Re: the computers and isolation blues

[John Walter <walterj@xxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 29 Mar 2001, Kafkaz wrote:

> I don't think you're hearing me, though.  You wouldn't put something like
> Anson's "Distant Voices" into the critique category?  Or Selfe's "The Perils
> of Not Paying Attention"?  I do, and I count all of the lesser-known of such
> critiques in that category, as well.  Thoughtful, careful, balanced things,
> to be sure, but too often heard only by halves, especially among those
> inclined breathlessly to absorb the warnings of the Vonneguts, the Postmans,
> the Birkerts, the Alfred E. Neumans.  That *is* us, I'd argue. 

	Kathy, I am hearing you and you are right. They are us. But as
you, yourself, noted those aren't reaching the people under Vonnegut and
Birkerts's sway. And, what I was specifically reacting to was those
statements here on this list that seemed to want to deny or ignore the
possibility that computers and be isolating as well as connecting
(isolating in the bad sense). Frankly, it started to seem knee-jerkish
to me as Tari continually tried to point out that there are people who
have legitimate concerns and all she'd get was "But that's not my
experience" type responses. And that's what I'm getting at. Early
adopter cheerleading is great. It can be used to bring others on board and
it is wonderful in helping bolster our spirits and form bonds.

	What I'm trying to suggest is that if we are going to address
uncritical critiques of technology use such as Birkerts we need to figure
out why they hold such an appeal for some people. Clearly they have
concerns, some of them even vaild concerns, and if we don't treat them as
such, we're not going to defeat Birkerts and his ilk. Refusal to
acknowledge that computers can be tools of isolation as well as tools for
connection isn't going to convert the fence-sitters let alone convince the
hostile. I know you know this and I know you're doing good work doing just
what I'm talking about. 

John

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