Respect the Zuck: My Take on "The Social Network"
When I left the theater last night after seeing The Social Network, I felt exactly the opposite of what I cynically expected I might. I walked out rooting for Mark Zuckerberg.
The Social Network doesn't tell the true story. It doesn't show you any of the details behind Facebook's development, and it doesn't provide any insight into social media's impact on our world. It doesn't address the privacy issue at all. And it doesn't paint an accurate portrait of Mark Zuckerberg, either.
But if you walk into the theater knowing these things, I think you'll walk out thinking more about the good and well-meaning character of Mark Zuckerberg, the spirit of entrepreneurship, and about your own ambitions more than anything else. I know I walked out of that theater wondering why I hadn't changed the world yet. And to be honest, I think that's a pretty damn good feeling to leave the theater with.
Mark Zuckerberg changed the world. Like it or not, the world is not even remotely the same as it was three years ago. Hell, it's way different than it was even six months ago, and largely due to social media and the influence of tools like Facebook and Twitter.
I've said it in the past, but I just want to re-emphasize it here. Zuckerberg's ideal--that the world be a more open place--is a revolutionary one. It's an idea that no one has ever believed in strongly enough before to do anything about. With Facebook, he acted on that ideal, and I strongly agree with him; the world will be a better place. All those that hate on him, all those that question whether he's a "punk", "traitor", or "genius", need to give it up. Quit hating on a good guy. Not everything he does is a PR stunt, and not everything he's done has been "backstabbing" his so-called "friends." He's a human being. In fact, he's a remarkably successful, ambitious human being, and one that I think all of us could probably learn a little from.
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