Comments on: On cities, hives and human clusters http://www.social-cache.com/2008/06/on-cities-hives-and-human-clusters we deal in uncommon cents. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:44:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Conversations with Lions http://www.social-cache.com/2008/06/on-cities-hives-and-human-clusters/comment-page-1#comment-13418 Conversations with Lions Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:31:43 +0000 http://www.social-cache.com/?p=115#comment-13418 [...] movies as well as integration into Facebook and Twitter. Or, consider for a moment that as this connectivity shrinks the distance between us it will also force us to acknowledge that for most of the world, the interface of the web [...] [...] movies as well as integration into Facebook and Twitter. Or, consider for a moment that as this connectivity shrinks the distance between us it will also force us to acknowledge that for most of the world, the interface of the web [...]

]]> By: Dave Allen http://www.social-cache.com/2008/06/on-cities-hives-and-human-clusters/comment-page-1#comment-235 Dave Allen Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:15:05 +0000 http://www.social-cache.com/?p=115#comment-235 The New York Time <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/business/25exurbs.html?ex=1372132800&en=fe359c7b10eacee2&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink" rel="nofollow">reports on how some are re-considering</a> the suburban dream. Suddenly, the economics of American suburban life are under assault as skyrocketing energy prices inflate the costs of reaching, heating and cooling homes on the distant edges of metropolitan areas. The New York Time reports on how some are re-considering the suburban dream.

Suddenly, the economics of American suburban life are under assault as skyrocketing energy prices inflate the costs of reaching, heating and cooling homes on the distant edges of metropolitan areas.

]]> By: Roy Christopher http://www.social-cache.com/2008/06/on-cities-hives-and-human-clusters/comment-page-1#comment-228 Roy Christopher Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:57:02 +0000 http://www.social-cache.com/?p=115#comment-228 Speaking to part of what you're saying here, Dave, <a href="http://roychristopher.com/james-howard-kunstler-the-city-in-mind" title="My interview with Kunstler from 2002" rel="nofollow">Jim Kunstler</a> also discusses cities invoking a computer systems metaphor, with the networks of the built environment as "hardware" and people's social roles within those networks as "software", but that's where his insight stops. "Computers only assisted predatory corporations in more successfully parasitizing existing value in victimized localities," he wrote. "They were most efficient at sucking the lifeblood out of complex communities" (<i>The Long Emergency</i>, 2006, p. 221). This latter attitude is part of the problem. Every line we draw between what's "natural" and what's "technological" gets crossed (and moved) as our world becomes more and more technologically mediated. Kunstler's line is closer to the forest, and Dave's is closer to the fray, but neither a Heideggerian disdain for all technology (he saw no differentiation between atomic bombs and bridges) nor a gadget-headed geekiness will change the reality of the situation. We shape our tools and our tools shape us, as McLuhan put it. This is my favorite recent quote about our relationship with our technology: <blockquote>We have to find a way to synthesize the rhythms of nature with our electronic lives. A fuzzy-headed, sentimental longing for bucolic utopia will not save us from toxic waste or nuclear weapons. We need a world where we can have both computers and campfires.</blockquote> -- Pat Califia Speaking to part of what you’re saying here, Dave, Jim Kunstler also discusses cities invoking a computer systems metaphor, with the networks of the built environment as “hardware” and people’s social roles within those networks as “software”, but that’s where his insight stops. “Computers only assisted predatory corporations in more successfully parasitizing existing value in victimized localities,” he wrote. “They were most efficient at sucking the lifeblood out of complex communities” (The Long Emergency, 2006, p. 221). This latter attitude is part of the problem. Every line we draw between what’s “natural” and what’s “technological” gets crossed (and moved) as our world becomes more and more technologically mediated. Kunstler’s line is closer to the forest, and Dave’s is closer to the fray, but neither a Heideggerian disdain for all technology (he saw no differentiation between atomic bombs and bridges) nor a gadget-headed geekiness will change the reality of the situation. We shape our tools and our tools shape us, as McLuhan put it.

This is my favorite recent quote about our relationship with our technology:

We have to find a way to synthesize the rhythms of nature with our electronic lives. A fuzzy-headed, sentimental longing for bucolic utopia will not save us from toxic waste or nuclear weapons. We need a world where we can have both computers and campfires.

— Pat Califia

]]> By: Kahley Emerson http://www.social-cache.com/2008/06/on-cities-hives-and-human-clusters/comment-page-1#comment-226 Kahley Emerson Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:16:07 +0000 http://www.social-cache.com/?p=115#comment-226 Very good read. Interestingly eerie from my perspective as someone who spent most of their life in the suburbs of the suburbs of America (Gilbert, AZ) Very good read. Interestingly eerie from my perspective as someone who spent most of their life in the suburbs of the suburbs of America (Gilbert, AZ)

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