Doc Searls
Note: This person was mentioned during the call but not discussed in depth.
Blogger, author, and technology thinker whose work explores internet culture, economics, and human behavior online.
Article Shared
Pete Kaminski shared Doc's perspective on curiosity:
"I like what Doc said on the list: I can't shake the sense that incuriosity is not new. Moreover, I think it sometimes persisted for thousands of years in cultures far less advanced than ours."
Link to article: World Wide Puddle
Key Argument
Doc's 2011 article (referenced 14 years before this call) argued that:
- Incuriosity is not new to modern times
- It has persisted for millennia in various cultures
- The perception of declining curiosity may be selective memory
This provided historical perspective challenging the "kids these days" narrative about declining curiosity.
Pete's Caveat
"(notwithstanding unnecessary things we do nowadays to kill curiosity, that's true too)"
Pete acknowledged that while Doc's long-view is important, modern society does create specific new obstacles to curiosity.
Relevance to Discussion
Doc's perspective supported:
- Kevin Jones's and Pete Kaminski's skepticism about curiosity declining
- The idea that we may romanticize the past
- Recognition that curiosity has always faced obstacles