Mimi Lenox asks

Can we affect change by sending a silly graphic around the globe with childlike scribblings and paint-by-number glee? Will it really matter?

I don’t know the answer to Mimi’s question, but I think it’s one that we need to consider – both from a sociological and informal learning perspective.

Does what we write have an impact on others? I think that’s the whole point of writing – to suggest, convert, amuse, entertain or encourage others to view something from another perspective.

The power of the Internet and it’s ability to generate social connections between people from opposite ends of the world has been touted for years. Usenet readers and mailing list subscribers were early members of social networks. We are starting to harness this with the advent of social sites such as Friendster (now defunct), MySpace (radically changed from its original form, thanks to the advent of Facebook and Twitter) and Yahoo! 360 (no longer a thing). Web 2.0 may bring this a step further into being.

So, if social connections exist and what we write has power, why can’t a group of people posting a similar graphic calling for peace – whatever the word peace means to you – wield similar power?

I’m joining Mimi in her quest today in the hopes that she will find answers to her questions. Perhaps along the way I’ll also find my own.

Technorati Tags: Dona Nobis Pacem, informal learning, inter-connected, social networking, web 2.0

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