'Thank you, Facebook'

 

A protester holds a sign reading "Thank you, Facebook"

NBC News' Richard Engel has just posted this picture from Cairo. 

The role of the Internet, and especially social media like Facebook and Twitter, has been debated extensively since the protests began last week, all chronicled by msnbc.com's Technology team and the Technolog blog:


 

Told in tweets, the Egypt conflict is riveting, confusing

Kenneth Cole's Cairo tweet enrages Internet

Egypt online users weigh merit of more protests

Egypt restores Internet access

Techies make way for stranded Egyptians to be heard

Jon Stewart questions Egypt's 'Twitter revolution'

Is Internet access a human right?

'This is about social networks that are beyond the reach of Mubarak'

Infograph: Egypt drops off the Internet

Discuss this post

Perhaps the social networks' role in this situation have been pivotal and positive in spreading the word amongst the people. However, 'for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction.' This means of communicating can backfire on people trying to start a revolution. They make themselves easy targets for the government to pursue and track down. There have been cases in the US where law enforcement agencies have utilized Facebook to find people guilty of crimes because the network is so public. Anonymity is virtually impossible with modern technology for the large majority of the population.

    Reply#1 - Fri Feb 4, 2011 12:30 PM EST

    Hello Concerned Citizen, I agree completely thats why we know so little about Fezzy Bear, who knows what crack pot would try to hit him in the head like the ABC Anchor Aminipour, "" A disorderly mob is no more an army than a heap of building materials is a house:...Socrates..."""".... """ The strong did what they could and the weak suffered what they must :..Thucydides""".... """" Bella horida bella, Wars horrid wars:..Virgil.."""... """Learn to obey before you command:..Solon of Athens...""" ..,,, """ A peoples voice is dangerous when charged with wrath:.. Aeschylus ...."""""".... and finally """" Alta sedent civilis vulneta dextrae , Deep are the wounds that civil strife inflicts:.. Lucan ...""" sincerely Fezzy Bear

      #1.1 - Fri Feb 4, 2011 1:10 PM EST
      Reply

      Hello America, ""Cairo (Egypt) (Arabic Al Qahira, meaning "the Victorious"), capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa. Located on both banks of the Nile River near the head of the river's delta in northern Egypt, the site has been settled for more than 6000 years and has served as the capital of numerous Egyptian civilizations. Cairo is known locally as Misr, the Arabic name for Egypt itself, because of its centrality in Egyptian life. Greater Cairo is spread across three of Egypt's administrative governorates: the east bank portion is located in Al Qalyobiyah Governorate, while the west bank is part of the governorates of Al Jizah and Al Qalyobiyah. Cairo is marked by the traditions and influences of the East and the West, the ancient and the modern. However, the city also reflects Egypt's growing poverty,

      The origins of the site of present-day Cairo can be traced back to the Egyptian capital of Memphis, which is believed to have been founded in the early 4th millennium bc near the head of the Nile delta, south of the present city. The Persian kings were regarded as the 27th Dynasty. The Egyptians were able to regain control in 404 bc, but their last native dynasties ruled under conditions of internal discord and continual external conflicts. The Persians regained control of Egypt in 343 bc. Then, just 11 years later, in 332 bc, Macedonian king Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and annexed it to his Hellenistic empire. When he died in 323 bc, his friend and general Ptolemy became satrap, or governor, of Egypt

      Alexandria (Egypt), city and major seaport in northern Egypt, in the Nile River delta, on a ridge that separates Lake Maryot from the Mediterranean Sea. The city was founded in 332 bc by Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia, who planned it as one of the finest ports of the ancient world. The most famous period of ancient Greek civilization is called the Classical Age, which lasted from about 480 to 323 bc. During this period, ancient Greeks reached their highest prosperity and produced amazing cultural accomplishments. Unlike most other peoples of the time, Greeks of the Classical Age usually were not ruled by kings. Greek communities treasured the freedom to govern themselves, although they argued about the best way to do that and often warred against each other. What Greek communities shared were their traditions of language, religion, customs, and international festivals, such as the ancient Olympic Games.

      Cairo residents take great pride in the work of Nobel Prize-winning author and Cairo native Naguib Mahfouz, whose fiction has provided a chronicle of the city.

      Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2002. © 1993-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved."""

      Phonni was born in Athens about 400 b.c. Phonni was 68 years old when Alexandria was comquered by unrest Quote: "" In a moment of action remember the value of silence and order---Phonni of Athens"""""""""......

      and from Fezzy Bear quote "He who is unfamiliar with Time keeping should not delve into the antiquities--- Fezzy Bear 2011 A.D.""" :) sincerely Fezzy Bear p.s. see Fezzy Bear's Face on face book kinda, it was a bad hair day and not my best side.

        Reply#2 - Fri Feb 4, 2011 12:50 PM EST

        Hello Egypt, thats why we know so little about Fezzy Bear, who knows what crack pot would try to hit Fezzy Bear in the head with a rock like the ABC Anchor Aminipour, "" A disorderly mob is no more an army than a heap of building materials is a house:...Socrates..."""".... """ The strong did what they could and the weak suffered what they must :..Thucydides""".... """" Bella horida bella, Wars horrid wars:..Virgil.."""... """Learn to obey before you command:..Solon of Athens...""" ..,,, """ A peoples voice is dangerous when charged with wrath:.. Aeschylus ...."""""".... and finally """" Alta sedent civilis vulneta dextrae , Deep are the wounds that civil strife inflicts:.. Lucan ...""" sincerely Fezzy Bear

          Reply#3 - Fri Feb 4, 2011 1:13 PM EST
          You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
          As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.