Christoph Reuss wrote:
>
> Since nobody answered Brad's questions to the list, I'll jump in:
>
> On Sun, 04 Feb 2001, Brad McCormick wrote:
> > I forgot Cisco Systems in my list of corporate dependencies of the
> > Internet. I believe that far more than half (perhaps almost all?)
> > of all the "IP packets" (the little bundles of bits that are the building
> > blocks of all Internet communication) go through Cisco routers.
[snip]
> > + What effects if any do you think such dependency or
> > lack of dependency has on the role of the Internet
> > in the lives of middle class and working class persons
> > in the USA, Australia, Canada, etc.?
>
> IMHO the effect is only limited by the amount of time and knowledge that
> a user has at their hands. As it is, most of the potential time is being
> sucked away by the 'old' media and the treadmill (selling one's workforce
> in more or less involuntary activities) -- with the (not unintented) side-
> effect that the large majority is practically *prevented* from discovering
> this fascinating new world, and from realizing the potential of different
> societies/politics, which would enable them to "make a difference" IRL. :-(
>
> So we have the paradox situation that "in theory", people have the
> opportunity to access 'life-changing' information, but "in practice"
> they don't (at least not in sufficient numbers to turn the tide in a
> "democracy"). Not yet ?
[snip]
Chris has asked one of *the* big questions. If production was
only for use value, people would probably long since have
had a lot more free time. But capitalism has kept inventing
new "costs of doing business" that tie up people's time
because making the relevant humanly useless stuff is the only way the
people can earn a living. Currently, the computer industry itself
looks like it is serving this social "purpose", and
much of the "growth" in the past decade has been growth
in the amount of computer work per se.
carpe diem, or crescit eundo (the latter phrase meaning: A process
which grows by feeding on itself)
+\brad mccormick
--
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
<![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED]
914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua NY 10514-3403 USA
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Visit my website ==> http://www.users.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/
