Did I just use "Web 2.0" in a sentence? It must have been for search engine optimization... yeah, that's it.

Pundits and prophesiers are all besides themselves with the latest cyber-buz word making the rounds, "Web 2.0." Usage of the term has become so popular, it's as if people believe dropping it affords instant credibility... even I'm doing it.

In reality, there is no such thing as "version two" of the web. You see, since before Netscape was a gleam in Mark Andreesen's eye, user-generated content and interactive tools were at the core of what the Internet would become. The user-centric mindset inspired a myriad of new technologies, drove growth, and gave birth to a uniquely new global culture.

"The online culture is one of collaboration, driven by the ethics of sharing."

That simple statement is the key to understanding the culture. It will help you know how to engage users. It will help you recognize enticing content. It will help you to be part of the culture. And I can guide you (if only I could stop saying "Web 2.0").