Reading questions (1/26)

1. In the "Geek Chorus" article, it is suggested that people participating in backchannel conversations are not showing a proper level of respect to the speaker(s). Considering learning styles of the audience members, what alternative explanations for this behavior could exist?
   
   
2. The O'Reilly "What is Web 2.0?" article discusses in detail how some successful Internet ventures provide services that add value to existing databases of information. In the case of Amazon, they started their database with an ISBN database traditionally used by bookstores and libraries and added new books onto it. For recordkeeping purposes, they created an ASIN number that is equal to the ISBN number if it exists, but otherwise is a unique Amazon identifier code. Does Amazon therefore employ "virtual librarians," and if they do, what might their jobs look like?