While some disruption is good, some is not. And, sometimes, we don't even see it coming.
Like the concept that the flap of a butterfly's wings could set into motion a cyclone in another part of the world.
The other night, I stumbled upon a blog (apparently now dark) that suggested a couple more of the unintended consequences of disruption.
Ben traces the decline of American newspaper journalism to Craigslist. When Craigslist became a cheaper and more effective means of classified advertising, it removed a huge revenue stream upon which newspapers relied to pay experienced reporters and editors. Take away the revenue, staff is sloughed. No staff...no content.
It's not that we don't read newspapers anymore (even in print form), it's that there's nothing interesting or compelling to read by writers that don't know what they're writing about.
He frets that the decline of junk mail (a good thing, right?) will have the same effect on the US Postal Service, which relies on this revenue source to pay for delivering all the good stuff we've come to expect from the USPS.
Disruption is often good. Sometimes it's bad.
But, it is inevitable.
Photo Credit: CC Steve Rhodes
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