What no, danah boyd? danah boyd will not be at SXSW, ETech and CHI this year. What could possibly be keeping her away? Is it a family thing? Something personal? No. She has to write up her dissertation. Emperor's new clothes It's a kind of absurdity. A kind of reverse 'emperor's new clothes'. We all know that danah has achieved natural social rank for her outstanding contributions to the field. We know that rank is admired by many 'more qualified' academics who regularly cite her work. When an honor is a curse... It IS a good idea to honor people for their work. But when doing so we have to consider the most appropriate way to do it. At its most basic, its counterproductive to interrupt someone's work flow when they are doing a good job. But this case is exceptional... Encouraging danah to stop doing her work in the most effective way she knows how and to change tack to using a less effective process (ie writing a dissertation) doesn't make sense. It's like saying

'We want to recognize your exceptional effectiveness. But in order for us to do so we first insist you drop you existing work practices. In their stead we want you to adopt work practices that are anything but exceptional. Its true that this will prevent you from making effective contribution to the community for quite some time. Ehhmm...but that's the way we work. (And possibly why you have been more effective than us in the first place) I know that may seem absurd and it probably is but... ehhhmm... that's just the way we do things'

What to do about it... Of course, danah's case is exceptional and universities can't make new rules for every new and exceptional case. But that's okay. The universities already have a mechanism for overcoming such absurdities. The honorary doctorate. I wonder is there a dynamic, progressive university looking at this disconnect right now? What better way to mark your university out than to show that you recognize outstanding merit. Do the community a favor. Confer danah boyd with the honorary doctorate she deserves. ASAP.

via Ina Social network is a terrrible metaphor If you've ever talked to me, I have probably taken you by the pin of your collar and blasted something like this in your direction: 'Social networks!? Don't talk to me about social networks! I despise the term. Not only is a terrrible metaphor for reality. Its dangerrous and damaging as well" We must start using the social cloud If you didn't manage to escape at this point, I'd have continued "We need a new metaphor, such as a social cloud, that recognizes the esssential fluidity and dynanism of social relationships. Only then can we hope to build platforms that don't direct people into autistic-style interactions that plague these so-called social networks" At which point, I'd generally point up to the sky and get a far away look in my eye. Which was also your cue to slip away unnoticed. Its not just me... Well, I think its only fair to warn you that there's more of the same coming. You'll no longer be able to escape by simply avoiding me. Other people are starting to say the same thing. Normal people. Respectable people. Using almost exactly the same words. But unaccompanied by the wild-eyed look. Skip the first 14 minutes and watch to the end.

I read this entire piece out aloud to Dawn just now. Saying 'This is what I've been saying. Isn't this what I've been saying?' She says 'Yep! Just a pity you couldn't articulate it as well as danah boyd" Oh well, at least I can repost some of danah's key points describing the Facebook approach:

For all of the repentance by Facebook, what really bugs me is that this is the third time that Facebook has violated people's sense of privacy in a problematic way.In each incident, Facebook pushed the boundaries of privacy a bit further and, when public outcry took place, retreated just a wee bit to make people feel more comfortable I kinda suspect that Facebook loses very little when there is public outrage. They gain a lot of free press and by taking a step back after taking 10 steps forward, they end up looking like the good guy, even when nine steps forward is still a dreadful end result. Most people... will still believe that Facebook is far more private than other social network sites (even though this is patently untrue). And, unless there is a large lawsuit or new legislation introduced, I suspect that Facebook will continue to push the edges when it comes to user privacy.

danah also explains how Facebook expertly negotiates the confusion about how 'defaults' ought to be set. (after the jump)

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At etech 2006, danah boyd gave what Kathy Sierra called an astonishing talk.  It ended with this definition of an intriguing problem.   Is anyone aware of any solutions to this problem going public in the last year or even in the near future?  

Provide the cultural environment where people can accidentally connect with strangers over meaningful things without being forced to face everyone on the system. Let users privatize or wall off access to only certain people for their own needs. Let users see the values of being public. Of course, balancing privacy needs with public possibilities with the lack of interest in dealing with the *whole* public is quite tricky. Anyone who can solve this design challenge with a robust system will win the hearts of users and investors.