Virtual Tools
Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 8:40AM 
I'm a HUGE fan of every virtual space you could possibly find (imeem, myspace, ilike, twitter, amiestreet, stumbleupon, facebook, and the list goes on). These ideas are used to promote, bring attention to or even help to connect people, places and things. At the end of the day, though, they all pretty much boil down to being 'tools' in the online/technology world.
Now years and years ago the rock was used to bang objects into desired shapes (thanks cavemen for kicking it all off for us!). Then as our abilities evolved we were able to make more useful tools such as a mallet or hammer, screwdrivers and blowtorches. Our tools then continued to get more sophisticated and more complex, but still tools nonetheless.
Tools are important and necessary. But what we can't forget is the great things that tools create. Tools created the Ancient Pyramids of Egypt. Tools created the Parthenon. Tools created the Eiffel Tower. Tools created the Titanic. Tools created awesome driving machines. Tools created the ubiquitous computer. And the list goes on.
Right now virtual tools are popping up everywhere (instant messenger, Ning, Technorati) And right now, it seems, they're an indispensible part of our lives. Just about everywhere there's talk about the newest, coolest, and fastest virtual saw, hammer, and screwdriver - which is fine. But at the end of the day the tools will change (as they always have). What is vitally important, is to also focus on how to use these tools to create something that will bring value to our day to day, positively impact our lives, or even create a movement.
You have 2,000 friends on Facebook (ok, nice) but what are you and your 2,000 friends doing to move ideas and dreams forward? Its awesome that you have 5,000 twitter followers (that rocks!), but what are you and your 5,000 followers doing to help the old lady next door, or help get a kid into college or to change the world?
The tools are valuable, necessary and needed, but don't lose focus on the other side of the coin - the ideas that the tools can help bring to life.
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