Forget turning revenue, Nobel is where it’s at for Twitter… apparently.
I’m as much a part of the twitterati as any heavy net user (follow me… follow me!) however, as an entrepreneur, their relaxed attitude towards profitability is both concerning and charming, notwithstanding somewhat awe-inspiring. I mean, what happens when VCs or big companies can/will no longer subsidize finance-hogging businesses like twitter?
That’s one question. Yet, as has been the case with Twitter since day 1, there’s still enough hype elsewhere that nobody is focusing on their finances. Case in point: Former Deputy National Security Advisor, Mark Pfeifle, says, if anybody, Twitter’s founders deserve the next Nobel Peace Prize for delaying their scheduled downtime - at the US government’s request - for more Iran specific discussions to continue.
So… wait… does this really deserve a Nobel Peace Prize? Gandhi didn’t even win the Nobel Peace Prize. Yes, Gandhi. I’m just saying. What exactly did Williams, Stone and Doherty do? Create a great communications tool? Sure. Create a popular, service? Sure. Promote peace by delaying scheduled maintenance due to government’s request? Not so sure.
I think it would be monumental if a culturally relevant tech company’s founders won the prize. Don’t get me wrong. However, what I am questioning is whether being a “conduit” - an incidental one, at that - for peace is sufficient for receiving this prize. Notwithstanding the fact that the downtime delay was per request, not necessarily of Twitter’s own volition (and that’s not to say they wouldn’t have kept the service active for Iranian purposes, anyway. We don’t know). Is intent not a proxy for Nobel consideration?
Either the world is becoming so progressive, it’s catching even my progressive self unawares, or everybody is a bit too high on that Twitter kool-aid. Even people in government.
What do you think? The kool-aid effect or changing times?
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Great post Motheo. . . It just seems they believe their own or the one created around them. They’ve rewritten the rules, no question. As far as a Nobel Prize, that I’d like to see.
Did they say what category it will be under?
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 am
@Mongezi, Nobel Peace Prize, dude. I don’t know what the guidelines are either.