Comments on: “A very different kind of multiple world theory, where the same sad little world is made over and over again.” http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/ Palmer, CL. “Structures and strategies of interdisciplinary science.” JASIS 50(3): 242-253, 1999 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:15:46 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jason http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2355 Jason Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:35:51 +0000 http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/#comment-2355 The third paragraph in Mark's comment actually touches on a problem I have with all the hype over Web 2.0 and its various manifestations. I don't have a problem with Web 2.0 per se, especially since it has provided many people (including myself) with opportunities to express themselves in ways that would have been impossible before. However, the way some people talk about Web 2.0, one would think that humanity has entered a whole new age where anyone can be "person of the year." Even though more people can express themselves to a much broader audience, Web 2.0 has yet to bring an end to a number of problems in the non-digital realm. It might help, but it has a long way to go. If I have my nomenclature right, I see a big irony in all this. Putting it crudely, Web 2.0 sounds like a kind of "communistic" realm, but we function in a "capitalistic" realm that can encroach on creative works in Web 2.0. (And as Jenny Diski points out, capitalism is alive and well in Second Life.) I'm not necessarily saying that it's bad, depending on individual cases. However, we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that Web 2.0 has changed society at other fundamental levels. Needless to say, I have been struggling with the tensions between Web 2.0 "communism" and real world "capitalism," which is why I haven't expounded on it in my own blog. Perhaps someone smarter than me knows what I'm getting at. (Regarding Walt's comment about Texas... we probably spend more than Californians because it gets so danged hot here. Unfortunately, too many places go overboard with air conditioning in the summer, and one has to bring a coat to some public places.) The third paragraph in Mark’s comment actually touches on a problem I have with all the hype over Web 2.0 and its various manifestations. I don’t have a problem with Web 2.0 per se, especially since it has provided many people (including myself) with opportunities to express themselves in ways that would have been impossible before. However, the way some people talk about Web 2.0, one would think that humanity has entered a whole new age where anyone can be “person of the year.” Even though more people can express themselves to a much broader audience, Web 2.0 has yet to bring an end to a number of problems in the non-digital realm. It might help, but it has a long way to go.

If I have my nomenclature right, I see a big irony in all this. Putting it crudely, Web 2.0 sounds like a kind of “communistic” realm, but we function in a “capitalistic” realm that can encroach on creative works in Web 2.0. (And as Jenny Diski points out, capitalism is alive and well in Second Life.) I’m not necessarily saying that it’s bad, depending on individual cases. However, we shouldn’t fool ourselves into thinking that Web 2.0 has changed society at other fundamental levels. Needless to say, I have been struggling with the tensions between Web 2.0 “communism” and real world “capitalism,” which is why I haven’t expounded on it in my own blog. Perhaps someone smarter than me knows what I’m getting at.

(Regarding Walt’s comment about Texas… we probably spend more than Californians because it gets so danged hot here. Unfortunately, too many places go overboard with air conditioning in the summer, and one has to bring a coat to some public places.)

]]> By: walt crawford http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2343 walt crawford Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:04:08 +0000 http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/#comment-2343 Jacob, Mark, I haven't seen those figures, but I'm not surprised. I had the same reaction when I was reading, once again, that we're all going to spend big bucks to totally automate everything in our homes, so they're all interconnected and your stove can interrupt your TiVo viewing to tell you dinner's ready. With, of course, a household server or two running this all--and EVERYTHING having idle current, not just your TV and computer and microwave. The results absolutely have to be considerably more overall power consumption...but this doesn't seem to bother anyone. [OK, I'm a native Californian--and Californians have been practicing energy conservation for a while. According to one recent report, the average Californian consumes half the electricity of the average Texan.] Jacob, Mark, I haven’t seen those figures, but I’m not surprised. I had the same reaction when I was reading, once again, that we’re all going to spend big bucks to totally automate everything in our homes, so they’re all interconnected and your stove can interrupt your TiVo viewing to tell you dinner’s ready. With, of course, a household server or two running this all–and EVERYTHING having idle current, not just your TV and computer and microwave. The results absolutely have to be considerably more overall power consumption…but this doesn’t seem to bother anyone.

[OK, I'm a native Californian--and Californians have been practicing energy conservation for a while. According to one recent report, the average Californian consumes half the electricity of the average Texan.]

]]> By: Mark http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2331 Mark Tue, 06 Feb 2007 01:43:22 +0000 http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/#comment-2331 Yes, Jacob, I have seen some things recently on the energy usage of Second Life (and I have no doubt WoW and similar) and it is simply incredible! But damn it! This is the Western world and we can do whatever we want with the world's resources cause, like, well, we're the bosses, or something. I mean if all those people with no clean water, or without food, or no energy to heat their hovels would just get a Second Life then the world would be a better place. Maybe I'm being a tad harsh, but it completely baffles me how so many (intelligent/educated) people can think the world is made up of so many completely disconnected things. Yes, Jacob, I have seen some things recently on the energy usage of Second Life (and I have no doubt WoW and similar) and it is simply incredible!

But damn it! This is the Western world and we can do whatever we want with the world’s resources cause, like, well, we’re the bosses, or something.

I mean if all those people with no clean water, or without food, or no energy to heat their hovels would just get a Second Life then the world would be a better place.

Maybe I’m being a tad harsh, but it completely baffles me how so many (intelligent/educated) people can think the world is made up of so many completely disconnected things.

]]> By: Jacob http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2326 Jacob Mon, 05 Feb 2007 23:14:02 +0000 http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/#comment-2326 Fernando observed during a break in class last week that 2nd life "virtual" people actually consume more real resources than human beings. Scary, huh? Fernando observed during a break in class last week that 2nd life “virtual” people actually consume more real resources than human beings. Scary, huh?

]]> By: Get a (First) Life! « Thus Spoke Pragmatic Librarian http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2325 Get a (First) Life! « Thus Spoke Pragmatic Librarian Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:22:34 +0000 http://marklindner.info/blog/2007/02/03/a-very-different-kind-of-multiple-world-theory-where-the-same-sad-little-world-is-made-over-and-over-again/#comment-2325 [...] 5th, 2007 at 9:18 pm (Web 2.0, Virtual reality) Via Mark Linder’s blog, I found links to a satirical website called Get a First Life, as well as a London Review Bookshop [...] [...] 5th, 2007 at 9:18 pm (Web 2.0, Virtual reality) Via Mark Linder’s blog, I found links to a satirical website called Get a First Life, as well as a London Review Bookshop [...]

]]>