Conversations in the marketplace are likely to take place between people and about real things. This contrasts with transactions through images of the real online.
I don’t want to get too hung up over the question whether it is possible to encounter something new online. A better question is how we make best use of our machines. We need to understand them and learn how they help or hinder. The problem is we make assumptions and project them onto all our creations.
The interesting thing about idolatry in the Old Testament is that it applies equally to images of other gods and images of the God of Israel. They understood that any image is immensely seductive and will divert us from paying attention to what is actually there.
The Internet is all image and if we are not careful we converse with images, ie representations of the real but not reality itself.
Conversations Between People
Ultimately, the Internet is a means of communication, of conversations between people. Relationships build the foundations for communication. As trust grows it is possible to communicate more. So, the role of the marketplace is primarily building trust.
So, the question is how to establish a presence in the marketplace to enable buying or selling. There are three types of things we can buy or sell, online or in real life: products, services and causes. In the next three posts, I shall look at these in turn.
The challenge is how to do this with integrity. Do you have any ideas or experience?
