Q: What were your key takeaways from the visit to Meetup HQ?

A: My key takeaway is grappling with the question “Does the tech reflect the times or do the times reflect the tech?” Meetup was inspired by 9/11, according to Scott. So, in his case, the tech reflects the times. But Facebook is driving changes to interconnectivity around the world. So, in the case of Facebook, the times reflect the tech. Is it just the chicken or the egg?

Q: Do you think television led to the disappearance of social capital in America?

A: I think economic forces led to the disappearance of social capital in America. The one certain thing since the glory days of bowling alleys that has changed is that more people are working longer hours for less pay. Sure, having a way to detox from the workday in your living room as opposed to at the local watering hole contributed to the decline of social capital but it’s a symptom and not the cause. I wondered openly about what the lowest paid Meetup employee makes. How does economic class play a role in social capital?

Q: Is there anything that we spoke about during class that you would apply to your community? and how?

A: It just further instilled the idea that the ultimate political difficulty of making change is about bringing people together. Still not sure how to do that.