I completely agree. At the same time I can't help wondering what happened to us (as a group of like-minded people), to the hope of a brighter (educational) future through/ linked to technology. Are we letting the neoliberal (mis) appropriation of the internet eat us up?
What about free (as in open)? OK, there ain't free food, but can't we resist the inevitability of denizenship forced upon us? Any room left other outside the stupidity & mediocrity in social media & elsewhere?
I refuse to partying in Auschwitz & likewise as the brave new normal. Do we (at least me) statistical outliers still have a right to dissent? And real critical thinking, not the sales buzzword?
Btw, Alex, I don't know if in line with your dissertation, but I've just come across an article to remote controlled sex toys as the new hype in the online sex market. It reminded me of the old Stelarc intervention, and thought you might be interested. If you are, give me a shout and will crunch up an improved Google translation (in Spanish, sorry).
Leigh, the tiny level of response isn't that surprising. I don't live in Australia, but from what I read (mainly
The Conversation) I gather there are far more pressing issues than a top-down approach trying to look as
community. To a certain extent it seems somewhat outside "the NOW", maybe 1990s or early 2000s (?). I tried to vote for yours, but the web didn't allow me after registering. Besides the very appropriate Virilio (his concept of
vitesse is really to the point), I'd suggest revisiting Baudrillard.
Simulacra are so defining of our times.
Sorry for the rant, dystopic times amidst the noise of frivolous stupidification are literally plunging me into revolution or sticking a finger into some eyes.
Cheers,
Alex P. Real