Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

brianherbert — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:03:17 -0000

I just got home from serving with the Peace Corps in Kenya in early 2007. While I was there, I was teaching computer skills to Kenyans in the western part of the country where Raila's major Luo supporters hail from. As soon as I heard about the sour election, I was able to connect with Peace Corps colleagues (using social networks and google talk) who were holed up in their homes while people were rioting, burning buildings and killing Kikuyus in the streets right outside their homes. Using Facebook, I was able to find out that my Kenyan friends are safe. Every morning I get online to get an update from my fellow volunteers who are in the process of evacuating and leaving the country to ride out the storm in Uganda and Tanzania.

I should add that my friends over there are able to use their cell phones to access the Internet to learn about what is happening in the country. Also, the cell telecoms are owned partially by the government so they have some control over the technology.

Anyway, thank you for bringing the plight of the Kenyan people to the tech blogosphere. It makes me hopeful when I can see that people are at least aware of the situation.

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

L1Wulf — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:16:54 -0000

I almost didn't click through to this story because I thought it was yet another post latching on to Scobble's nuts.

+1 respect.

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Bill Templeton — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:04:38 -0000

Excellent post. Maybe Scoble will read it and realize, "what a pompous little twat am I", but more likely he will think, "how DARE he compares the situation in Kenya to closing MY Facebook account!"

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Bill — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:12:01 -0000

Mark, thanks for reminding me what's really important. Is there anything we can do to actually help?

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

DragonI — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:32:50 -0000

Fantastic post :)

The Scoble Affair exemplifies what's wrong with the "have" countries. People are so focused on Social Attention / Social Gossip. Scoble's page views and page rank have shot through the roof. Scoble = Britney!

There are real issues and problems that affect humanity.

Once again, Mark - thanks for the real world perspective and grounding ;)

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Africa Interactive — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:44:50 -0000

For anyone interested in the mobile videos on the elections crisis.

http://vedm.net/click2?l=2d...

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Danno — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:43:31 -0000

Good on you for calling the blogger narcissists on their lack of ethical and moral awareness!

Spending one's days in front of a computer, only talking to people who do the same, can ironically lead to a very narrow world-view.

If citizen journalism is indeed the harbinger of doom to old media, it at least needs to be aware of its responsibilities to maintain at least a modicum of professionalism.

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Africa Interactive — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:19:38 -0000

This is indeed a tense situation and an important moment for us to see what technology can achieve in terms of spreading information.

We have a number of journalists in Kenya who are using their mobile phones to collect short video, photo and text. Through the same mobile they are publishing the content to the www.AfricaNews.com website.

As much of the media has been shut down, and internet access is limited, the use of mobile phones starts to play an increasingly important role.

We invite everyone to take a look at some of the content being created by these local individuals and to share any thoughts or ideas.

Regards,
The AfricaNews team!

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Sam Gonzales — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:53:05 -0000

scoble is a dork - who doesnt know much.. good write up..lets get back to important news

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

leightoncooke — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:25:13 -0000

You make a good point. Kenya and Pakistan are both symptoms of a much wider illness, namely the consequences of climate change, poverty and overpopulation. Scoble is also a symptom of a much wider illness called trivia. People are tired of the big picture as well as frightened, distracted and helpless. I have friends in both countries and know just how desperate they are there. Scoblegate helps to blot out all the creepy bits of life we don't want to see because we are overwhelmed by it all.

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Formguy — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:22:04 -0000

Great post, glad to see someone take the discussion to a little bit higher level...well done.

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

hash — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:49:50 -0000

Mark, this is a good post from an unexpected quarter.

I think there's a much bigger tech story behind what's going on right now. In fact, the problems in Kenya serve to outline some really big tech opportunities available in Africa involving communications and connectivity. I'll be posting some thoughts on that shortly, and plan to hightlight this at DEMO.

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Mark Evans — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 04:44:48 -0000

Mark,

The blogosphere, especially the tech component, is often guilty of being self-absorbed. If you stayed within the confines of Techmeme all day, you'd have little idea what was happening beyond Google taking over the world, Scoble attempting yet again to build his personal brand, and Mac being better than Vista. We all need a good dose perspective from time to time - whether it's Kenya and Benazir Bhutto or oil hitting US$100.

Mark

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

Jeffro2pt0 — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 04:10:56 -0000

Wow Mark. That was one of your greater posts. Couldn't agree with you more. Scoble schmoble, who cares. Just goes to show everyone just how much of an influence (SUPPOSED) this Scoble character has online.

Re: Forget Kenya, Let’s Talk Scoble-gate!

SCKD — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:11:31 -0000

Couldn't agree more with you!