How we put our collective talents to work is a social issue, not solely a personal one.
Clay ShirkyRead
It is our misfortune, as a historical generation, to live through the largest expansion in expressive capability in human history, a misfortune because abundance breaks more things than scarcity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the challenges of having access to abundant information and expression, suggesting that too much can lead to disorder.
Clay Shirky's quote highlights the paradox of our modern age where the overwhelming availability of information and expressive tools may lead to confusion and dilution of meaning. In contrast to past generations that operated under scarcity, we now face the complication of navigating through a sea of abundance, which can hinder communication and understanding rather than facilitate it.
Themes
AbundanceExpressionInformationScarcityGeneration
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about modern media's impact on society.
More from Clay Shirky
All quotes βCuration comes up when people realize that it isnβt just about information seeking, itβs also about synchronizing a community.
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It is possible to think that the Internet will be a net positive for society while admitting that there are significant downsides - after all, it's not a revolution if nobody loses.
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If someone around you is multitasking, you pick up distraction like second-hand smoke.
Clay ShirkyRead
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