Comments on: Citizen-Centered Civic Participation http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/05/citizen-centered-civic-participation Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:22:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Bruce Trachtenberg http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/05/citizen-centered-civic-participation#comment-254 Bruce Trachtenberg Fri, 18 May 2007 11:39:51 +0000 http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/05/17/citizen-centered-civic-participation/#comment-254 My 2 cents worth on M's comment: we've been hearing of these fears of social isolation (or at least I have) for more than 15 years, and yet, somehow, or at least to me, I see more conversation and more engagement on topics of civic concern, especially involving more diverse voices, than I knew of 15 years ago. Back then it was the "informed" and "elite." Now everyone who has a voice has access to a platform. My 2 cents worth on M’s comment: we’ve been hearing of these fears of social isolation (or at least I have) for more than 15 years, and yet, somehow, or at least to me, I see more conversation and more engagement on topics of civic concern, especially involving more diverse voices, than I knew of 15 years ago. Back then it was the “informed” and “elite.” Now everyone who has a voice has access to a platform.

]]> By: M http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/05/citizen-centered-civic-participation#comment-253 M Thu, 17 May 2007 17:53:19 +0000 http://tacticalphilanthropy.com/2007/05/17/citizen-centered-civic-participation/#comment-253 Sean, great topic and an interesting paper. Plus seeing that Les Lenkowsky had commented forced me to go read it, and now I must think of a thoughtful response to one of the questions he raised - his 5th question. It will be good fodder for my next blog post. "5. Since some research has already indicated that the Internet may increase social isolation, are the new digital technologies really an ally of civic engagement? Or will they be a hindrance? Are Wikipedia (and blogs) likely to enhance civic knowledge? Or are they likely to contribute further to the ignorance of or confusion about American history and government that's already widespread among the public? Should more effort be placed on civic knowledge-building efforts, rather than fostering new types of civic participation?" Sean, great topic and an interesting paper. Plus seeing that Les Lenkowsky had commented forced me to go read it, and now I must think of a thoughtful response to one of the questions he raised - his 5th question. It will be good fodder for my next blog post.

“5. Since some research has already indicated that the Internet may increase social isolation, are the new digital technologies really an ally of civic engagement? Or will they be a hindrance? Are Wikipedia (and blogs) likely to enhance civic knowledge? Or are they likely to contribute further to the ignorance of or confusion about American history and government that’s already widespread among the public? Should more effort be placed on civic knowledge-building efforts, rather than fostering new types of civic participation?”

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