On Nov 23, 2005, at 9:59 AM, Steve Watkins wrote: > The most asinine idea ever? Wow I must be getting somewhere :) > > Let me expand on what I meant. For a start the term 'war on text' is > supposed to be tongue in cheek, as the 'War On Terror' is one of the > most stupid things Ive ever come across. > Tongue in cheek or not, not everyone out there seems to realize just how antithetic the entire idea of an armed war against terror really is. By the same token, people could, though probably not, take the "War on Text" seriously, as I said:
>> Really >> the whole idea is needlessly provocative and altogether spooky... > Secondly Im a massive hypocrite on this issue because Ive posted about > million words here over the last year but only 3 videos. But that > doesnt stop me hating the downside of text, such as how > arguments/debates end up going when done via text. Although it's true that there is a much greater tendency to get cruel and personal through text-based arguments. I'd prefer to think that not everyone suffers from this neurosis that results in countless ad hominid attacks, and debates over text can frequently result in a much more comprehensive discussion of the issue than what might be brought up in a a/v conversation. > I dont think your version if history tells the full story because its > missing out the fact of just how many people were and still are > illiterate. That's completely true Steve, but to suggest that the solution is for us to equalize the great divide by abandoning the written language. Oh wait, maybe I suddenly get it... it's almost like dropping white phosphorous on women and children in Fallujah in a war against WMDS. That probably seems harsh, but dude, computers and the internet are obviously just as great a barrier, divider, and unequalizer, and just as strong a tool that threatens to maintain the status quo (although they don't do a good job at keeping people in place, but neither do books.) Yes, the $100 laptop could theoretically change all of this, but Negroponte's project still seems more like a pipe dream to me and wouldn't help those who are functionally illiterate within the US. > In this sense text can be great barrier, a great divider, > a great unequalizer and tool of maintaining the status quo and keeping > people in their place. These sorts of things along with language > barriers make me dream of computers that required no understanding of > the written word in order to be used, quite a challenge, but that no > excuse for the world never trying this stuff. > > I really like this quote from the film 'A Fistful of Dynamite', which > doesnt quite fit this topic but overlaps it a bit in my mind: > > "The people who read the books, they go to the poor people, and they > say "we have to have a revolution". So the poor people go out and make > the revolution. And then the people who read the books, they sit > around the fancy tables and talk. And what has happened to the poor > people ? They are DEAD !!. > And then the whole fucking shit starts all over again. > Dont talk to me about revolutions." > > > OK I dot really want a war on text, as if such a thing was possible. > But I do favour text being used where it works best, and as many > lively discussions as possible taking place via video instead. I am > currently considering whether to throw my hat into the ring of people > using flash comm server (now flash media server) to deliver > interesting video services on the web, I'll do anything to get rid of > the text version of me which I consider to be even more of a nghtmare > than the multimedia version of me lol. > So I basically agree with you here... to the extent that, I think people need to not feel limited to only communicating via text. I think cell phones are starting to change the way people view different mediums. Now that you can send photos and videos to your friends from your phone, I think people are beginning to liberate themselves from only communicating simply with language. That's cool. But for me it's all about finding your voice, not assigning boxes for where text is and is not appropriate. "When they give you lined paper write the other way." -- Juan Ramon Jiminez Josh -- www.joshwolf.net > Steve of Elbows > --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Josh Wolf <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > >> >> War on Text? This is the most asinine idea that I have ever >> encountered. First off, we're talking about a natural evolution that >> will or won't occur whether or not you decide to declare a supposed >> "war on text." Secondly, let's look at this historically, prior to >> the invention of the telephone, people wrote letters and many of >> these letters were quite eloquent; just watch a Ken Burns doc. >> Suddenly the telephone allowed us to communicate instantaneously and >> allowed us to have the banal conversations we have every day even >> when our loved ones were away. This point marks the decline of letter >> writing. Before there was radio and then TV, books were a more >> prevalent form of entertainment, and there is something to be said >> about the literary value of a well-written book that simply isn't >> comparable through video. I can list dozens more reasons why text is >> a valuable part of our culture, and the very fact that you're >> engaging in this dialogue through a written mailing list proves it. >> So please tell me why you want to embark upon a "war on text?" Really >> the whole idea is needlessly provocative and altogether spooky... >> >> Josh >> >> The Revolution Will Be Televised >> www.joshwolf.net >> >> >> On Nov 22, 2005, at 7:56 PM, Joan Khoo wrote: >> >> >>> I'm not so keen on the war on text. Don't get me wrong, I love >>> audio and video as a medium. But I also have a love interest with >>> the written word. As much as I love to watch what everyone else is >>> doing and feeling, sometimes I prefer to let my imagination take >>> hold when reading a text. >>> -Joan >>> >>> >>> >>> On 11/23/05, Lucas Gonze <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On >>> 11/22/05, Jay dedman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> >>>> i keep thinking of my (unborn)kids who will go online and SEE and >>>> >>> HEAR >>> >>>> the world through their computers. Its a real sharing of >>>> consciousness. >>>> >>> >>> Seeing and hearing is a lot closer to the way we think about things. >>> It's easier to absorb what somebody is saying if you can see their >>> face and hands and body language. I mean, there has never yet >>> been a >>> text blog post where the person didn't talk at all, yet people >>> communicate without talking in the real world all the time. >>> >>> I'll be sad when that happens. I love writing and the way that the >>> internet has gotten me to write all the time. I remember when the >>> internet first blew up that I was exercising my writing muscles more >>> than I ever had, but that's not going to be the case when things are >>> mainly seeing and hearing. >>> >>> >>> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -------------------- >>> ~--> >>> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your >>> home page >>> http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/lBLqlB/TM >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> ~-> >>> >>> >>> Yahoo! Groups Links >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> SPONSORED LINKS >>> Individual Fireant Typepad >>> Use >>> >>> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS >>> >>> Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> >>> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of >>> Service. >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> ____________________________________________ >> "We can bomb the world to pieces, but we can't bomb it into to >> peace." >> "Power to the peaceful!" >> >> Spearhead - Bomb the World >> >> > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -------------------- > ~--> > Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your > home page > http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/lBLqlB/TM > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > ~-> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > ____________________________________________ "Don't hate the media, become the media."- Jello Biafra ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/lBLqlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! 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