Web 2.0: the teeter-totter

why is this post showing as one big block of text without formatting? stupid human error factor I’ve really jumped into the web 2.0 game, despite still being a green thumb. I’m twittering, if only once every few days; I write a blog, if only about random and unoriginal things; and about 75% of my daily communicating is done via electronics. Amidst these new tools, I keep wondering about their effects, both positive and negative. Wondering, but nothing thinking of anything particularly concrete.      Then this came, written by, we shall say, my own web 2.0 mentor: “…this is the secret to being truly webby: immediacy and trusting our instincts.”This line got stuck in my mind all morning. What struck me is the word immediacy. For me, immediacy coupled with personal characteristics like being impulsive, high-strung, emotional, quick-thinking and aggressive can be a dangerous recipe. On several occasions I have felt the wrath of myself. Sending off a quick email without rereading – or, without taking 10 mins or even a day, to think it over – can have its detrimental effects. This is where the trust in your own instincts comes to play. Or in my case, it is best called moderation. As everyone moves into a more web 2.0 world, it will be important to provide checks on our ability to be immediate. Somehow, those “Are you sure?” pop-up dialogue boxes don’t seem so annoying. If only there were an “Are you sure?” pop-up in real life!