I’d really say that s/m stuff is done with web tech rather than because of it – so while it’s really useful for me to know as much as possible about web stuff it’s not a prerequisite. I like to dabble, so I have much more cross over than some s/m who are more users rather than creators of tech.

Can’t agree with this tho: “Web developers are not interested in reading discussing the Big City Plan.” – I mean surely web developers can be interested in discussion about their environment (or anything else that interests them – including web dev) with social media tools. What they are within their rights to do, if they wish, is only take a partial interest in the social theory and user path and community theories of use of s/m tools – their work may be better if they do, but they don’t have to in the way that not all s/m people can code a jot.

The overlap is where the cool edge-case stuff happens, but it’s the result of two disciplines clashing rather than merging (they’ll probably get further apart yet)

I can see the difference between these two industries, but like you point out, there is most certainly a benefit to be garnered from co-operation and understanding.

Hopefully the connection will strengthen in the coming years and this will be one of the things that enhances our community.