Learning about social software

Okay, I have a new novel that I'm trying to write, so instead of that, I think that I'll start from scratch to research ... social software! It's really gotten to the point where it's ALMOST usable by people other than geeks at this point (I'm talking wikis, btw, not making your own bridgeplayers@yahoo.com group) Have started by looking through some of the links provided by SocialText folks. Right now, I'd suggest that anybody interested in this read through this essay by Clay Shirkey called 'A Group is its own Worst Enemy." As someone who moderates, creates, and housemothers various groups and organizations, I laud Clay's theory -- that the GROUP is what matters, even more than the rights of individuals. Clay doesn't sugggest limiting freedoms and such, he just points out some facts about dealing with social software and its situations. First off, the ability to log in doesn't have to give you the crown jewels. Successful social software often rates its users (who have easy to remember names). If you're brand new, maybe you're moderated, or perhaps you're referred to as an "anonymous coward' as they apparently do on Slashdot (ah, the geeks). Some other techniques are in attaching karma points, giving seniority, starting a group of "fireman" like wikipedia does, and so forth. And Clay suggests that if people change ID's, that their participation ranking gets cut down also. I was tickled pink to read his suggestion that there be barriers to entry. Yup. People don't value free stuff very much. Charge 'em something. Or at least provide some segmentation of capabilities. Here's his quote on the subject: "Now, this pulls against the cardinal virtue of ease of use. But ease of use is wrong. Ease of use is the wrong way to look at the situation, because you've got the Necker cube flipped in the wrong direction. The user of social software is the group, not the individual. . . The user of social software is the group, and ease of use should be for the group. If the ease of use is only calculated from the user's point of view, it will be difficult to defend the group from the "group is its own worst enemy" style attacks from within. " And finally, he talks about dealing with scale. A very nice essay. Onward. ...to.... the place where I find shirkey.com and discover who Clay Shirkey is! Teacher, pundit, etc. Excuse me while I wallow in the writings more.