Kansas State anthropology professor Michael Wesch apparently recorded this stunning presentation on culture, life, modernity in the YouTube community mere blocks from DIA world headquarters.

(You might remember him from such video phenomena as this, whose virality he discusses here.)

This is 55 minutes long, but you won't notice the length one bit.  Here's the project's blog.



This is an amazing documentary project of its own.  For nonprofits, the food for thought here goes well beyond video.  Is an "organizational social networking strategy" what this world is looking for?

In the worst case, nonprofit attitudes towards online social networks (or any other virtual gathering place) reminds me of how large political rallies can attract the presence of opportunistic groups who didn't help organize the rally and who may not even truly support the cause around which people are gathering. Like t-shirt vendors, they are there because they have something to sell. Or perhaps, more charitably, maybe many nonprofits are at online social networks, for the same reason Jesse James robbed banks. That's where (they think) the money is.

None of us want to be seen as some kind of leach, but unless we approach communities - and the online social networks that support them - with genuine respect, that's exactly what's going to happen.