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From: eugene@pioneer.arpa (Eugene Miya N.)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Re: Why can't WE change society?
Message-ID: <1164@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM>
Date: Sat, 5-Dec-87 23:37:13 EST
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Posted: Sat Dec  5 23:37:13 1987
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Gerry Gleason replies to my posting (not Joel Jennings, as Gerry noted):

>> Many things are done constructively, it's just that you are impatient
>> with people because they don't react as fast as interactive systems.
>> You just need some perspective (the study of history).
>
>...Eric Drexler discusses this issue in _Engines_of_Creation_.

I have not become a convert to Mr. Drexler's way of thinking.  I should
get a copy of his book and read it.  From what I know currently, he
does not impress me.

> Yes, computer phobia is a problem, but this is going away quickly as
> young people grow up with computers.  They will soon be as ubiquitous
> (more?) as the telephone is now.  As for the network not being a database,
> you are right, but this is why I think the development of hypertext is
> so important.  It will fix this problem.

Phobia: I was walking out the door when just as I was turning the
TV off (from the news) there was this show about touring the country.
They interviewed a buckeroo (a cowboy) in Nevada: surpise!  It near
an area where friends live [near Elko Nev. and the Ruby Mountains], so I
listen.  They ask this 37 year-old buck what's on his mind: Persian Gulf and
Computers.  Here's a guy who fears them.  (Has 3 kids.)  He wants to
raise cattle, not be told by some machine that he would get a more
efficient yield, etc.  I could say more, but I think we have to find
these people as a resource and here what they have to say.

I agree with ubiquity, but I don't believe in quick fixes.
Notecards is a much better system than many other hypertext systems,
but too few people use it.  Let's not overinflate the importance
of a tool until it's gained winder acceptance.

I made a comment in a personal note to Dave which he posted by mistake
(that's okay Dave).  What's neat about computers is that they remove
cues about the physical character of people: skin, religious biases,
physical handicaps.  One of my all time favorite Usenix talks was a talk
about DEAFNET.  Networks keep that part of our intellect and removing
many of our bias cues.  We need more of this in the real world; how?
that's a good question.

Eugene