From m Sent Fri, Aug 6th 1999, 02:03
From m Sent Fri, Aug 6th 1999, 02:03
Intereesting points Tom. I also think it's worth considering the pace of the world and how that effects people. While one side of the discussion points out we haven't implemented ideas from 50 or 100 years ago, another aspect of that is we may not really understand how to use the things we already have to their best effect, that the speed with which the world comes at us everyday does not allow for assimilation, for real thinking and reacting to our environment. I think of humans as having basically the same pace today as we did at the dawn of civilization... it is based on our metabolism, the speed at which our brains function, our reaction time, etc., and perhaps this has changed somewhat over time, but by degrees, not factors of ten. For many eons the world outside us was within reach of that human speed, some things were bigger, some were faster, but we were dominant in many ways because of our skills. As we have modified and mechanized our environment, it moves at a speed which has increased significantly over the last, say, 500 years, to the point now where many things are running at a speed magnitudes faster than that old human constant. Is that healthy? Probably not, at least not if we let machines set the pace, and within that context maybe all we can do is recycle and revamp that which we already have at our fingertips. I'm a subscriber to the idea that the basic human mind/situation hasn't changed all that much over time, that we are limited/enabled by our context (which does change A LOT), so I would tend to say that things are much as they ever have been, *IN A RELATIVE SENSE*... BUT... this speed issue seems to me to be something which is truly different now as compared to past ages. How do we change this? Do we have to become ludites and destroy the technology? Would it be enough simply to grasp responsibility for the world instead of surrendering it to technological constraints and spec sheets (...if this computer goes this fast, then so must I)! Do I have too much time on my hands today (YES)? Am I avoiding other things I should be doing (YES!)? Anyway, how does this relate to IDM? Maybe this music facilitates meditation on these issues, restates them in another form. Maybe... it certainly brings them up for discussion! m -- the foundry realaudio samples via: http://www.foundrysite.com/sounds1.html out now... eM <the motor sessions ep> (lmtd. 7"/lmtd. cdr) the foundry <mote> (cd) coming soon... eM remix on <knots> issued on thousand/wmo [out 8/10/99] http://wiremailorder.com/thousand/knots.htm