the long theory behind that) and also, I genuinely used it merely for receiving information. I deemed it as a superficial, fickle medium, but lately, I've come to see the potential it offers (which you have mentioned above). However, I must say that I see where he's coming from. Scour the web and you'll find that most of Arabic content is confined to forums and message boards (some are useful, but the majority of which are downright silly). Hopefully, once more entrepreneurs take notice of the business opportunities in the web, and more youth initiate their own projects online, more Arabic content will be created and more people will see the many merits the web has to offer. I say don't sweat it. Soon enough it'll crawl into our households and Arabs will realize and reap the many fruits the web bears. I just hope it won't be too late! I totally agree with you. I must admit that I was on your antagonist’s camp (I’ll spare you the long psychoanalysis behind it!), but it’s mostly because for a while, I actually thought that the web was at the brink of its demise (again, I’ll spare you the long theory behind that) and also, I genuinely used it merely for receiving information. I deemed it as a superficial, fickle medium, but lately, I’ve come to see the potential it offers (which you have mentioned above).

However, I must say that I see where he’s coming from. Scour the web and you’ll find that most of Arabic content is confined to forums and message boards (some are useful, but the majority of which are downright silly). Hopefully, once more entrepreneurs take notice of the business opportunities in the web, and more youth initiate their own projects online, more Arabic content will be created and more people will see the many merits the web has to offer.

I say don’t sweat it. Soon enough it’ll crawl into our households and Arabs will realize and reap the many fruits the web bears. I just hope it won’t be too late!

]]> By: Leslie Jump http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135206 Leslie Jump Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:02:19 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135206 A wonderful analysis, and I’m looking forward to your next post. I studied classics at a US school with an extraordinary focus on the pursuit of knowledge achieved through rigorous questioning and critical thinking. From what I understand, the vast majority of schooling in the Arab World is based on lectures. For that reason, Social Media may be a perfect way for new writers, thinkers and innovators to express themselves, collaborate, and challenge the norm. Social Media offers the potential to engage in dialog with someone across the street or on the other side of the globe. It builds on itself, aggregating new insights along the way. And it amplifies the writers voice, as tweets are retweeted and links are shared. That’s a powerful tool, whether you’re an academic, a journalist or a small business looking to get the word out about your idea or product. I’ve posted more thoughts on this at http://lajump.cloudprofile.com. A wonderful analysis, and I’m looking forward to your next post.

I studied classics at a US school with an extraordinary focus on the pursuit of knowledge achieved through rigorous questioning and critical thinking. From what I understand, the vast majority of schooling in the Arab World is based on lectures.

For that reason, Social Media may be a perfect way for new writers, thinkers and innovators to express themselves, collaborate, and challenge the norm. Social Media offers the potential to engage in dialog with someone across the street or on the other side of the globe. It builds on itself, aggregating new insights along the way. And it amplifies the writers voice, as tweets are retweeted and links are shared. That’s a powerful tool, whether you’re an academic, a journalist or a small business looking to get the word out about your idea or product.

I’ve posted more thoughts on this at http://lajump.cloudprofile.com.

]]> By: Knafe...mmmmm http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135189 Knafe...mmmmm Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:45:46 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135189 I agree, I think a lot of the Arab old schoolers tend to gravitate around the stereotypical application of these social networking sites. TV can be looked at in the same regard, but since it is an older technology, many of the old schoolers will admit that it has both negative and positive applications when it comes to Thakafa. Lets hope that a) it is a matter of time b4 they see it, and b) that that time isnt too long. Equally important to using the internet for thakafa is its use for grassroots and and civil society networking. In this regard, using new social networking sites has the potnetial to rally the masses in ways never before seen, think Seattle '99 I agree, I think a lot of the Arab old schoolers tend to gravitate around the stereotypical application of these social networking sites. TV can be looked at in the same regard, but since it is an older technology, many of the old schoolers will admit that it has both negative and positive applications when it comes to Thakafa. Lets hope that a) it is a matter of time b4 they see it, and b) that that time isnt too long. Equally important to using the internet for thakafa is its use for grassroots and and civil society networking. In this regard, using new social networking sites has the potnetial to rally the masses in ways never before seen, think Seattle ‘99

]]> By: Sarah Alaoui http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135178 Sarah Alaoui Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:13:01 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135178 I love reading. I also love the internet. I can love both. Arab leaders need to progress in the latter. great post, will continue to read your blog. I love reading. I also love the internet. I can love both. Arab leaders need to progress in the latter.

great post, will continue to read your blog.

]]> By: Ali http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135173 Ali Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:34:15 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2009/09/08/how-the-arab-world-remains-blind-to-the-value-of-the-internet-and-social-media/#comment-135173 Social media has effected me in many ways, I really can't connect in life like i connect on facebook and twitter, I just adore the whole idea of sharing a link and everyone checking it out. By the way i love reading, But reading from books is so old fashion right now, For me reading from the internet is way more fun, And the Sheikh who said reading from the internet isn't reading is really old school as you said, I never watch these programs, Because they tell you that everything you do is WRONG, They're just stupid! Waiting for part 2 Social media has effected me in many ways, I really can’t connect in life like i connect on facebook and twitter, I just adore the whole idea of sharing a link and everyone checking it out.

By the way i love reading, But reading from books is so old fashion right now, For me reading from the internet is way more fun, And the Sheikh who said reading from the internet isn’t reading is really old school as you said, I never watch these programs, Because they tell you that everything you do is WRONG, They’re just stupid!

Waiting for part 2

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