Christopher Cable writes:

Subject: What is lost and what is found due to the WWW

What is lost and what is found due to the WWW

Although it is nice to read peoples opinions or takes on aspect of business or society it is hoped that one spells that out forthright in the article. One must take into account that there are many aspects to an economy and as ‘powerful’ as the World Wide Web is, it is only a fraction or slice of the whole picture. Let us just stay with the WWW for now. Does it supplant jobs? Yes it does. Let’s look at that aspect. There is a saying that God and Nature abhor a vacuum. So it is with this vacuum caused by the WWW. In place of all those people who process all that paperwork there are computers. Those computers and all their parts are not only made by people, they are maintained by people, shipped by people, etc. Now we need people to create, build and maintain the infrastructure of the World Wide Web it’s self and so all those jobs are created. Ma and Pa storefronts can now compete on an even footing with those mega corporations and in fact, many of those Ma and Pa operations wouldn’t have even been able to start up let alone compete had it not been for the internet as we see it today.

Jobs Lost versus Jobs Gained

Yes those 100 people are now reduced to a lesser number but actually how many? This article states a solid number on one end of the discussion but fails to support the number of actual unemployed directly due to the automation via the WWW. It also fails to mention just how many jobs are created by the same culprit. Whole new careers have resulted from the WWW and the unlimited potential it brings with it. Newspapers closing, jobs lost? Since the 1980’s computer Gurus have been threatening that we are heading into a paperless society. This hasn’t happened as touted but there have been ramifications not clearly seen at that time. Additionally the US Postal Service is crying foul over peoples use of the internet and email in lieu of writing and mailing letters. So?

How many jobs were lost, industries closed when the automobile came upon the American landscape? What shifts had to happen when electricity was put into widespread use? The list is long and will continue through human evolution. The smart one’s see an opportunity and capitalize on it. They go back to school, learn a new skill or change careers entirely. I, for one, doubt that the World Wide Web is causal regarding the current state of the economy. Greed, yes, the World Wide Web, no.

Don’t even get me started…

…on how the WWW has saved all those greenhouse emissions from entering our atmosphere due to the lessening of cars on the highway because people can now telecommute. Far less volumes of mail lessen the carbon footprint. People can shop from home for many items these days and a fleet of pick up and delivery vehicles and planes still undercuts the carbon emissions. In fact the article I am responding to as well as my reply didn’t add anywhere near the carbon to our atmosphere that letter writing, delivery and printing of a newspaper would have. Let alone the time saved for writing, delivery and response.

In conclusion

I won’t address the negative predatory aspects mentioned by the author as I see no place in his article or my response where it fits. There have been those and may always will be those who prey on others no matter if they live in person on our streets or on the internet.

The Author of this piece urges economists to study the link and answer his question based on evidence. Fair enough as I would like to have him rewrite his article based on evidence as well. I cannot see any truly valid points in drawing any type of comparison between job loss, the economy and the World Wide Web without bringing up all the positive points that this relatively new genre provides. Although it might be interesting to see what if any link there might be between the recession and the web, we would be better served by studying actual larger causes and leave the question unanswered regarding the web for a later idle time debate.