The pay sucks and there's no room for advancement? Now they tell me... Interesting that this was posted now...I'm working on language for my bio and for a grant application, and I've arrived at the phrase "technology as a catalyst for systemic social change".
I'll add more later, and possibly post something on this to my blog once I've read both of your essays in more detail. Dave. ------------------- Dave A. Chakrabarti Projects Coordinator CTCNet Chicago [EMAIL PROTECTED] (708) 919 1026 ------------------- Andy Carvin wrote: > What Does it Mean to be a Technology Activist? > > Taran Rampersad has just authored an insightful essay on what it means > to be a technology activist. Some highlights: > > "Really - what is a technology activist? This has been something > I've been trying to figure out, as it is presently a primary description > of me... I joked about it, saying that the 'pay sucks' (and it does), > and that there's little room for advancement.... > > "And I still can't quite put a finger on what a technology activist > is. At the end of the day, it's a very broad and ill defined area which > is a bit scarey, because perception might lead people to believe that > technology activism is limited to a select group, when in fact I believe > it isn't. I believe that it's a part of the natural course of technology. > > "For my part, I see it as an issue related to quality of life. I > know that a lot of other people feel the same, though most I do know of > would be categorized as Digital Divide Activists...." > > -------------- > > Taran goes on to say that technology activism in itself is "a pretty > poorly defined area." Generally speaking, he concludes, it means "trying > to bring about change with technology." > > I think that hits the nail on the head. Being a technology activist and > working to bridge the digital divide isn't about putting an Internet PC > so we can grow the market for e-commerce, online gaming or > entertainment.... > > Instead, being a technology activist is something more basic: fostering > equitable access to tools that will improve people's quality of life - > quality as they define it, on their own terms.... > > At its root, it's not about the technology. Being a technology activist > is being a community activist, a social justice activist, a political > activist, an education activist, a development activist. We've got these > amazing tools that are revolutionizing the way we all live, learn, earn > and interact. Shouldn't everyone have the same opportunity to benefit > from these tools, so they too can make a better life for themselves? > > Taran's essay: > http://www.knowprose.com/node/11473 > > My response: > http://www.andycarvin.com/archives/2006/03/what_does_it_mean_to.html > > > > _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
