Blank Spaces - A Manifesto
The origin of fragmented communication and building modern-day Towers of Babel
“Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” - Genesis 11:7
I. The confusion in language began with human ambition.
When God first created the earth, He had a vision for a perfect, good and united world free from sin, darkness and chaos. But man rebelled against God’s perfect rule, seeking to be its own gods and corrupting the goodness that once was.
The fable of the Tower of Babel in the Book of Genesis is just one of the many depictions of the collapse of humanity. God’s people, originally created of one tongue and one language used the gift of shared communication to build a mighty tower to reach the heavens. But because their ambitions were driven by man’s collective ego to make a name for ourselves, it angered God and His ruling power. As punishment, God introduced the confusion of languages, preventing the once united nation to no longer understand each other and complete the work.
The tower was abandoned and the people scattered across the earth, continuing to speak different languages and live in division. The city was later named Babel, meaning confusion in Hebrew, symbolizing the origin of broken communication.
II. The digital era continues to divide us.
Today, we are surrounded by modern representations of the Tower of Babel that stand tall in digital cities, echoing the age-old tale of ambition but division. We’ve built towers and towers of alluring and imaginative technology that struggle to be completed or reach their highest potential because of the curse of ineffective communication.
For builders, this often manifests as jargon or technical language that alienates the majority. Layered with the modern-day complexity of algorithms and code, messages are often distorted and fail to reach the intended audience in a full and coherent manner.
As a result, communication remains fragmented. Code continues to divide. Emerging monuments struggle to progress without a greater community of shared visionaries.
There is a blank space in the communication.
III. Builders are hackers and painters.
In Paul Graham’s essay collection book, ‘Hackers & Painter: Big Ideas from the Computer Age’, the renowned technologist draws a parallel between hackers and painters. Just as artists use pens and paint to create masterpieces, hackers use computers and code to create new programs.
In fact, the cover of the book also uses the imagery of the Tower of Babel to represent the magnificent ambitions of man-made creations. Hackers and painters both possess the visionary qualities needed to build great towers, but fostering collaboration requires embracing the two roles as one. Builders must think like artists, painting in the blank spaces in communication with meaningful context and stories.
By recognizing their works as modern Towers of Babel, builders can identify where communication breaks down and hinders progress. Is it the language used? The presentation? The distribution of messages? Addressing these gaps is essential to advancing their projects.
IV. The blank space is a gift to be filled.
While the diversity of languages first existed as a punishment from God, it is also a gift and reminder to leave our egos at the door. The blank space is an opportunity to communicate the magnificence of our creations and connect beyond language. To advance, we must strive to understand one another through shared stories and emotions.
But we must also be reminded of the core mission and vision of man-made creations. The Tower of Babel failed not just because of fragmented communication, but because it collided with God's vision for a good and righteous world.
What are you building and is it actually good and productive for humanity? If so, how are you communicating it or will it become just another abandoned tower in Babel?
Don’t be a ghost,
o_o