Article April 24, 1995 Issue

Instantaneous global communications have given all of us a window...

John Naisbitt

Global paradox

Form Global paradox by John Naisbitt

Instantaneous global communications have given all of us a window on the world through which can be seen both the wonder of it all and the things that makes us wonder about it all. Throughout history there have pushed the walls of the ethical envelope to the breaking point. Persecution, "ethnic cleansing," bribery, swindles, and scandals are hardly, unique to this century.

In the past, however, when unethical conduct was revealed, citizens of the aggrieved community imposed sanctions and instituted systems to ensure that others were discouraged form similar actions. For the most part, knowledge of such situations was contained by the limits of communication technologies. Ignorance was bliss, or at least a viable excuse for not taking action. By the middle of the 20th century, news of events around the world reached our doorstep in a matter of days. Today, we watch events unfold in real time. It is far more difficult to ignore known situation in which ethical or moral standards are compromised. ...

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