Yes, “[b]ooks (non-fiction) are out of date the day after the book is printed.” I think that, as it becomes faster and easier to exchange information (opinions, information, artefacts) in many different media, our practices are becoming more conversational. We don’t yet have the tools to allow us to converse as naturally as we do when physically co-present. Regarding erasing or revising previously-published text, I am reminded of The WELL, an early online community. They had a rule: that You Own Your Own Words (http://www.well.com/yoyow.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YOYOW, http://goo.gl/aVnZ33). One member used the “scribble” command to erase all of his posts in the community forums — before committing suicide. It’s a very sad story, and one that Katie Hafner wrote about (see links in third link above). Online, we are what we write (or draw, build, etc). We exist to the extent that we upload and share our work. I better go, as I feel a tangent coming on, and this is already too long for a comment. Thanks for an excellent, thoughtful post. The linked articles are very good — especially your piece on “Critical Citizenship for Critical Times”. We desperately need more “intercultural dialogue to widen empathetic understanding of diverse world views”!