DISQUS

Hi Paul, I don't think Helen Zille's important enough to the ANC to hack her website. And cyberstuff, that's not their style.



The DA may be the official opposition, but the ANC has more than a 70% majority. At present the ANC is too busy with its own internal stuff, I really think Ms Zille's website is pretty low down on their list.



It's a pity because I really applaud her for being the most media savvy politician and for really getting involved in the web and in new media.



I would think it was just someone making mischief, maybe who also wouldn't mind if it was conveniently blamed on the ANC.

Hi Paul, I don't think Helen Zille's important enough to the ANC to hack her website. And cyberstuff, that's not their style.



The DA may be the official opposition, but the ANC has more than a 70% majority. At present the ANC is too busy with its own internal stuff, I really think Ms Zille's website is pretty low down on their list.



It's a pity because I really applaud her for being the most media savvy politician and for really getting involved in the web and in new media.



I would think it was just someone making mischief, maybe who also wouldn't mind if it was conveniently blamed on the ANC.

It seems to me that Mr McLaren is better at promoting himself and getting into scrapes than operating a website business - maybe he should consider a career change and go into politics.

It seems to me that Mr McLaren is better at promoting himself and getting into scrapes than operating a website business - maybe he should consider a career change and go into politics.

I agree 100%. I'm the kind who wears braces and a belt. God's Warriors was on last week over three nights Wed - Friday from 9 - 11. on CNN. It should have been compulsory viewing. It was really interesting, scary and great reporting. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/gods.warriors/
It is so ironic because it shows so clearly that all three groups - these are the radicals, the fundamentalists in all three religions really want to same thing - a better world with more God in it; a more moral society, less materialism etc - but sadly they all believe that the only way it can happen in their way.

I know what you're saying about Wikipedia. I've heard others raise the same concerns. I think in many ways the internet as a whole is seen by many as a new "culture of disinformation" and by some as a playground for pedofiles or for bomb makers or whatever.

One needs to be selective.

Wikipedia is often my fist stop. Then I check the facts with other sources.(I'm neurotic, so I check with a few sources anyway). I think it could become a very interesting resource, especially for Africa when more people are able to make their voices heard and tell the history we still don't know about.

Everyone believes their beliefs are right - did you watch Christiane Amanpour's brilliant three part CNN series God's Warriors that ended last night?

But hopefully with a website where everyone can add and delete, it will eventually balance out.

How reliable are you Justin? The South African Government editing Wikipedia? You make it sound like official policy - it was probably some little nerd in the stats office - hardly a "plot".

I wonder why the local media so reactive when it comes to the government - I think if you took a poll of cabinet and parliament - who make up the SA Government -there might be a only vague awareness of what a Wiki is.

I don't know about Australia, but guess it's much of the same and as for Wikipedia - I'm prepared to give it a go, although I cross check.

Everything is propaganda Justin - Growing up in apartheid South Africa, the history I learned in printed schoolbooks, the religion I learned in church, it was all lies, all propaganda - at least with Wikipedia everyone has a chance to add their propaganda(or delete it), it isn't one sided - so that is pretty close to a democratic voice.

I think it will bring new users to Facebook even if it doesn't last. Most 18-25's are already on Facebook and those that aren't will want to be - I'm not guessing there will be boycotts from that generation - they're into change - maybe its the older ones who'll grumble about having to access their emails by first having to join Facebook.

I don't need to justify anything Vincent, but I do believe that "playing" with applications like Facebook, ups the gerenral computer skills level of the working community. Do you realise what a low level of computer-literacy there is in the workforce?

I have a friend who is a trainer and she says she finds it almost impossible to teach, especially graphics programmes to older people - their heads just don't work that way.

I struggle to get people going with blogs and other web 2.0 applications because they don't get it - once I get them into Facebook and they learn to upload pics and do all the things, they start getting excited about social networking - this is not usually for recreation, it is to promote their websites.

In South Africa we have a very un-computer/internet minded population. Most websites are brochures. My standard reply from people is "why should I pay you to write copy for me - we can just use my annual report!"

Facebook is a hook. It reaches into that place in people called community, even if it is only virtual community and makes them forget they live behind razor wire and high walls.It makes them feel like they belong again, it validates them.

And while our shell-shocked society is getting all this stroking they're getting hooked into the internet and are learning its language, their computer skills are improving and they are actually becoming more valuable to their employer.

Well, you see, maybe that's just me. I work for myself and it's really a thrill for me if I can get someone excited about Web2.0.

Do I care about the corporates' bottom line? Not really.

PS. Independent on Saturday had this interesting story on the from page yesterday - Taxing time for South Africans, that says that average South African employee only gets to keep a day's pay a week according to research carried out by retired Absa Bank economist Adam Jacobs who found out that people for out 65% direct and indirect taxation.

And then you want their Facebook taken away, Vincent?

