Here's a very interesting piece on the future of computers and information space. Non technical, but obviously written by someone who knows what they are talking about. It's called a manifesto, but I always use the ridiculous phrase 'intuition pump' to describe writing like this. It doesn't go into detail, it just gives enough shape to get you thinking. I agree with almost everything, especially number 20. (from eatonweb)
This is good, genuinely visionary stuff. Funny thing is, I remember Gelernter as a NY Post columnist. They printed him in '98 and '99, having discovered him, I think, due to the Unabomber business. He provided commentary on education, bureaucracy, the military, etc, with a supposedly "conservative" slant. Of course, the Archaic Revival can also be called conservative, but I don't think the Post would embrace its values. Which goes to show how simplifying complex matters distorts things, and separates potential allies. I don't think I've seen Gelernter in the Post over the last year; now I'm wondering whether one or both of the parties became disenchanted with the other. Seems like they'd both have reason to. A good idea in the wrong hands can be more dangerous than any bad idea.
Here's an index to the Post columns.
thanks i savef this too read later--appreciate
all hail the reality club. thankfully there were some other minds on board to add their voices to the choir. i found his reasoning opaque and his metaphors murky. then again, im no information architect. interesting that he was one of the unabomber targets. i wonder how thats affected his pov not with regards to this piece, just in general.
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- jim 6-20-2000 3:38 pm
This is good, genuinely visionary stuff. Funny thing is, I remember Gelernter as a NY Post columnist. They printed him in '98 and '99, having discovered him, I think, due to the Unabomber business. He provided commentary on education, bureaucracy, the military, etc, with a supposedly "conservative" slant. Of course, the Archaic Revival can also be called conservative, but I don't think the Post would embrace its values. Which goes to show how simplifying complex matters distorts things, and separates potential allies. I don't think I've seen Gelernter in the Post over the last year; now I'm wondering whether one or both of the parties became disenchanted with the other. Seems like they'd both have reason to. A good idea in the wrong hands can be more dangerous than any bad idea.
Here's an index to the Post columns.
- alex 6-20-2000 5:43 pm
thanks i savef this too read later--appreciate
- Skinny 6-23-2000 1:50 pm
all hail the reality club. thankfully there were some other minds on board to add their voices to the choir. i found his reasoning opaque and his metaphors murky. then again, im no information architect. interesting that he was one of the unabomber targets. i wonder how thats affected his pov not with regards to this piece, just in general.
- dave 6-23-2000 5:40 pm