Difficult Dilemma in Digital Development

Wow, these last days, there's been quite some trackback activity between this blog, and Peter Thomas' riptari filter. i'm tying to absorb his pov as fast as possible. he just commented on a recent post of mine.

Commenting on this article at ICT Update:

The attempts to apply the internet's benefits worldwide likely require a different mindset entirely, and before real progress starts we have to begin constructing it.

OK, I buy the existence of this basic paradox. It's a real problem, and one of the reasons we have this hybrid non-profit/commercial business model in mind. A slightly absurd hybrid business model to deal with a real life dilemna.

I also buy the part about the different mindset, and I honestly think that that's where people with a commercial background, and a healthy dose of scepticism towards development in general, come in to the picture. That mindset has to grow from honest dialogue between those who know about solutions, and those who have problems that need solving.

The fact that I am really doing what I'm doing, not out of altruism, but simply because it's a bundle of fun, and makes me feel really good about myself (at least sometimes), is probably significant. The fact that I know can't even begin to do this without a whole lot of help from people on the ground who understand the issues and problems might help as well.

But it doesn't change the basic point behind Peter Thomas' issue, namely that this whole idea is ludicrously difficult to implement, if you want to do it right. And that it's all a learning process in which we have to be as open as possible to new ideas, and try and learn as much as possible about the domain.