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The Big Juicy Twitter Guide

We're a herdlike species, more likely to be obese if our peers are.

Cialdini says brain imaging shows that when we think we're out of step with our peers, the part of our brain that registers pain shifts into overdrive. "It's an incredibly powerful spur to action,

Obama's push to weatherize millions of homes — another stimulus bonanza — will require new norms. In Oregon, a countywide program to upgrade windows and insulation at almost no cost to homeowners got a tepid response. But after an intense mobilization campaign — through citizen councils, churches and Girl Scouts who went door-to-door asking residents why they hadn't weatherized yet — 85% of the county enrolled. "What worked was creating a sense that we're all in this together and you're a social deviant if you don't join us,"

Let them write columns

The digitally illiterate Yes, there are people who don’t have access to the Internet and there are people who don’t know how to use it or use it effectively.   But I’d argue that these people won’t be increasingly disenfranchised because much of the real digital engagement is an as well as and not instead of .  However, there will be a real and widening gap between those who weren’t already connected in and those who have new channels of access via the Internet. Of course, as public servants we must find ways to help people get engaged and use new and existing paths to empowerment.   We will never reach full success, and we must never stop trying.  But whatever we do, we must not ignore tools because some people don’t have them yet.  And we definitely must not ignore those citizens who are already gathered online and ready and willing to engage, critique, join-in and collaborate on the services and issues that matter to them.

The digitally empowered Last night,  James Cousins, a councillor, was Tweeting from a Wandsworth council meeting.  That’s where I live.   I thought it was kinda cool to get a glimpse, 140 characters at a time, of what was being discussed about my local area.  It’s certainly more than I’ve ever had before.  I’ve never attended a local council meeting even though it’s a public meeting.