One of my new favorite bloggers (Shaping Youth) recently posted a story about “Big Think”, a YouTube-ish site that aims to facilitate conversation about thought provoking topics and ideas. Topics range from religion to philosphophy to history and the media or anything else you can think of. Site users (anyone can join) can respond to existing ‘Big Think’ ideas and topics, either through written response, video or audio. More importantly, users can create their own ideas in any medium, and open it up for discussion.
Here is a video on Love & Happiness – Leaving your mark
Vodpod videos no longer available. from www.bigthink.com posted with vodpod
Big Think is a great concept, what will be interesting is if it will be used and if this will inspire users by giving them an place specifically to discuss creative, thought-provoking ideas. A lot will depend on how the folks behind Big Think approach this. I can see it potentially being used as part of a curriculum for school projects and the like, or being connected to facebook and similar community sites.
What I don’t like is their concept of ‘experts’. How are ‘experts’ defined? While I understand the need to ‘seed’ content to get the ball rolling, this may come off as a bit pretentious and turn some folks off….
Check it out and let me know what you think!
Life: Version 2.0 
First of all, thank you for your kind kudos for Shaping Youth. You have no idea how much I need them right now amidst this unwanted firestorm of internet publicity on the kids/objectification post. eesh.
As for my piece on BigThink, you tapped into what ‘stuck in my craw’ too, in terms of the use of the word “expert”…Everytime someone tries to hang that one on me I dodge it and reframe.
It’s not even the self-deprecating bit as much as it is a sincere desire to avoid ‘absolutism’ and try to see all sides of a conversation. I think you’re right, it’ll be interesting to see if it becomes an ego-fest or a ‘virtual lounge’ to stop by and hangout for awhile…but I’ve got high hopes for it. Seems very accessible in beta…
Personally, I’d love a place where I could be as esoteric as I want, and stretch my brain boundaries without being in a fishbowl of judgment and one-upsmanship (which is what often happens in ‘thinking salon’ environs)
So now I just have to carve out some ‘free time’ to surf over there now and then!
Keep up your great work with Shaping Youth! Don’t let the negative firestorm get you down – you are doing great thing!
I think with a little tweaking, Big Think could turn out to be something really great. We should contact them and tell them our views!
There are so many good things going on with Youth and the Internet, I really want to try and find good stories and ideas and help balance out all of the negative stories that make it to the major media. I am SO sick of hearing it. Folks need to sieze this opportunity to take advantage of all that the Internet has to offer through the power of community, conversation & understanding. That’s what I want to focus on…