Internet & social control

[pynchonoid]

--- Malignd <malignd at yahoo.com> wrote:
> The criticism is to a different point -- that to
> look
> at the internet and see only a development that
> "promises" social control, is not particularly
> nuanced
> or interesting.  It is also wierdly blind to the
> amazing and positive changes already effected by the
> internet.  

Perhaps Pynchon focuses on the Internet's potential
for social control because so many people make so much
noise about how wonderful the Internet is and do not
look at how it's being abused. 

You've offered no convincing argument that the
Internet is only benign or a boon to humanity.

>It's this that seems to me and others
> cranky.

You, at least. Only undiscerning new technology
boosters and cheerleaders ignore the dangers the
Internet already poses. 

> 
> Numerous arguments have been
> put forth, most speaking to the difficulty, even
> inability, of anyone establishing control over
> something so large, international, and
> decentralized. 

None of these arguments has addressed the fact that
governments -- notably China, and others I've
mentioned in my previous posts -- and corporations do
abuse the Internet. It's already happening, with, as
Pynchon notes, potential for more abuse.  Blindly
asserting that it's not happening -- the head in the
sand approach -- miss the point entirely.




=====
<http://www.pynchonoid.org/>

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