"A commenter at http://community.nytimes.com/c... says "In another New Yorker article, Malcolm Gladwell makes a strong case that social media do not a revolution make. He cites as a prime example the 1960 Greensboro lunch counter demonstration that grew exponentially within days, even though the only "social medium" in those days was the telephone. Gladwell explains that "high risk social activism" like the Greensboro sit-in (and the Egyptian uprising) "requires deep roots and strong ties." Reading a stranger's tweet that such-and-such is an atrocity -- even if it is -- doesn't make you want to risk your life for somebody else's problem. People show up at these high-risk events because the issues have deep meaning to them AND they have friends who share their beliefs and are participating in the demonstrations."" - Sue - Friendfeed is best