Web 2.0? Try Web 1.1

They say in the music industry that you know when a scene is past its peak because it makes its way into the mainstream media. I can't help feeling the same way about this Web 2.0 malarkey.

Newsnight had a remarkably accessible intro to Flock last night, and touched all the usual 2.0 bases (Flickr, Wikipedia, del.icio.us) without actually mentioning them by name. And, yes, it was interesting to see these new technologies presented to the public. But I still can't shake the feeling we've seen it all before. Groups of techies with laptops pulling all-night coding binges? The "hey, this is going to change everything" vibe? boo.com, anyone? The revolution that didn't happen? I may have been a tender 18 during the first dotcom frenzy but I recognise hype when I see it.

To me, Web 2.0 (God, I hate that phrase) is just the web reverting to its natural state. Like a stress ball after you let go, or the way you feel after taking off those trousers you no longer fit any more.

The early web was seized by mainstream media as another way to pipe content into everyone's life. Misguided? Sure. Understandable? Sure. 2.0 is about realising that the web isn't shaped that way. It connects people without the need for centralised content producers. Hell, that's why it's called the web.

And that's it. It's interesting, it's even exciting, but it sure as hell could do without the hype.

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The Web is equal to pi
The amorality of Web 2.0