Anyone can Publish on the World Wide Web - By: Terry S Vostor

The power of opinion and its influence upon society has been for that for two millennium, always an issue of debate. Is it good or bad? The internet affords the easy availability of information to almost anyone and everyone, in a most democratic manner.

With a simple website, or even a rank communications internet "Nube" can be almost a communications giant. All types and varieties of previously untapped niches are being filled with blogs of all types and concerns. Many such as what are now termed "Mommy Bloggers" are earning an absolute cash fortune - whether it be advertising and marketing promotion or direct Paypal donations or even cash requests. Who would of believed not long ago that this would happen in our lifetimes ? You now longer have to be "Ed Sullivan" or the Beatles. Should this all be allowed freely ? Should these privileges be accorded or controlled. Yet in the hands of those in power , will absolute power corrupt absolutely? In essence it is "nothing new", just human nature and communication with new and newer tools.

It might be said that the earliest medium for disseminating opinion, was for the most part and parts the "rostrum", which obtained a peak in power and prestige during the fifth century B.C., when the ancient Hellenistic government encouraged citizens to speak before the popular Assembly in Athens. Anyone who could legally and intellectually command an audience was allowed to articulate their thoughts and beliefs.

Bloggers and those who publish on the internet , should be held accountable , both for accuracy of information and intent. Any speaker who was suspected of offering what might be considered "immoral" opinions or what might be considered "questionable" advice to the people could, under the laws of the time and rulings of the "land", be impeached and prohibited from appearing before the Assembly. If speakers abused their privileges of presentation of information and opinions before their readers , listeners and ultimately their societies , they had their rights of presentation revoked. It is a privilege not a "right".

The orator who addresses an empty hall is unlikely to motivate action or inaction. If you do not have center stage , or any stage to present your wares and information products , then you might of well stayed at home in bed , and never ventured out in the world with your product or ideas. Whether on the printed newspaper page - say the New York Times or Winnipeg Sun - if the opinion, editorial or auto advertisement is not published , then that communication or marketing message has no effect what so ever - neither specific or general. The personalities involved should of stayed home in bed and never ventured out into the cold reality of the world - with all its power and yet ultimate effect and accountability. An author cannot promote and distribute their book or publication if not invited onto the various "Talk Shows" - such as David Letterman, or marketed via newspaper or magazine reviews.

However the internet affords an entirely different situation. Anyone and everyone is offered a "soapbox" a chance to speak on the worldwide "Assembly", without little review and limited availability. There are few controls. Not cost. The modern communications tools , which the internet afford have all been made greatly intuitive , that is easy to use. Now with the easy availability of "Open Source" software , this has been made readily accessible to the masses.

Open Source software is software , that anyone with the software design or engineering skills can tinker or modify to their own purposes. The proviso is that all updates and modifications be made "freely available". The author has to share his work with others. Distribution of the software has to open , not sequestered. Open source software does not have to be free of charge or no cost. However in actuality in most cases it is - being offered on terms of trust that if the user finds the software package useful that they donate a sum of money , usually by Paypal , to the author. This way the software designer or engineer will be compensated for their time , and will be induced to offer upgrades of the product or products for functionality , to eliminate and reduce software bugs as well as add security enhancements and fixes , as the need or needs arise. There is no simple answer to this quandary. Simple as that.

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