tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post6091861301371310680..comments2023-11-02T19:46:44.577+11:00Comments on Fumbling Towards Geekdom: I guess this means I'm an addictStyleyGeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10287051608503966129noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-36419100482503480242006-10-11T08:44:00.000+10:002006-10-11T08:44:00.000+10:00Sorry, Styley. :-)Sorry, Styley. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-91791132228307655422006-10-11T08:43:00.000+10:002006-10-11T08:43:00.000+10:00Jana, my point was not so much about how microwave...Jana, my point was not so much about how microwave ovens were invented (many inventions arise serendipitously), but more about how the internet is so malleable and multifunctional. In allowing us to send data down a phone line, the internet has revolutionised not only communication, but also commerce, media, ideas of community, political organisation, access to information, publishing...and no doubt other things we haven't thought of yet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-81362534253913400202006-10-11T05:07:00.000+10:002006-10-11T05:07:00.000+10:00... particularly since microwave ovens were develo...... particularly since microwave ovens were developed incidentally during the search for the perfect magnetron : http://www.gallawa.com/microtech/history.html<br /><br /><br />You really are going to kill me for being picky, now.Nicolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13330366795341751766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-86885708903591666772006-10-10T12:58:00.000+10:002006-10-10T12:58:00.000+10:00I think you're quite right, Grace. But it makes t...I think you're quite right, Grace. But it makes the game difficult :)StyleyGeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10287051608503966129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-31646256811162104262006-10-10T09:31:00.000+10:002006-10-10T09:31:00.000+10:00I think the point I was fumbling for is that the i...I think the point I was fumbling for is that the internet is a totally contingent invention -- it wasn't invented as the solution to a particular problem, the way say microwave ovens were developed to heat food. The internet's sprung up unexpectedly from a group of other inventions, and we're still finding out all the things we can use it for. The only other recent invention that can compare (that I can think of, anyway) is television.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-68125801951187806792006-10-09T19:05:00.000+10:002006-10-09T19:05:00.000+10:00Bah! You picky people are ruining my game :)
We ...Bah! You picky people are ruining my game :)<br /><br />We could change the rules so that the invention/discovery/improvement doesn't have to be modern.<br /><br />Or if you like, you can imagine that the internet is a naturally occuring substance that we have just found a use for :)StyleyGeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10287051608503966129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-73415938516280557282006-10-09T17:13:00.000+10:002006-10-09T17:13:00.000+10:00Modern plumbing is not really modern -- the ancien...Modern plumbing is not really modern -- the ancient Romans had remarkably sophisticated plumbing. They also had condoms, although they weren't latex.<br /><br />I think there's perhaps an interesting point here about "discovery" versus "invention". Antibiotics are naturally-occuring agents that we have found a very specific use for. Much the same goes for electricity -- we only invented ways of generating and reticulating it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-66356492566559243662006-10-09T16:13:00.000+10:002006-10-09T16:13:00.000+10:00Styley - I don't think antibiotics count. They wer...Styley - I don't think antibiotics count. They were invented in the first half of the last century, so they're not really modern at all.<br /><br />So you can keep the internet!Nicolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13330366795341751766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-31167308939384623662006-10-09T10:55:00.000+10:002006-10-09T10:55:00.000+10:00Oh, condoms. Good point.
I think anything that...Oh, condoms. Good point. <br /><br />I think anything that actually saves a large number of lives is going to beat the internet.StyleyGeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10287051608503966129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-82321857140419026532006-10-09T10:54:00.000+10:002006-10-09T10:54:00.000+10:00I'd rather have internet than refrigeration or mov...I'd rather have internet than refrigeration or movies, but air travel is a tough one. I think I'd still maybe go for internet, but my life wouldn't be so international anymore.StyleyGeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10287051608503966129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-3722746501187789542006-10-09T10:52:00.000+10:002006-10-09T10:52:00.000+10:00condomscondomsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-5668971850017182842006-10-09T09:50:00.000+10:002006-10-09T09:50:00.000+10:00You mean there are uses of computers without the i...You mean there are uses of computers without the internet? :)<br /><br />I would have to agree with you on the plumbing. Nobody can tell you smell on the internet, either.<br /><br />I'm having trouble thinking of anything now that you've taken antibiotics.<br />Maybe aeroplanes, or movies. Either more real life or less...Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09150532491859766021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20717535.post-90408183626699403592006-10-09T09:41:00.000+10:002006-10-09T09:41:00.000+10:00Between the internet/computers and refrigeration, ...Between the internet/computers and refrigeration, I'd probably keep the latter. <br /><br />How about internet vs. air travel?kermitthefroghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15742856153167362749noreply@blogger.com