Comments on: The Age of Interconnectivity http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:46:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chris Marsden http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-196105 Chris Marsden Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:24:37 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-196105 I think one of the things missing from virtual connectivity that is present (at least theoretically) in physical connectivity is some form of accountability to connect. If I don't "go to church" for a couple weeks, someone gives me a call or sends me an email or drops by the store to see how I am doing. If I forget to connect virtually, it is usually several months before anyone stops to ask why. The why may simply be that I got busy and forgot to check in. The why could also be some sort of serious personal problems. Physical connectivity, if it is genuine, forces accountability to the relationship. I don't see a way around that online. I think one of the things missing from virtual connectivity that is present (at least theoretically) in physical connectivity is some form of accountability to connect. If I don’t “go to church” for a couple weeks, someone gives me a call or sends me an email or drops by the store to see how I am doing. If I forget to connect virtually, it is usually several months before anyone stops to ask why. The why may simply be that I got busy and forgot to check in. The why could also be some sort of serious personal problems.

Physical connectivity, if it is genuine, forces accountability to the relationship. I don’t see a way around that online.

]]> By: aaron http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-196035 aaron Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:55:34 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-196035 the need to be known, continually. experience life with one off button at a time! the need to be known, continually.
experience life with one off button at a time!

]]> By: Alex http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-192426 Alex Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:22:05 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-192426 Geoffrey, that's so true. Starbucks was on to something. I think that human disconnectedness will be like a growing pimple on the nose of the Age of Connectivity. The more interconnected we are the greater our sense and experience of disconnection. It's like how getting married can often highlight how lonely a person can be. It is the continual physical proximity of another human being that makes acute our sense of distance from the other. But what makes it acute is the connection. Geoffrey, that’s so true. Starbucks was on to something. I think that human disconnectedness will be like a growing pimple on the nose of the Age of Connectivity. The more interconnected we are the greater our sense and experience of disconnection.

It’s like how getting married can often highlight how lonely a person can be. It is the continual physical proximity of another human being that makes acute our sense of distance from the other. But what makes it acute is the connection.

]]> By: geoffreybaines http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-192395 geoffreybaines Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:07:58 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-192395 Thanks for this, Alex. I see two things side by side - connection and disconnection. Could it be that the greater the disconnectivity the greater the possibilities of connectivity? And this at all kinds of levels? I'm presently enjoying the pictures Leonard Sweet draws in his book 'The Gospel According to Starbucks' in which he speaks about the EPIC life, that is, life which is Experiential, Participatory, Image-rich, and Connective. Starbucks seem to get what many "modern" churches do not. Thanks for this, Alex.

I see two things side by side – connection and disconnection. Could it be that the greater the disconnectivity the greater the possibilities of connectivity? And this at all kinds of levels?

I’m presently enjoying the pictures Leonard Sweet draws in his book ‘The Gospel According to Starbucks’ in which he speaks about the EPIC life, that is, life which is Experiential, Participatory, Image-rich, and Connective. Starbucks seem to get what many “modern” churches do not.

]]> By: JVD http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-191419 JVD Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:05:04 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-191419 Alex - I appreciate your thinking, you always inspire me. JVD Alex – I appreciate your thinking, you always inspire me. JVD

]]> By: David Q http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-191395 David Q Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:06:46 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-191395 Esteban, I think I see where you are coming from, but if you look at what is commonly understood as post-modern, the object (ie. the signified - in this case humanity) would have to be "replaced by" the sign (In this case technology). Simply the merging of the two or blurring of the line does not by itself make this post-modern. In most semiotic discussions on the post-modern there is also an element of appropriation of the past. Take as an example the church integrating more liturgy to bring "homage" to the history of the church. In this example, the only appropriation is of the object itself, no? I am often confused and wrong, so please correct me if I missed your point :) DQ Esteban,

I think I see where you are coming from, but if you look at what is commonly understood as post-modern, the object (ie. the signified – in this case humanity) would have to be “replaced by” the sign (In this case technology). Simply the merging of the two or blurring of the line does not by itself make this post-modern. In most semiotic discussions on the post-modern there is also an element of appropriation of the past. Take as an example the church integrating more liturgy to bring “homage” to the history of the church. In this example, the only appropriation is of the object itself, no?

I am often confused and wrong, so please correct me if I missed your point :)

DQ

]]> By: Esteban http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-191230 Esteban Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:55:55 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-191230 Sorry if I wasn't clear. A traditional world-view would say that there is a clear dividing line between our bodies and the world, and that our humanity is eternal and unchanging. Your view is that the dividing line is not clear (or there isn't such a line) and that the distinction between humans and machines will fade away. That's postmodern! Sorry if I wasn’t clear.

A traditional world-view would say that there is a clear dividing line between our bodies and the world, and that our humanity is eternal and unchanging. Your view is that the dividing line is not clear (or there isn’t such a line) and that the distinction between humans and machines will fade away. That’s postmodern!

]]> By: Alex http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-191240 Alex Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:39:21 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-191240 Esteban, Thanks for the input. So, in your view, "post-modern" is the view that there is no distinction between humans and machines? I'm not feeling that as a feature of the post-modern" framework, but I understand you now. Yes, it is my view that in our "post-human" future some lines are blurred, but I think that you may be losing the distinction between being post-modern and being descriptive. The merging of man with machine will undoubtedly raise questions about what it means to be human. Thanks again. Good stuff. Esteban, Thanks for the input. So, in your view, “post-modern” is the view that there is no distinction between humans and machines? I’m not feeling that as a feature of the post-modern” framework, but I understand you now.

Yes, it is my view that in our “post-human” future some lines are blurred, but I think that you may be losing the distinction between being post-modern and being descriptive. The merging of man with machine will undoubtedly raise questions about what it means to be human.

Thanks again. Good stuff.

]]> By: Alex http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-191213 Alex Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:32:57 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-191213 Esteban, There's a dividing line between our bodies and the world? Where is the dividing line? What does it mean to say humanity is eternal and unchangeable? Are you suggesting that the line between human and machine is only conceptual? If so then perhaps it isn't permanent. Esteban, There’s a dividing line between our bodies and the world? Where is the dividing line? What does it mean to say humanity is eternal and unchangeable? Are you suggesting that the line between human and machine is only conceptual? If so then perhaps it isn’t permanent.

]]> By: Esteban http://alexmcmanus.org/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/comment-page-1/#comment-191181 Esteban Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:40:22 +0000 http://alexmcmanus.org/index.php/2008/07/23/the-age-of-interconnectedness/#comment-191181 It's postmodern because it says or implies that our humanity is not something eternal and unchangeable, but something malleable and up for grabs. It says that the dividing line between our bodies and the world and the conceptual line between human and machine are not permanent, but shifting and a place of struggle. It’s postmodern because it says or implies that our humanity is not something eternal and unchangeable, but something malleable and up for grabs. It says that the dividing line between our bodies and the world and the conceptual line between human and machine are not permanent, but shifting and a place of struggle.

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