In a post a short while ago, I used the experience of writing a letter to the editor at WaPo as an example of the fundamental difference between traditional media and ascendant Media 2.0 (principally the blogosphere). Today in the Buffalo News piece about local blogs, thereis an example of how local commerce is rapidly becoming less of a lecture and more of a conversation.
Whether itis buyers and sellers using comment threads to trade information about available real estate on Coe Place, or a businessman querying the community on BRO for help finding a location for his restaurantoitis conversation in these cases thatis driving and facilitating commerce. Not media. Not advertising. Just talk.
Itis something thatis been top of mind for us the past few months as weive been developing the next version of BRO. In addition to fixing some bugs and addressing user findings, weire introducing some interesting tools and mashups that will help us better deliver content and, more importantly, be better hosts to a community dialogue thatis leading to offline action in commerce and development and activism.
These really are exciting times.
UPDATE:
Or take Ethan Coxis cause of getting more Buffalonianis to raise the flag. Ethanis directing the Buffalo Rising community to the social financing application Fundable to raise money for 50 flags. And he just got the 45th member to commit to buying one.
Thatis the social web: no fundraisers, no overhead, no long egalitarian meetings.
1 guy.
1 post.
45 flags.
5 more?