Clay Shirky: How the Internet will (one day) transform government

The video explores how open-source programming can teach democracy, starting with Martha Payne's blog story and the public's reaction to censorship. It discusses the historical impact of media on society, highlighting the role of the printing press and other media in shaping public discourse. The video introduces Linus Torvalds and Git, explaining how Git enables large-scale collaboration without central coordination. It suggests that open-source tools like Git could be applied to democracy and law, promoting transparency and participation. The video concludes with a call to action to use these tools for societal benefit.

What was the main reason for the public outcry in Martha Payne's story?

• She stopped blogging voluntarily.

• Her blog was about fashion.

• She was censored for taking pictures of school lunches.

• She criticized the local government.

What was a common misconception about new media technologies like the telegraph and television?

• They would lead to increased censorship.

• They would cause economic collapse.

• They would eliminate poverty.

• They would bring about world peace.

What was the primary goal of the Invisible College in the 1600s?

• To invent the printing press.

• To create a new religion.

• To establish a political party.

• To improve the way natural philosophers argued.

What problem does a version control system solve in software development?

• It speeds up the internet connection.

• It prevents software from being hacked.

• It reduces the cost of software.

• It manages social chaos among programmers.

What is a key feature of Git that supports open-source collaboration?

• Automatic error correction.

• Cooperation without coordination.

• Limited access to source code.

• Centralized control of all changes.

How does GitHub enhance the use of Git for programmers?

• By providing a platform for hosting and sharing code.

• By restricting access to code.

• By offering free software licenses.

• By automatically writing code.

What is a potential benefit of applying open-source techniques to democracy?

• Increased government secrecy.

• More efficient law enforcement.

• Enhanced citizen participation in legislation.

• Reduced public debates.

What is a major challenge in using open-source methods in democratic processes?

• Resistance from those in power.

• Lack of technological tools.

• High cost of implementation.

• Limited internet access.

What does the 'diff' feature in GitHub show?

• The programming language used.

• The number of users editing a file.

• The changes made to a document and by whom.

• The total size of a project.

What is the significance of the 'dis-org chart' in the Ruby community?

• It represents a new way of collaborative work.

• It is a tool for project management.

• It shows a lack of organization.

• It highlights the failures of open-source projects.