The Internet is allowing for us to really experience people in some of the most distant places in the world - as other people just like us. So get to know people, seek out bloggers from a country you're kind of curious about. It's about building empathy and breaking through to the point of recognizing people as people.

EssJay was appointed at the request of and unanimous support of the ArbCom.

Things work well when a group of people know each other, and things break down when it's a bunch of random people interacting.

Mostly, I try to take a rational approach to life.

There's a big tendency to gravitate toward a closed and proprietary approach too easily.

We don't need secrecy.

We've seen how grassroots journalism by blogs has had an impact at various points politically, as ordinary people have amplified stories that were being ignored by the traditional press.