For those who think that ignorance is bliss, the group at Dropping Knowledge has something to say—when you question in order to understand, when you answer in order to share, when you act in order to trigger social change, you are dropping knowledge. Yet if you drop something, you should pick it up. Dropping Knowledge’s website is a discussion-based forum that invites dialogue for positive social change, and makes knowledge bliss instead of ignorance. It’s a young website, but has a large number of forum posters who are serious about their topics, which range from democracy and freedom to aesthetics and religion.
Sharing ideas with an eye towards a more progressive humanity led dropping knowledge to organize an event on September 9, 2006, called the Table of Free Voices. The result was a round-table discussion with two moderators and 112 participants. This large panel was selected by the dk community, as were the 100 questions posed to them. The result was over 600 hours of recorded discourse.
“The goal of dk is to trigger social change through the internet,” explains Astrid Falter, dk Communications Officer. “Right now we are only at the beginning and it is up to our community to help build and shape dropping knowledge.” Falter says they are on the right track, and are in contact with NGOs (non-government organizations) worldwide to help raise awareness of their work.
dk’s operating principles tell much about the inner workings of the organization. They speak in favor of inclusiveness, public ownership, sharing, transparency, grassroots change, and independence. In a world of double-dealing leaders, mixed messages, and uncertain outcomes, it’s clear dk eats at its own restaurant. The website and forums are open to all citizens of the world; they subscribe to copyleft principles; they actively seek worldwide social change through local activities; they endorse no political action or theory, or commercial enterprise; and they have opened their financial statements (from both Germany and the United States) to the world through the internet.
Also in the spirit of transparency, dropping knowledge is making the 600+ hours of discussions available on its website. Want to read and listen to some of it? Well, put away your credit card—it’s free, and doesn’t come with fifteen minutes of previews for the next Table of Free Voices. Moderated by actor Willem Dafoe and Hafsat Abiola, the Table addressed concerns in eight subfields: Reinventing Economics, Conscious Recognition, Politics of Violence, Understanding Power, The Human Footprint, The New Global Frontier, Innovation Acceleration, and A Perceiving Eye. There was something valuable for everyone with a social consience.
Although there are some calm and sometimes relaxing discussions, in these transcripts you will also read questions like, “Why do so many people in foreign countries that don’t have democracy which are also being oppressed by dictators, get so aggressive against the Western World, which wants to spread our way of life (i.e. not living in fear all the time etc.) ?” One of the answers is from Thenmozhi Soundararajan: “This question made me want to gag buckets. Why? Because this question has so much First World arrogance and privilege put into one sentence, I was incredibly amazed.” Soundararajan goes on to explain her criticism of the question, using rich examples that become a history lesson in a one-paragraph answer. 111 more answers follow, and there are 99 more questions as well. I’ll do the math for you—11,200 answers from progressive, socially conscious individuals. So how much information is embedded in this single event? You read the transcripts and do the math on that one.
Besides making a documentary of the 2006 Table of Free Voices, part of dk’s plans for the future includes organizing another Table and possibly creating a mobile exhibition. Of course, they will continue their current missions of worldwide social dialogue and connecting NGOs for positive social change. As a not-for-profit organization, they continue to seek funding, but also seek new participants and contributors. If you ever had a question or idea about social change, you belong on dropping knowledge—it only takes a minute to log in and drop. 
But while you’re there, don’t forget to pick some up as well.
(Current Standing ~ 3 out of 5)
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November 11th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
An amazing project. I was astonished by the video… the platform for discussion and the overall approach.
November 11th, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Outstanding on so many levels
November 11th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
I wish I was there
November 13th, 2006 at 9:37 am
Wow what an incredible undertaking…the website is amazing too. I love when people/organizations take this kind of wisdom and create a platform for all to benefit from.
November 13th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
I really like how they kept the responses in different languages. It really preserves the meaning/depth of their answers.
November 13th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
I would love to see some small Tables spring up in the U.S. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on activites.