Apparently a new online project is aiming to empower people in Peterborough. Seems like a good idea to me, seeing as I living and raising a family there when I’m not in London or on a train in between.

Only thing is, so far it has 19 members, with about 5 listed as being in Peterborough, or even relatively nearby (e.g. Cambridge). That bodes well. Better to be empowered by a bunch of people at least 50 minutes away by train rather be ruled by a Government 50 minutes away by train.

I’m also a bit worried that the first I heard of it was actually through the always good Johnnie Moore’s Weblog, who had picked it up from Kevin Harris. So the empowerment of my home town is taking place on a Ning-powered social networking site, and the only reason I ever knew it was happening was because a London-based person I follow because of his marketing knowledge mentioned it?

No wonder their Social Media project has 5 members and no activity in the last 10 days.

So if I’ve only found it via an obscure link, apparently missing a Peterborough event 12 days ago, and I spent about 10 hours+ every day on websites, social networks, blogs and RSS feeds, how in the name of chuff will anyone else find it?

Apparently I must have missed the launch at a VIP in London of this two-year partnership by the RSA and Arts Council East to

‘be made up of a number of programmes based around the arts and social change, an area-based learning curriculum, a sustainable citizenship campaign, user-centred drug services and the use of online social media.’

All very laudable, but:

I love social media. I work in social media. I try to aid my colleagues and organisation in effectively using social media.

Do we need a programme to get people in Peterborough using social media?

Nope.

If you want to do something to improve engagement, involvement and enjoyment in Peterborough it shouldn’t involve social media. People who aren’t in marketing don’t even know wtf social media is, let along feel like they want citizen empowerment through it.

They might use Facebook, or Twitter (I bet @simoncollister and @pjeedai might have some interesting views on this as fellow Peterboroughians)

But if you want involvement they should be able to get involved by throwing a note wrapped round a housebrick if needs be. Or at least use SMS that most people from 5-65 understand. Or Facebook, seeing as most of the online population are on it, know about it, and trust it.

I’m sure it’s all very lovely, and has wonderful ideals behind it, but I’m not sure an interdisciplinary arts event would be the natural thing we might be crying out for in the Fens. How about something which might attract the interest of the 17-year-old lads riding round on scooters of an evening, bored out of their mind, for example? Or letting me SMS to organise the bins to be collected when they’re actually full, for crying out loud. Let people make a practical change!

There are huge possibilities for social networks to empower people, but if it starts like this, don’t be surprised if a grumpy bloke with a crash helmet avatar signs up and starts being critical, now he’s found the bloody thing.