Henceforth, artistic integrity should be judged, not by one s classic bohemian seclusion from satanic mills and the grasping bourgeoisie, but by what one creates and gives away. That is the only scale of noncommercial integrity that makes any sense now. Freedom has to be won, and, more importantly, the consequences of freedom have to be lived. You do not win freedom of information by filching data from a corporate warehouse, or begging the authorities to kindly abandon their monopolies, copyrights and patents. You have to create that freedom by a deliberate act of will, think it up, assemble it, sacrifice for it, make it free to others who have a similar will to live that freedom.
Ivory towers are no longer in order.
We need ivory networks. Today, sitting quietly and thinking is the world s greatest generator of wealth and prosperity. Moguls spend their lives sitting in chairs, staring into screens, and occasionally clicking a mouse. Though we didn t expect it, we re all on the same net. We no longer need feudal shelters to protect us from the swords and torches of barbarian ignorance.