Received: from imsd-exchange.nrc.ca (imsd-exchange.nrc.ca [132.246.160.7]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.7.6/8.7.3/CNS-4.0p) with SMTP id KAA07290 for ; Thu, 21 Nov 1996 10:57:49 -0700 (MST) Received: by imsd-exchange.nrc.ca with SMTP (Microsoft Exchange Server Internet Mail Connector Version 4.0.994.63) id <01BBD7AB.995080F0@imsd-exchange.nrc.ca>; Thu, 21 Nov 1996 12:57:49 -0500 Message-ID: From: "Vandervoort, Dan" To: socgrad discussion Subject: re: tribalism Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 12:55:00 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Thanks for the reference to the article in _Wired_ Danny. It may be true that ideology is not being shaped by any single entity on the internet, but there is a real limitation on people's ability to express themselves in a way that reflects their unique identity. This is mostly due to the huge American influence in the structure and organization of networks, software, etc. As a simple example, we can see this limitation in the dominating use of the english language and development of tools to further this reality. While this admittedly may not reflect an indoctrination per se, it could be at least a source of frustration for many users. More info on this topis is found in an essay on de Kerckhove's program at the McLuhan Centre for tech and culture studies. Sorry i can't remember the exact URL, but it can be accessed through the UofT home page at I don't buy de Kerckhove's idealism about the future of our networked society. He believes it will be the realiztion of Marx's dream to empower the consumer/worker with the tools and means of production. This is one potential direction we could follow, but there are many others good and bad that are just as likely including replicating existing the social structure. Throughout the interview de Kerckhove makes massive overgeneralizations like when he says "that everybody is aware that none of these media [T.V., etc] are invisible anymore". Here I offer the oft cited reality check that half of the people in this world have not made a phone call, so his 'everybody' is in need of more than a little refining. Techno-utopians like him too often discuss new media with an ethnocentric bias. There is, however, a great potential for community building and information sharing that may not have been possible previously. Although, when de Kerckhove speaks of reshaping identities, some caution should be employed. He believes the "core business of self remains" on the Web. I'd be interested to know more about what exactly he means by that statement, but to me extending yourself "all over the planet by electronic extensions" will have an impact on self perception in addition to creating the flexible, 'virtual' identities he applauds. For those who are interested, the article is found at URL dan