@cougar_sean
As time progresses, society becomes more bias towards contact, Rushkoff’s seventh command. He states, “our digital networks are biased toward social connections [… and] any effort to redefine or hijack those connections for profit end up compromising the integrity of the network itself.” Here it is clear: there must remain a true and honest motivation to connections. If society feels as though the reason for contact is personal gain, the system destabilizes. This naturally leads to his eighth command, fact. If someone lies on the Internet, it is found out very quickly. Everyone becomes a sleuth when they access the Internet and they share information with each other to verify statements. Lies do not last long on the Internet because, as Rushkoff says, “the more valuable, truthful, and real our messages, the more they will spread and better we will do.” “Digital technology’s architecture of shared resources, as well as the gift economy through which the net was developed” (Rushkoff) has created a need for openness, the ninth command. Openness continues along the natural path of the last two commands. Social connections seek honest, true relationships and that relationship must be open. Sharing is what the Internet was originally created for. When something is not shared with everyone, society gets angry. This ties directly to the motivation or purpose (command ten) of the connection. Purpose is all about making change. If we cannot learn to make change ourselves, then we are helplessly at the mercy of those who can. We must learn to “program or be programmed.”