Comments on: Against Networking http://www.breakingranks.net/weblog/archives/114 This blog seeks to raise public awareness of rankism. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:08:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Elisa http://www.breakingranks.net/weblog/archives/114#comment-19 Wed, 15 Mar 2006 05:15:51 +0000 http://www.breakingranks.net/weblog/archives/114#comment-19 Here's my question: if employment is totally a function of networking, doesn't that select out the people who "know things" in a Darwinian sort of way? I'm a misanthrope, and I love the friends I have. My main objection is the way the concept of networking commodifies networking. This is what I believe foments rankism, since people start to allocate their time to the friends who are the best "contacts" just as a matter of survival. As people limit their contacts to their best bets, their aggregate decisions create and rigidify class stratification. Here’s my question: if employment is totally a function of networking, doesn’t that select out the people who “know things” in a Darwinian sort of way?

I’m a misanthrope, and I love the friends I have. My main objection is the way the concept of networking commodifies networking. This is what I believe foments rankism, since people start to allocate their time to the friends who are the best “contacts” just as a matter of survival. As people limit their contacts to their best bets, their aggregate decisions create and rigidify class stratification.

]]> by: Jon Garfunkel http://www.breakingranks.net/weblog/archives/114#comment-18 Wed, 15 Mar 2006 04:46:19 +0000 http://www.breakingranks.net/weblog/archives/114#comment-18 Hmm. Gladwell's model admits both connectors and mavens-- the latter are the folk who know things while the former know people. And in Kleinberg's model (more on that when I publish my big piece), there are the same things-- hubs and authorities. I guess our question should be, do networks, or big-connectors, encourage rankism? It's a tough call. I do believe that networking, if done right, *can* subvert hierarchy. Hmm. Gladwell’s model admits both connectors and mavens– the latter are the folk who know things while the former know people. And in Kleinberg’s model (more on that when I publish my big piece), there are the same things– hubs and authorities.

I guess our question should be, do networks, or big-connectors, encourage rankism? It’s a tough call. I do believe that networking, if done right, *can* subvert hierarchy.

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