Never mind the technology, where’s the learning?

The last week has been interesting when in comes Shirky’s notion of self-forming groups and the power of Web 2.0 and social networking. In Clay Shirky’s book, “Here Comes Eveybody“, he explores the the significant role being played by technological advances on the formation and experience of modern group dynamics. Over the weeks, John Sergeant, the oldest contestant at 64, and former political correspondent was kept in the show by the public vote despite there being potentially better dancers. The tension began to build on 8/9 November when he received just 12 points from the judges, and they pleaded with the public to vote on the dancing, not John’s personality. This only fuelled an apparent campaign on Facebook to not only keep John in, but to defy the ‘authority’ that the judges had assumed over the public. On 10 November there were 166 groups on Facebook either for or against John’s continued participation. The most popular,  John Sergeant to win Strictly Come Dancing 2008! (started by a student at Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School) had 800 members on the 10th, but by the following week had doubled to 1635, and although the group cannot of course be solely attributed to John’s continued presence in the show following voting on the 15th November, reading the comments it perhaps illustrates the role a self-forming group might be playing. Following the voluntary withdrawal of John from the show on the 19th, individuals on the group are now eliciting support to boycott the show in the belief that this could trigger the sacking of two of the judges from any future series. The BBC also received over 2000 complains following the withdrawal of Sergeant citing the way in which he had been treated.

The incident can be added to other illustrations of how modern technology enables mass participation and has a real effect on the way we might think and act. On examining members of the Facebook group (as far as one can), it brings together a spectum of people who would not otherwise join together in common cause, from the girl who wishes John Sergeant was her grandad, to those holding right-wing political views using the group to encourage click-throughs to their dubious site.

Tags: Shirky, Here comes everybody, self-forming groups