Sorry Vinnie, this guy seems to take things very personally. I really didn't mean to clutter up your blog comments with psychobabble. But I think I've made my point. You know these blogs and all the to-ing and fro-ing and people's egos take up a lot of my work time; I'm gonna see if I've made any new connections on Facebook.

I don't know this guy Vincent, but he seems to have this obsession with THE LAW. Maybe he should have become a cop! I know he does internet stuff for the M&G, which also isn't the paper it used to be - and suddenly now he is an economist!

Of course Facebook cost business money, so does going to the lavatory, but should one put a time limit on a pee?

One weighs things up in business, like in life - it is not just your bottom line that counts, you also look at your staff. Happy staff are more productive. Empowered staff are more productive.

If you are penny pinching and anal you and make them return the stubs of their pencils before you give them a new one - now that is cost-effective - just like banning Skype and Facebook.

This freaky thing with Control - it is scary.

It also doesn't help when so called "leading" members of the blogging/web2.0 community write stories about how much money South African business is losing on non-productivity in the workplace due to Facebook. These are the "experts" who get onto the talkshows, who shape public opinion.

Vinnie, I've been posting comments on blogs the whole week saying the same thing -but I must admit, you've said it better. I hate this "banning" and restriction" stuff - it's just a power trip for the elite (who can make the rules) over the masses.

Sure everyone will be excited about Facebook, but the novelty value will wear off and note how these prophets of doom love to use the word addiction, just like the old regime loved to put -isms onto everything so that they would immediately be bad by association.

Performance management in the workplace, incentives and good policies are what are need, not bans and restrictions.

I'm so excited about social media, people are returning to community - to seek people who they like across racial, demographic and geographic boundaries - this is so very good.

What's that saying about any publicity is good publicity? His rant only makes him look dof and very old.

What's that saying about any publicity is good publicity? His rant only makes him look dof and very old.

Does it really matter what a paranoid ageing hack thinks? How big is his REAL readership anyway? By reacting we're just putting his name out there and giving him so much more credit and publicity than he deserves. Let his name only be printed in ink.

Does it really matter what a paranoid ageing hack thinks? How big is his REAL readership anyway? By reacting we're just putting his name out there and giving him so much more credit and publicity than he deserves. Let his name only be printed in ink.

That's the only way, Paul - resist the temptation to engage with them - they're like racists and pro gun control fanatics - they have a very limited focus and they are absolutely persistent. You're not dealing with rational people you can have a discussion with - they have a script and come hell or high water - they stick to it!



The best thing is just to disengage or to not be provoked into engaging with people like this at all.



There is a story about Maya Angelou who won't be in the same room as a racist - she doesn't even say anything, she just walks out.

That's the only way, Paul - resist the temptation to engage with them - they're like racists and pro gun control fanatics - they have a very limited focus and they are absolutely persistent. You're not dealing with rational people you can have a discussion with - they have a script and come hell or high water - they stick to it!



The best thing is just to disengage or to not be provoked into engaging with people like this at all.



There is a story about Maya Angelou who won't be in the same room as a racist - she doesn't even say anything, she just walks out.

There is engaging in a debate/discussion/ slanging match about issues and style/grammar? and there is getting personal.



I don't understand why people presume that because the medium is blogging and they have an assumed name, they have the right to launch personal attacks on anyone.



And continue with them. And continue with them.



Don't they have anything better to do?



There are so many ways to engage positively on the net and have much more fun.

There is engaging in a debate/discussion/ slanging match about issues and style/grammar? and there is getting personal.



I don't understand why people presume that because the medium is blogging and they have an assumed name, they have the right to launch personal attacks on anyone.



And continue with them. And continue with them.



Don't they have anything better to do?



There are so many ways to engage positively on the net and have much more fun.

India is very sussed. It's good that its one of our main trading partners. I believe that Durban will have free (or very cheap)broadband within two or three years - the municipality has promised and they're pretty organised. At the recent Smart City conference a women from Malaysia spoke of their cybercities - it is really like a dream. I have a story about the conference on my blog and website.

India is very sussed. It's good that its one of our main trading partners. I believe that Durban will have free (or very cheap)broadband within two or three years - the municipality has promised and they're pretty organised. At the recent Smart City conference a women from Malaysia spoke of their cybercities - it is really like a dream. I have a story about the conference on my blog and website.

Pity you guys don't live in Durban - or read my blog. You can have look at the story I've got a few stories ago about Durban- the Smartest City in Africa. Our municipality is using an existing fibre-optic network, expanding it and linking with all types of goodies like wireless to connect the city - we should have free or very cheap broadband for the whole city within the next two or three years.

Pity you guys don't live in Durban - or read my blog. You can have look at the story I've got a few stories ago about Durban- the Smartest City in Africa. Our municipality is using an existing fibre-optic network, expanding it and linking with all types of goodies like wireless to connect the city - we should have free or very cheap broadband for the whole city within the next two or three years.