This Web 2.0 Thing is Like Playing Calvinball on a Global Scale…

The above quote is one of those Irn-Bru meets Screen and Keyboard moments, so thanks to Janne for that one. To put it in context (like it needs it)

A lot of companies don’t know how to play by these rules. The rules are not clear to begin with, and especially with the big behemoths it takes time for them to understand the game, and they refuse to enter the arena before they know what the rules are. The game scares them, because they are afraid to make mistakes. Some companies just go in, and play by the ear until they learn the rules. Others sit on the edge of the field, and try to figure out the rules by watching the players. Some companies get dragged into the game, kicking and screaming. Some can afford to ignore the game altogether, and keep going just like they have been doing for the past 200 years. This Web 2.0 thing is like playing Calvinball on a global scale: nobody quite knows what the rules are, a lot of them are made on the spot, and winners can become losers overnight. (Calvinball is better, though, because you get to wear a cool mask. In Web 2.0 you have AJAX, but it’s not that cool.)

I’m away to get this printed on a T-Shirt for Etech 2006.

(Radio 4 listeners should substitue Mornington Crescent for Calvinball – thanks to Suw for clarification).