The accrual of power

Jonathan Zittrain, a lecturer at Oxford specializing in Internet governance and regulation, recently appeared on the Charley Rose Show and spoke on future uses and abuses of cyberspace and the internet. Along the way, Rose asked Zittrain what he believed a good social use of the Internet might be. Zittrain considered the question carefully, improving upon it while responding:

"...how to establish ordered solutions to social problems that come up without having to go to a top/down authority structure... (and that would be) community-based solutions (such as) Wikipedia, something self-correcting without abusing the power that accrue to themselves."

While the thought provokes serious reflection, I feel Professor Zittrain put too much "mustard on it" not only by adding unnecessary words, but by adding words that don't fit with the normal use of the verb accrue though that is up for debate. See the definitions below. Zittrain needn't have added "to themselves" as accrue is primarily used a an intransitive verb, that is, it does not require an object. It normally means: to come into existence, accumulate. Zittrain could have said simply: "...something self-correcting without abusing the power that accrues." However, accrue may be used as a transitive verb, meaning it will have an object, but not usually in the sense professor Zittrain used it. It may mean: to accumulate (as interest rates) or some other thing after a period of time.

The power happens as a result of the process, not because someone decides he will have power even if that is the goal. Thus, one does not accrue power to oneself. It either happens or does not happen given the circumstances.

In any case, a very insightful interview. Professor Zittrain is quite brilliant and speaks clearly and colorfully on the subject. In one instance he uses a very creative extended metaphor* to describe the "healthiness" and "safety" of cyberspace. Look for it and enjoy.

*Extended metaphor: a metaphor that continues into the sentences that follow, a metaphor developed at great length.