democratizing technologies
Time magazine has a poll for the 100 most influential people of the year. What disturbs me is the people at the top of the poll; Steven Colbert is #1 at the time of writing this post. Have a look at the top 5, in the order of most “influence” we have a comedian (Colbert), a game designer (Shigeru Miyamoto), a mediocre novelist (J.K. Rowling), a 19 year old hockey player (Sidney Crosby), and a singer (Bono).
What gives? I feel people of real worth should be up there. Now, I know what you’re thinking, Bono has made some great political statements, and I would agree – Bono deserves a spot in the top 100, number 5? I’m not so sure. But how does he take backseat to a hockey player? To a comedian? To a game designer? To a novelist? They are entertainers, no more. If that is who “influences” you, then we’re in trouble, big trouble.
Take a close look at the list, and ask; do these people deserve a spot on the list? In my estimation, there are only 2 people in the top 10 who deserve to be in the 100 at all, Bono and Steve Jobs. The others? Entertainment, nothing more. I’m dissapointed to say the least. My pick for the top 5? Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Ben Bernanke (thanks to Robert for pointing out his complete absence from the top 200), Bill Clinton, and Nicholas Negroponte, at the time of writing numbers 17, 32, ???, 45 and 66 respectively.
But then I’m not a hockey fan, so what do I know?