Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Messenger God

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  • Sacha,

    Nice topic. Our Hermes of human form include the likes of Pellegrino Turri, inadvertent inventor of the CC in email a couple of centuries ago.

    What motivated him to create the first typewriter, along with carbon paper? The desire to communicate with his blind lover. I'm confident you can find something lyrical in that.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Hermes in later developments became part of the gnostic tradition. A simplified catchphrase might be an introspective 'know thyself' Today en masse we are a miserable failure at that. Just a lot of noise, talking past each other.

    What are the implications of the buzzing, constant, real-time world in which we now live?

    depends who's giving off the loudest, and to my ear, the most insidiously annoying 'buzz'

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Rort irony...

    What kind of world has Hermes wrought?

    Divine devicesolation?*


    *a nominative neologism...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    What kind of world has Hermes wrought?

    A place where we have little time to think about how we could/should reply.

    2013: Milliseconds to anywhere in the world

    1950: 7 days for Air Mail to London. 7 days back.

    1913: Hours to get a telegram to London…..maybe….

    1860: 3 months+ for a letter to get to Britain. 3 months+ back.

    1769: 3 years to get around the world …..and no one knows…..

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ross Mason,

    A place where we have little time to think about how we could/should reply.

    That is a good observation. How many of our communications problems stem from the closing window of time to reflect?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • diversitynz,

    "The debate over copyright is really a battle between the innate interests of two of Hermes’ works; communications and commerce."

    And then, as if that battle weren't fraught enough, he added the complex contradiction of Creative Commons...

    Since Dec 2006 • 28 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason, in reply to Russell Brown,

    How many of our communications problems stem from the closing window of time to reflect?

    Ummm.....all of them that are further away than face to face chit chat?

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    I think we're still figuring out conversational norms and etiquette for the internet.

    It's not like we don't shoot our mouths off sometimes in face-to-face conversation. There's no preview and no delete! Although apologies, retractions or explanations can be immediate, rather than days-long.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Lilith __,

    I think we’re still figuring out conversational norms and etiquette for the internet.

    We have got way better at it, though. I remember the years when internet use was ramping up, and people had not yet learned to breathe before writing their emails. Yikes.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I remember the years when internet use was ramping up, and people had not yet learned to breathe before writing their emails. Yikes.

    I still know some people like that. I'm creating a folder called 'dinosaurs' especially for them.

    And I never reply.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Sacha,

    These might interest you Sacha

    1843 the invention of the fax machine
    1928 the invention of the video disc
    1948 the invention of the first video game.
    1979 the invention of the personal digital audio player.

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Augusta Grayson,

    As modern technology has become increasingly mobile, the opportunity to communicate is almost constant. Given that digital and real worlds are now inextricably linked, how has it impacted on our physical ability to communicate and interact with one another? I was talking to a friend last night who was lamenting the days when people would talk to each other on a train ride, instead of all staring intently at their mobile screens. You could also argue that it has helped to enrich those moments with access to better conversations than you would get on a train in Auckland however...

    Auckland • Since May 2013 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Augusta Grayson,

    I was talking to a friend last night who was lamenting the days when people would talk to each other on a train ride, instead of all staring intently at their mobile screens.

    My experience of pre-mobile-phone public transport is people staring into space without making eye contact. Not much of a loss.

    I do wonder how much always checking a phone absents you from your surroundings, though. I intentionally have my phone set up for voice and txt only, so I'm not tempted to carry the internet around with me.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Lilith __,

    My experience of pre-mobile-phone public transport is people staring into space without making eye contact. Not much of a loss.

    Or reading, particularly on the train. Which is what those people are doing with their phones, yes? And not everyone wants to talk to strangers on public transport, particularly women. Being able to use a phone and headphones as a tacit 'leave me alone' is occasionally very handy.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yikes.

    saucy sext meant for wife accidentally sent to the boss...Who could have imagined that the alphabetical order plus quick fingers could wreak such havoc.

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I am still disconcerted by people seemingly talking (loudly) to no one in particular in public. My mother used to tell me that could be a sign of mental stability.

    I have been known to go up to loud talkers (those with ear implants) and say, 'Excuse me but I don't wish to hear nor share your conversation ". Or is it just a matter of changing public etiquette?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Graham Dunster, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It's not the writing, it's the sending...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2009 • 184 posts Report Reply

  • Graham Dunster,

    _My experience of pre-mobile-phone public transport is people staring into space without making eye contact. Not much of a loss._

    Cross words.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2009 • 184 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Oops...'instability'

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Graham Dunster,

    My experience of pre-mobile-phone public transport is people staring into space without making eye contact. Not much of a loss.

    Cross words.

    Who's cross? Just an observation. It's what most people will do if stuck at close quarters with strangers.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    I am still disconcerted by people seemingly talking (loudly) to no one in particular in public.

    Handsfree technology makes it nearly impossible to tell who's mad and who's just on the phone. ;-)

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Lilith __,

    handy both ways :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Graham Dunster, in reply to Lilith __,

    nah, those collections of squares in newspapers. Possibly I was attempting to be too oblique...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2009 • 184 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    My mother used to tell me that could be a sign of mental stability.

    Who, you or them?

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Oblique is for the chess puzzles. You were being cryptic :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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