So, here's a scenario for you: you discover something really cool, and start spending time finding out about it. Next thing you know, you're trying your hand at it. You connect with others who are doing the same and get that heady feeling of being on the edge of something new. When you try to tell people who are not involved in this thing what it's about, they stare at you blankly. Sometimes they ask: "why would people want to do that?" or, "where do people get the time to do that?"
After a while, weeks, maybe months, you start to see more people doing it. It's still pretty exciting and watching the momentum build reinforces your feeling that you're on to something big. Where will it go? What's going to happen?
As time goes on, your interest in this new thing stays strong as more and more people discover it.
Then, one day, something changes.
You look at some of the people who have just discovered this thing, look at what they're doing with it, and you begin to think, "hmm, that's not very cool at all; in fact, that sucks." The new people have screwed up the thing's cool. They're breaking it! Don't they know they're not supposed to do that? This was supposed to be the different!
And then, one day, you decide not to do this thing today. Just for a day. Too much else to do. It won't matter. And then another day passes, and another.
And then, one day, you discover something really cool, and start spending time finding out about it.
Oh yeah, that other thing? I used to do that. I don't do that anymore. It sucks. It's dead.
But, this thing, this thing is gonna change everything!
Don't tell me Metropolis is the old new thing before it started ??
Posted by: Scott Murray | July 17, 2008 at 02:25 PM
I agree: the latest change to YouTube suck. Oh, that's not what you were talking about?
Posted by: Ken G. | July 17, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Dude, beauty!
Posted by: Grant McCracken | July 18, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Twitter? Friendfeed? Twitter then, and Friendfeed now? Maybe I can't see the forest for the trees...
Posted by: Jon Kepler | July 19, 2008 at 01:02 AM
LoL! yeah--that's what it feels like (and sounds like) out here! thanks for the giggle.
Posted by: Tish Grier | July 21, 2008 at 11:12 AM
No, Jon, I think you have a good view of both arborviews! Thanks.
Posted by: Tom Guarriello | July 21, 2008 at 02:57 PM
this is fantastic in it's ability to communicate the appetite for direct experience that drives all this movement and urgency.
thanks!
Posted by: peter spear | August 01, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Thank you for the thought, Peter.
Posted by: Tom Guarriello | August 01, 2008 at 09:14 AM