Manage Me

The last chapter of the Cluetrain Manifesto started by talking about how the web is used as a way for people to communicate with each other, while this chapter begins with the question, “what is the web for?” I thought that was somewhat explained in the last chapter, but maybe I missed it.

Weinberger talks about how much people like to be in control of things and manage things. Maybe we like to manage things, but I think that the people who created the web and a lot of the people who enjoy using it have turned to the web because of the freedom it provides. Weinberger believes that although people do like the freedom the web offers, they also secretly like the strict professionalism that their jobs offer them. Alexis feels that professionalism is an important thing to have within an office because it brings people together. I think there is a push and pull that goes on within people. They want to be managed because it’s tradition, but at the same time, most people resent the fact that they are being managed. Not only do businesses manage, but people in general manage their whole lives. We don’t like it when things are unmanageable because that means we don’t have control. I agree with Weinberger when he says that the more people reach out to the web, the more they are saying that they hate their job. Everyone wants what they can’t have and some companies are making people fear the web. Just like chapter 1, chapter 2 is also saying that companies need to embrace the possibilities the web has to offer.

While I was reading about the way people act when they are at work, essentially the same as everyone else, I was reminded of the show The Office. Everyone who works at Dunder Mifflin dresses alike, sits at their desks and although some of the things that take place within this office wouldn’t take place at a real office, the feeling is still the same. Everyone shows up to do the same thing every day and not have their voices heard.

While many people believe that companies are the ones in control, Weinberger points out how companies can't be managed. Although they may think they have the conrtol, things happen that are out of their control and unmanageable. If a company that your company trade's with goes under or suffers a hard loss, then that affects your company. This idea reminded me of the "Unmade in America" essay. Lyon believes that this leaves the world open to a "global catastrophe. "

Self expression is something that Weinberger emphasis throughtout the chapter and Elena points out how the internet allows for people to show a different side of themselves that they can't necessarily show at work. She talks about Marshall McLuhan and how the medium is the message. The internet is the message.