YOU are Time's Person of the Year

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TIME magazine's annual Person of the Year award recognizes individuals who have made an impact on the world in the past year. In 2006, that person is you, me, and that guy in the corner. This year, more than any other in the history of humanity, individuals like you and me have the power and voice to make a difference. And what a difference it is!

Bloggers now break news stories ahead of professional journalists, networking is all about your MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, and our nightly entertainment often involves YouTube instead of the good old boob tube.

According to TIME,

...Who actually sits down after a long day at work and says, I'm not going to watch Lost tonight. I'm going to turn on my computer and make a movie starring my pet iguana? I'm going to mash up 50 Cent's vocals with Queen's instrumentals? I'm going to blog about my state of mind or the state of the nation or the steak-frites at the new bistro down the street? Who has that time and that energy and that passion?

The answer is, you do. And for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, TIME's Person of the Year for 2006 is you.

We who fill the Internet tubes are changing the world, one homemade video, one ranting blog, one Digg at a time. I'm scared and excited about what this all means. Giving so much power to the mob is scary because, well, we're all a bit stupid when we're in a mob. But more than fear, I feel joy and hope. We're no longer subjected to an editor's whims, or a conglomerate's dumb policy. Heck, even governments like China can't censor its citizens effectively.

If we keep going down this path, we have the potential to bring down every old world institution out there. And that, my friend, is what you call a revolution.

Imagine a world where artists can bring their wares directly to the masses. What happens to NBC, Fox, or Time Warner?

Imagine a world where everyone buys on eBay. Let's see Walmart and Home Depot crush the "mom and pop" eBay sellers.

Imagine a world where anyone, anywhere has access to news as it happens -- soldiers blogging from the frontlines, camera phones capturing a disaster as it unfolds. Spinmeisters and government censors need not apply.

It's an exciting time to be alive. I can't wait to see what YOU have in store for us in 2007.

Viva la revolution!

(PS: If you would like to join the revolution, why not blog here at Wise Bread?)

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Guest's picture
John M

I would like to thank TIME magazine for such a wonderful honor. Never in my year and a half of blogging did I ever think I was worthy of such praise. You like me, you really like me.