The society we erect [in cyberspace] will probably be quite different from the one we now inhabit, given the fact that this one depends heavily on the physical property of things while the next one has no physical properties at all. Certain qualities should survive the transfer, however, and these include tolerance, respect for privacy of others, and a willingness to the treat one’s fellows as something besides potential customers.
Predictor: Barlow, John Perry
Prediction, in context:In this 1991 column for Communications of the ACM [Association for Computing Machinery], John Perry Barlow notes some of challenges that society will face as the Internet emerges: ”The society we erect [in cyberspace] will probably be quite different from the one we now inhabit, given the fact that this one depends heavily on the physical property of things while the next one has no physical properties at all. Certain qualities should survive the transfer, however, and these include tolerance, respect for privacy of others, and a willingness to the treat one’s fellows as something besides potential customers.”
Biography:John Perry Barlow helped found the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 1990 with WELL (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link) members Mitch Kapor and John Gilmore in direct response to a threat to free speech. Barlow’s was one of the loudest voices in the battle to keep the Internet unfettered while still encouraging that it become a tool available to everyone. (Advocate/Voice of the People.)
Date of prediction: March 30, 1991
Topic of prediction: Community/Culture
Subtopic: Ethics/Values
Name of publication: Communications of the ACM
Title, headline, chapter name: Private Life in Cyberspace
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
www.eff.org/Publications/John_Perry_Barlow/HTML/complete_acm_columns.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Bizzell, Natalie