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Clay Shirky, author of Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age, eminds us: "In the history of print, we got erotic novels 100 years before we got scientific journals, and complaints about distraction have been rampant; no less a beneficiary of the printing press than Martin Luther complained, 'The multitude of books is a great evil. There is no measure of limit to this fever for writing.'"

Thus whether we are simply in a transition stage with the Internet in which we will eventually weed out the more frivolous content (or at least find a proper place for it) is left to be seen, but history would indicate that there is a distinct possibility that we will self-regulate for the better good.

Gardner also contends that creativity can be cultivated in groups. Thus the ability to work collaboratively may palliate a lack of individual creativity.