I only made it to one day of the conference (Friday) but I really enjoyed the sessions I attended. It was fun reading your write-up.

I will say that the legal barriers to reuse are usually regrettable, but some very few times they’re justified. One of the problems I have with Larry Lessig is the way he eggs his fans on by his more radical asides to them, while publicly he maintains a somewhat more moderate position. I understand you’re not trying to out-Lessig Lessig here. I’m still trying to make up my own mind on a bunch of this stuff.

I wasn’t trying to discount the role of the expert/teacher/professor, but rather to elevate the role of the student. This is an equalization-up, not down.

Also, the suggestion that all content has equal value is nice and sentimental, but devalues the best content. Not all things are worth preserving, and in fact much ephemera has value in being cast aside as part of the process.

Thanks for the link to the Sontag critique. Rest assured – I’m reading with eyes wide open, and a grain of salt larger than my house. It’s still interesting to read some of the criticisms and theses she put forward. That said, I’m still taking lots of photographs (including several during the conference) but am finding that I am being more mindful, both of process and the interaction between photographer and photographed (and bystanders). Interesting stuff, even if she deliberately wrote it overly radicalized and polarized for general consumption.

From iTunesU (first iteration) to Bb, I’m pretty vocal about not locking the stuff down–but in some parts of the open ed movement, I confess that I’m in a middle position. I’m not sure any context can shift without friction, or even that I’d always want it to. In some respects, individuality will always yield friction. Friction–if we’re really talking friction and not a wall–can yield some benefits, slow us down and give us time for more reflection. Also, I’m right with you on the idea of honoring all participants in the conversation–if they’re truly participating with an eye to the greater good–but I also think expertise is valuable and that value should be honored too. Maybe this is what you mean by not necessarily preserving the crappily written content?

Also, the reverend will tell you that I believe in leaders and authority, when they’re generative and thoughtful and devoted to empowering others.

I think we agree on most of the main points–and I’m grateful you’ve summed up those voices in your head for us to hear as well.

Regarding Sontag, a cautionary post from Errol Morris: http://morris.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/25/which-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg-part-one/index.html?th&emc=th