[iDC] on participation.....

[gadflyproduction at aol.com]

trebor et al,

i, too, have been amongst the "lurking females" (quietly peering at 
male discourse through venetian blinds like isabella roselini in blue 
velvet).  although much of the writing is of interest and keeps me 
abreast of the fomenting dialogue around new media debates, my lack of 
more engaged participation stems, perhaps, from some of the regurgitive 
& highly referential mental masterbation that sometimes surfaces.  the 
theoretical jargon often becomes a thick veil that dead ends healthy 
conversation/dialogue.

secondly, in response to pamela's observation below about lists 
paralleling secret societies, and the need to seek out a more 
synchronous, communication tool for this forum, perhaps we should 
consider moving this dialogue into Second Life. 
(http://secondlife.com/), developed by linden labs.  it would allow for 
more real time, face to face (well, avatar to avatar) inter(re)actions, 
and it might enable us to visually represent some of the more dynamic 
theoretical ideas around autonomy, convergence culture, networked 
public sphere, and even gendered participation.

if this is of interest, let me know, i was at the games for change 
conference recently, showing a new game i'm working on about 
deportation & detention with undocumented youth, and i met the fellow 
who "sells the land" for universities/organizations.

thanks for raising the topic...

heidi j. boisvert




-----Original Message-----
From: pamelaj at andrew.cmu.edu
To: idc at bbs.thing.net
Sent: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:09 PM
Subject: [iDC] on participation.....

   Hello Adriene,

Thank you for the vivid image of water dripping from your body into the
crevices of the keyboard as you type your all too familiar confessional
about your addiction and repulsion to this thing, this phenomenon 
called a
computer.  My aging body is also screaming for release from its 
endlessly
crimped position.  I agree, I also have difficulty making it through 
long
laborious posts, no matter how interesting the topic may be.  Blame it 
on
my 5 second technology induced patience span.

It's not that I don't want to participate in the half dozen or more 
lists
I belong too.  It's just hard to gauge when to jump in and what
committement I must make to fully participate divided by the seemingly
lack of available time in my overcrowded dog-eat-dog academic schedule. 
 I
am but an example of a victim of the successes of our information age -
forever tapping on the webmail refresh button, yet unable to engage.

Furthermore... I often don't know who I'm talking to....  Lists are 
like a
secret society where membership is vast and unknown.

I find it interesting that with all the research and hoopla about new
communication technologies, connecting people, making information more
accessible, opening spaces for dialogue... that we're all trapped in a
world of asynchronous typing.  How can technologies be better used to
support real-time communication...? or at least add more media rich
substance to the world of  asynchronicity???  Whatever happened to the
salon???? How can technologies be used to bring them back into 
fashion...
across cyber distances?

Okay... I fear that I am forcing my own self indugent diatribe on 
others.
So I'll stop to say... it's great to see messages from people I havent'
seen or spoken to in years....

regards,

Pamela
************************************************************
Pamela Jennings, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Art | Human Computer Interaction Institute
Carnegie Mellon University

phone: 412.268.5273 (office) | 412.867.8166 (cell) |  412.268.7817 (fax)
pamelaj at andrew.cmu.edu | http://studio416.cfa.cmu.edu






> There are probably a few more things, but I'm finding it hard to
continue even now as I have a meeting in 20 mins at a coffee shop down 
the
street & I'm still naked and dripping wet from my shower. Thanks Laura,
again, for allowing your voice to come through your post, which made me
feel like there might be a space for mine... Adriene

> http://www.specflic.net





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