Be Nice to Nerds by Craig Newmark

Craig Newmark, (founder of Craig's List) agreed to share his take on the Aspen Ideas Festival with AspenSpin.  His first person account appears below, un-edited.  Thanks Craig. 

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July 10, 2010

A few days at the Aspen Ideas Festival

Okay, I haven't recovered yet from the Aspen Ideas Festival, too many interesting people and genuinely valuable panel sessions. I tried to do my part; here's a very narrowly focused take.

(The photos here also illustrate my fondness for the flora and fauna of Aspen; you'll note that I'm a fan of  Corvids, not only Magpies but Crows and Ravens. Note that you can click on the photos for larger versions.)

In a way, almost too thought provoking, here's one example, a really big deal for me...

The session on social media and journalism was a really big deal for me, included David Kirkpatrick, Vivian Schiller, Arianna Huffington, and Strauss Zelnick. The deal is that social media really is having a deep effect on what really matters in journalism, particularly needs for more investigative journalism, and lots more factchecking. Arianna quoted someone saying "trust is the new black", and even better:

Strauss: "The community is the message." (I need to think more about that.)

Kirkpatrick: "Social media is a truth serum for mainstream media."

These guys really made me think.

That led to my premiering a new phrase at a panel I shared with Vivek Kundra, who's the CIO of the whole US. He's figuring out how to better deal with Federal computer systems to provide better service at much lower cost, focusing on better return for the taxpayer dollar.

The new phrase: "the immune system of democracy" referring to the role of the press in the survival of democracy. We're seeing the emergence of a network of factcheckers to complement the traditional press, like factcheck.org, PolitiFact.org, and the Center for Media and Democracy (sourcewatch.org and prwatch.org.)

My panel was documented by James Fallows at the Atlantic, where he also deems me the Bob Newhart of the Internet. (Usually, I'm the Forrest Gump of the Net.) (The gf reminds me that I'm not as funny as I think I am.)

A good piece by Eric Kuhn from CNN talks about my work regarding accountability and transparency in Congress. However, it gives me way too much credit, which should go to the members of the Transparency Caucus and Sunlight Foundation.

My deal is that plenty happened at the Festival, my head's still swimming, and it might be a very long time before I digest it and then realize what happened.

Aspen Ideas Festival 2010

Can Aspen save the world?

The Aspen Ideas Festival (AIF)2010 is aiming to do just that.  The 6th annual AIF is taking place RIGHT NOW in our little mountain hamlet, Aspen, Colorado.  AIF describes itself as  "a conversation-packed exploration of some of the most important ideas and pressing issues we face" .  We being --mankind as a species and earth as a planet.  AIF 2010 is presented by The Aspen Institute and Atlantic Magazine. 

Bill Clinton makes the scene in Aspen.AspenSpin is still on hiatus in California, so we are not actually attending this fantastic event, however we are covering it via the interwebs.  While we normally like to get the "inside information" and "super-sick photos" for all Aspen events, this time.... we are on the outside looking in.... its still fascinating none the less.  AIF brings together thought leaders from around the globe to chat, network and hopefully change the world.   Topics include World Affairs, Arts and Culture, The American Agenda, The environment and sustainability.   AIF networks a bunch of incredibly smart, well connected, affluent people.  Hopefully they will find the solution the the world's problems, and share it with the rest of us ASAP.

Click AIF 2010 to see photos, videos and more.   All photos presented on AspenSpin are snagged from the internet, please don't sue us.Walter Isaacson President of the Aspen Institute tweets with Twitter founders @ev and @biz neither of whom finished college. Twitter is a phenomenom, but what's the end game?                                                                                             Futurist KR Sridhar, CEO of Bloom Energy raps about fuel cells and the future of energy.

NY education Czar Joel Klein weighs in on the importance of education.Isaacson with Barbara Streisand, Jane Lubchenco (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and NBC's Andrea Mitchell.Barbara Streisand is excited to meet best selling author and Harvard History Prof. Niall FergusonBill Gates spoke at the Aspen Ideas Festival 2010 in Aspen.Author Sebastian Junger shared his adventures at AIF 2010 in Aspen.