November 21, 2004
linklube: john husband’s wirearchy
Just added a new name to my blogroll: Jon Husband’s “Wirearchy”.
Been meaning to add him for a while. His whole “Social Architecture For The Wired World” schtick I find absolutely fascinating. Stuff like this:
…This was followed by a quaint social and not-quite-commercial phenomenon called the dot.com boom.…
…But it wasn’t quite the right mix of ideas and capabilities yet … the sociology hadn’t yet caught up to the possibilities that seemed clear and accessible. Thus, there was a dot.com bust.
And the old fogeys who were the proprietors and the custodians of the fortresses wiped their brows, saying “whew, that was close” … and cracked the whip. Back to busyness, everybody … and don’t get any smart ideas like that again … you’re here to work for us.
The “So tell me…” cartoon above is there for a reason. Sure, I would say that me and a large percentage of my readers are people who get more excited than most about “The New Realities”. Hence why reading stuff from people like Jon or Doc or Jeff or Mary is such a treat for us.
Yet as a former New Yorker, I know that in spite of all these changes, a lot of old social hierarchies will remain. Metaphorically, we’ll still have to kiss the maitre-d’s ass to get a decent table. Metaphorically, we’ll still have to wear Rolex watches in order to get the girl to go home with us. Metaphorically, we’ll still have to prositute ourselves on Madison Avenue in order to pay for the co-op on East 61st.
The Big New York Question, “What can you do for me?” isn’t going anywhere. Heh.
“Yet as a former New Yorker, I know that in spite of all these changes, a lot of old social hierarchies will remain. Metaphorically, we’ll still have to kiss the maitre-d’s ass to get a decent table. Metaphorically, we’ll still have to wear Rolex watches in order to get the girl to go home with us. Metaphorically, we’ll still have to prositute ourselves on Madison Avenue in order to pay for the co-op on East 61st.”
Yes, yes, assuming these things still have value for us. But if we start rocking the little Argentinean joint around the corner or digging on the chick who doesn’t care f**k-all for what we wear/drive/own or living somewhere else, imagine the possibilities.
As one who took ten. full. years. to dispose of her book & reel, I truly believe you cannot grab on to something new when you’re holding on tight to something old.
I mean, I like a fine, single-malt scotch as much as the next girl but that’s what Trader Joe’s is for.
Yeah, like Colleen said. And jump before they kick you off. The balance beam’s a razor anyway.
Wow. I’ve been looking for that cartoon I’d want on my blogcards, and I think this is it.
Any chance you’re adding some new designs in the future?
–Nick
Second on the blogcard! I’ll order this one on the spot.
I’m with Colleen. So what about the old order –they can keep their maitre d’. There’s a parallel universe and it’s big enough to get lost in and play in and create in and it’s more fun to boot.
Thanks for the mention, Hugh.
“They” aren’t sending out crews to take down the ‘Net (yet), and it seems obvious to me that lots of smart and engaged people connected to each other are creating new pathways for connection, and for getting things done.
Yes, hierarchies aren’t going anywhere either, but these new ways are creating some pressures. As Ming the Mechanic displays prominently on the header of his blog … “An old rigid civilization is reluctantly dying. Something new, open and free is waking up”.
“Open and free” is often a euphemism for “Holy Crap, I am really poor!”
“Metaphorically, we’ll still have to kiss the maitre-d’s ass to get a decent table.”
lol made me immediately think of the scenes from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off where he’s paying the garage guy a “5 spot” to take good care of the classic Ferrari, and then goes on to the ritzy restaurant and plays his way into a respected table from the maitr-d there.
Concerning the cartoon — maybe I’m meeting the wrong people, but it seems they should be lying to me, as they tend to be as boring as they come. make me laugh, make me want to hear more, make me something! make me want to stay and talk a little longer! As it is, I’d rather hurry off the train and get to some mind numbing work already…bad sign methinks…
“Open and free” is often a euphemism for “Holy Crap, I am really poor!”
Indeed … he
And then there’s timing … as always. We all work way too freakin’ hard sometimes to figure “it” out. I’ve always found it interesting that some companies and people have made out really well wrapping knowledge and service, etc. around open source … and I suspect the jury’s still out about music.
Anyway, we can’t ignore the “who knows who”, and we also can’t ignore the “who knows what and is linked”. As Doc is fond of saying, seems like one of those “both/and” things.