So over the past couple of days I’ve really been wondering whether or not a blog actually has an active role in discussion/conversation. Most people use a blog as a place to say what they want hoping (sometimes) that other people might hear. People also just say/write (I suppose writing is a more accurate term) what they want because it is an active release.
But then there are blogs that almost act as forums… ideas are put forward and comments are written with continual rebuttals and such. Now to me, this formula or concept of a blog seems to be a much more idealistic and academic pursuit of a blog. So what are we doing with blogs? Pursuing knowledge through discussion and debate or putting things onto the Internet thinking that maybe one day they might get seen?
I suppose we could be doing all of this but really I’m curious to know if all of this is going somewhere. If Internet debate will eventually lead to some form of higher thought and evolution in mankind through technology. Isn’t technology supposed to be aiding us in that? The goal of technology as Pavel put it was to create infinitely self-reproducing technology, but why do we want self-reproducing technology? Is it so that we don’t have to think anymore? Where would self-automated technology that can spawn itself get us? Would it lead to a world where humans are purely leisurely beings unless they choose to be? If higher thought (mathematically and scientifically and maybe one day artistically?) is achieved by machinery that thinks on its own, what are we good for? This seems like a really silly “rantesque” thing right now, but I am hoping that I have put forth some things that other people will be interested in.

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January 16, 2007 at 12:22 am
myrab
Perhaps you are thinking about this 2 ways. One the personal, and one the technical. Let’s start with the technical… I am sure you know all about the concept Web 2.0 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2) and I think that second part of your quandry deals with the limitaitons of current technology… Maybe as we start to move to the concept of 3.0 (I know something that is currently under debat as to what the next extension of the web can be) There will answers to whether the act of blogging is recreational or academic.
Secondly, and more personally, right now, the blog can be anything you want it to be. You are the defining parameters. Make it academic, persue knowledge. Don’t worry what some tween is doing in Idaho. Instead, just do you.
Love the Delicious links. Think I am listening to some berkjeley webcasts before I go to bed tonight.
Best
Myra
January 18, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Pavel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap_Project
Sean, here is something that might be relevant… though in this case is technology.
January 21, 2007 at 12:57 am
dyroff
Well, why can’t the technical be the personal? I mean if technology and humans are eventually going to be convening in a great birth of technological humans that can self replicate or even if they can reach the point of personal evolution, where the individual can evolve over their lifetime (not in the normal means) but in the self realization manner. What I think I’m talking about is the point where individuals can see themselves or understand every decision and moment in their life. Perhaps that is kind of a strange concept, but it seems like a very desirable and logical concept.
Being able to realize the consequences of one’s actions is how we attribute maturity in people, but what if we could consistently do it and further than the normal bounds. Macro-realization in micro-situations?
I feel like I’m babbling, so maybe I’ll go back to Web 3.0.01… where academic and recreation and technological all become one into the realization of a person’s self. That is what I want.
January 21, 2007 at 11:07 pm
myrab
So how are you going to make Web 3.0.01 happen. I will show a link on Monday from Pavel which might say that it is sooner than you think.
MBG