{"id":109083,"date":"2026-01-04T10:35:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T10:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2026\/01\/04\/use-the-failures-of-the-past-as-inspiration-for-a-better-future\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T10:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T10:36:14","slug":"use-the-failures-of-the-past-as-inspiration-for-a-better-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2026\/01\/04\/use-the-failures-of-the-past-as-inspiration-for-a-better-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Use The Failures Of The Past As Inspiration For A Better Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

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from the a-time-to-build<\/i> dept<\/h3>\n

Look, I get it. The world is a multitude. Essential establishments are crumbling. It appears like each the tech and political worlds are collaborating to squeeze all remaining humanity out of all of us. Cynicism is ascendant. Nihilism is the brand new black.<\/p>\n

And but: I stay optimistic.<\/p>\n

Not the naive, everything-will-work-out-fine form of optimism. The sort grounded in seeing what\u2019s truly occurring beneath the surface-level chaos. As a result of whereas legacy establishments are capitulating<\/a> and folding<\/a>, others are standing up<\/a> and speaking out<\/a>. And extra importantly, individuals are constructing alternate options that route across the failures fully.<\/p>\n

That is the sample: centralized programs fail, folks determine construct round them. We\u2019ve seen it earlier than. We\u2019ll see it once more. The distinction this time is that we\u2019re constructing with the information of how these programs failed baked in from the beginning.<\/p>\n

Yearly, my last publish on Techdirt is about optimism. For the previous decade, I\u2019ve felt like I wanted to apologize for it. Not this yr. On the lowest factors, you want optimism. Issues are a multitude. However let\u2019s roll up our sleeves and repair stuff. And it\u2019s simpler to keep up that optimism when you may see the concrete alternate options already taking form, even when solely of their earliest varieties.<\/p>\n

If you wish to see the previous last posts of the yr, they\u2019re right here:<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, with some pals, we launched<\/a> the Resonant Computing Manifesto<\/a>\u2014a framework for constructing tech that empowers fairly than extracts, that resonates with what folks truly need fairly than what some company or politician decides they need to have.<\/p>\n

The response was overwhelming. Time and again we heard from individuals who\u2019d been considering comparable ideas however didn\u2019t understand what number of others shared them. That\u2019s how actions begin: not with grand pronouncements, however with the conclusion that you simply\u2019re not alone in seeing what wants to vary.<\/p>\n

A motion comes about as an increasing number of folks understand issues that want to vary and have to be fastened after which step up and say \u201chey, we might be part of the method of fixing issues.\u201d It\u2019s not straightforward. It doesn\u2019t occur in a single day. There\u2019s no silver bullet.<\/p>\n

However you may transfer issues within the route of change in the direction of a greater system. And as extra folks take part, actual change is feasible.<\/p>\n

Take politics. Persons are rightfully upset concerning the route issues are heading, within the US and globally. However the backlash is producing politicians who believe in actually helping people<\/a> over accumulating energy. That issues.<\/p>\n

And, equally, for all of the cheap fears about large tech corporations working hand in hand with authoritarians, we\u2019re seeing that kick off the processes that may allow extra folks to take extra management over their very own lives, and away from these collaborators.<\/p>\n

Or take AI. Sure, the slop is actual and the hype is exhausting. However the identical instruments the giants are utilizing to flood the web with rubbish might be turned towards them. I\u2019ve spent this yr constructing personalized tools<\/a> that work for me with out handing my information to firms for his or her profit over mine. You possibly can take back control from the billionaires<\/a>. The instruments exist.<\/p>\n

This issues extra now that we\u2019ve watched centralized programs and power-hungry billionaires get co-opted by authoritarian regimes. However we will use the instruments of innovation to empower ourselves over them.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s additionally why I stay extremely bullish on the work being performed on open social networks like Bluesky (the place I\u2019m on the board). This yr could have felt slower than the yr earlier than, however there are such a lot of thrilling developments occurring the place individuals are constructing superb instruments and programs with out having to depend on billionaires or ask for permission.<\/p>\n

This feels just like the early web, when you could possibly simply construct one thing and see what occurred. However we\u2019re smarter now. We\u2019ve seen how centralized programs change into seize factors for authoritarians. We all know the failure modes. So we\u2019re constructing with that information baked in\u2014creating programs which might be, by design, proof against the form of management we\u2019ve watched corrupt the earlier era of platforms.<\/p>\n

The mess that we\u2019re in in the present day on each the tech and political vectors ought to be seen as a information to the place we have to go and what must be performed. The seeds have already been planted and many of us are already constructing. The optimistic viewpoint is that this motion will proceed to develop and extra folks will proceed to see how they, too, don\u2019t have to be held again by the whims of billionaires and authoritarians, however can use the instruments of innovation for their very own pursuits.<\/p>\n

As all the time, my last ideas on these posts are thanking all of you, the group round Techdirt, for making all of this worthwhile\u2014and this yr particularly for<\/strong> coming out to support our fundraiser and our continued existence<\/strong><\/a>. The group stays a tremendous factor to me. I\u2019ve stated prior to now that I write as if I\u2019m going to share my ideas into an empty void, not anticipating anybody to ever listen, and I\u2019m all the time amazed when anybody does, whether or not it\u2019s to disagree with me, add some further insights, problem my considering, or attain out to speak about truly transfer some concepts ahead.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I do know this group is stuffed with creators, thinkers and advocates who care deeply about utilizing expertise to make the world higher. Let\u2019s use this chance to show that innovation, thoughtfully utilized, can route round institutional failure and corruption. As soon as once more, thank you<\/em> to those that are studying this for making Techdirt such an exquisite and particular place, and let\u2019s concentrate on being really optimistic concerning the alternatives in entrance of us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\tFiled Below: 2025<\/a>, decentralization<\/a>, empowering users<\/a>, new year’s message<\/a>, optimism<\/a>, resonant computing<\/a>
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