Nardi: Informational Ecology

  After reading this article, my initial cautious views referring to the wikitravel assignment quickly changed to positive ones.  I now realize that it can sometimes be best when you have others contribute to a website for it is a different way of approaching a situation.  It does take some time,  but once it is complete (the contribution that people give on a particular subject) it can develop into a view that is more credible and knowledgeable. 
  Wikitravel is an excellent example of informational ecology for it develops over time.   What may be important to one person may be completely unknown to another and therefore it then has a better impact on that person.  Humans all have different perceptions of a situation (in this case a town).  When mixing different ideas and perceptions, a bigger picture is created. For example, I am doing my Wikitravel project on the town of Bristol.  I looked at the Wikitravel site and realized that since I live in this town, I can give readers a different view on what it is like to actually live in Bristol day after day.  I might know a little more about the town than say a person from California, doing a project for their class.  I will not only be able to feed off of what that person is giving me, but I will also give valuable information.
  I realize that I participate in a variety of different informational ecology's.  I work in a retail store and what one manager may know, another may not.  They must learn from one another and learn to work together for the reputation of the company is in their hands.  I also am part of an informational ecology when I go to class everyday.  One student may have a different view on looking and idea discussed in class that differs to my view. I can learn from that student and hopefully they can learn from me.  Actually, now that I think of it...the whole world is one huge informational ecology.  We are constantly learning from the past and developing into a greater world because of it.  We learn from our mistakes.  We are humans and all humans sin, its a matter of knowing how to carry your sins, learn from them, and develop into a better person.