Comments on: The Cute Cat Theory is a challenge worth of contemplation http://www.mysociety.org/2008/08/20/the-cute-cat-theory-is-a-challenge-worth-of-contemplation/ Relentless user-focus on civic websites Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:00:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Payroll Systems http://www.mysociety.org/2008/08/20/the-cute-cat-theory-is-a-challenge-worth-of-contemplation/comment-page-1/#comment-122973 Payroll Systems Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:31:37 +0000 http://www.mysociety.org/?p=547#comment-122973 Nice to see you make postings on this topic, I should bookmark this web site. Keep up the good work. Nice to see you make postings on this topic, I should bookmark this web site. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Tom Steinberg http://www.mysociety.org/2008/08/20/the-cute-cat-theory-is-a-challenge-worth-of-contemplation/comment-page-1/#comment-5075 Tom Steinberg Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:47:33 +0000 http://www.mysociety.org/?p=547#comment-5075 It's OK, I just wish they'd stop going through my garbage. It’s OK, I just wish they’d stop going through my garbage.

]]> By: Christopher Osborne http://www.mysociety.org/2008/08/20/the-cute-cat-theory-is-a-challenge-worth-of-contemplation/comment-page-1/#comment-4818 Christopher Osborne Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:37:49 +0000 http://www.mysociety.org/?p=547#comment-4818 How does it feel like being watched by the OS? A sign that you are on the right track, methinks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/aug/21/politicsandtechnology How does it feel like being watched by the OS? A sign that you are on the right track, methinks.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/aug/21/politicsandtechnology

]]> By: kiwanja http://www.mysociety.org/2008/08/20/the-cute-cat-theory-is-a-challenge-worth-of-contemplation/comment-page-1/#comment-2439 kiwanja Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:31:21 +0000 http://www.mysociety.org/?p=547#comment-2439 Interesting post, and interesting that you picked up on what Ethan said some months ago. I totally agree that most people don't see themselves as activists. In fact, the word has very negative connotations for many people (stirring up images of violent demonstrators at G8 summits, for example). I don't know, however, if people need to see themselves as activists, unless it's stopping them being more effective in their mission, for some reason. FrontlineSMS (http://www.frontlinesms.com), a messaging platform I developed three years ago (we've just released a new version), has been picked up and used by a large number of non-profits around the world, and many of the early users were activists (depending on how you define the term). Most hear about the software through word of mouth, and then - if they need or want to communicate messages via SMS - start to use it. If this word of mouth is exclusive to the activist community, then clearly non-activists (or people who don't consider themselves activists) won't get to hear about it, and if they're not looking for a communications solution beyond Twitter, Facebook etc. then they're not going to find it. Interestingly, since I reported on the use of FrontlineSMS in Afghanistan a number of NGOs working in the country have also started using it. Some have even met up with others for demonstrations. Maybe this is an extreme example, since Afghanistan is a particularly unique and challenging place to work, but to me this shows that if communities are willing to work together, and news can hit the right spot, that organisations seeking solutions will get to hear about them. Getting the message out is the biggest challenge. A number of NGOs have been doing incredible work with FrontlineSMS, but there's a real lack of communication and sharing which we need to somehow fix if everyone is to be aware of, and make use of, the wider tools available to them. Ken www.kiwanja.net Interesting post, and interesting that you picked up on what Ethan said some months ago.

I totally agree that most people don’t see themselves as activists. In fact, the word has very negative connotations for many people (stirring up images of violent demonstrators at G8 summits, for example). I don’t know, however, if people need to see themselves as activists, unless it’s stopping them being more effective in their mission, for some reason.

FrontlineSMS (http://www.frontlinesms.com), a messaging platform I developed three years ago (we’ve just released a new version), has been picked up and used by a large number of non-profits around the world, and many of the early users were activists (depending on how you define the term). Most hear about the software through word of mouth, and then – if they need or want to communicate messages via SMS – start to use it. If this word of mouth is exclusive to the activist community, then clearly non-activists (or people who don’t consider themselves activists) won’t get to hear about it, and if they’re not looking for a communications solution beyond Twitter, Facebook etc. then they’re not going to find it.

Interestingly, since I reported on the use of FrontlineSMS in Afghanistan a number of NGOs working in the country have also started using it. Some have even met up with others for demonstrations. Maybe this is an extreme example, since Afghanistan is a particularly unique and challenging place to work, but to me this shows that if communities are willing to work together, and news can hit the right spot, that organisations seeking solutions will get to hear about them.

Getting the message out is the biggest challenge. A number of NGOs have been doing incredible work with FrontlineSMS, but there’s a real lack of communication and sharing which we need to somehow fix if everyone is to be aware of, and make use of, the wider tools available to them.

Ken
http://www.kiwanja.net

]]> By: Fidel Guajardo http://www.mysociety.org/2008/08/20/the-cute-cat-theory-is-a-challenge-worth-of-contemplation/comment-page-1/#comment-2163 Fidel Guajardo Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:29:49 +0000 http://www.mysociety.org/?p=547#comment-2163 Hi, I don't know if this is relevant to your post. I have a Google Alert set to find any story mentioning "Clay Shirky" because I read his Here Comes Everybody book and I think he is a phenomenal thinker. Your blog post mentions his name so I read your article. I don't remember ever reading about Google Alerts in his book. I have read half way through Groundswell by Josh Bernoff and Charlene Li and it has not been mentioned. I think Google Alerts are playing a key role in connecting people in this new world of social networking. I just thought you might be interested. Thanks for listening. Hi, I don’t know if this is relevant to your post. I have a Google Alert set to find any story mentioning “Clay Shirky” because I read his Here Comes Everybody book and I think he is a phenomenal thinker. Your blog post mentions his name so I read your article.

I don’t remember ever reading about Google Alerts in his book. I have read half way through Groundswell by Josh Bernoff and Charlene Li and it has not been mentioned.

I think Google Alerts are playing a key role in connecting people in this new world of social networking. I just thought you might be interested. Thanks for listening.

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