The First Drop – a Ranty Background

A recent email describing TFD (because I’m tired of writing perfect copy for it, and would rather go with a pseudo-rant!):

The First Drop. I wonder where to begin. Let’s talk about micro and macro scales.

On a micro scale, we’re frustrated with how online newspapers, blogs, and assorted other old media fail to really capture the potential in generating and facilitating online discussion. I mean a real discussion, not a series of often disjointed comments following a post or article. There is a beautiful democratization of information happening right now online, but less thought spent on how to built a site to really create dialogue. So part of what we want to do is challenge this a little. Design the functionality to celebrate discussion, rather than treating it as an afterthought of the initial article. A second, and more exciting challenge, frankly, is trying to figure out why online discussion often deteriorates into mindless shouting matches. What is the key in personal discussion that allows it to be constructive, respectful, yet generally passionate? We think it’s credibility and accountability. Online, casual posters don’t really have a reputation to protect. So how to create this? How to create a culture of respectful passion through function design? I won’t go into it here (another discussion if you wish), but other sites have some elements of it – newsvine, linkedin, Slashdot, plus a couple other ideas we’ve got kicking around. The bottom line is that we’d like to see how deliberate functional design can create a certain culture in a site. And make it work for thefirstdrop.ca.

OK, macro. I’m 28. I’m not happy with the leadership in our country. My general take can be found here:  www.3bucksforbrendan.com/CanadianAbroad-Baker.pdf. I’m not convinced that any political leader has a convincing and positive vision for our country. In terms of innovation, we’ve lost any edge we once had. And in terms of responsibility in the world – we’ve let it slide. Enough ranting for now. But the bottom line is that I believe in the next generation to reclaim our lost way. It will happen with conviction but humility. Passionate argument, while listening to conflicting perspectives. The First Drop hopes to instigate this type of discussion, essentially helping prep my generation to reclaim our purpose.

Time will tell. I’ll keep you posted, and would love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers,

Brendan