The "I Didn't Comment in Another Thread" Thread

[dragoner]

Its funny how all those books and films are actually quaint, while today so much of the world lives in misery.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I seem to recall actually seeing a stat block for this somewhere.

I have seen the idea kicked around in several places. I think that five year old lurks at RPG.net.

 

[prabe]

No no no no no ... I have let that thread drop and no matter how dense some of y'all are I'm not getting back into it ... no no no no no.

 

[Staffan]

One of the lines from the 90s movie Hackers has stood the test of time :
"You could sit at home, and do like absolutely nothing, and your name goes through like 17 computers a day. "

 

[Mannahnin]

As I recall, it was more the fact that they're constantly and overtly recording you that made them unwelcome. I believe that was one of the marketing issues with Google Glass. At least with a smartphone you (generally) have to be visibly pointing it at someone.

The recording might be part of it, but definitely the main thing Stephenson emphasizes in the text is that "going gargoyle" is offputting to others due to your constant connection, which is physically visible (the rig is worn) and keeps you continually distracted from real life by the incoming data from the net. Witness YT's being appalled when she sees Hiro, or Hiro's conversation with the ignorant motorcycle salesman and how Hiro talks in that exchange. Stephenson portraying the teenage YT being grossed out by it seems like a bit of projection of his personal values, and a missed guess that the younger generation wouldn't want to, e.g. be "on their phones" while at a concert. Which if I'm remembering right is where Hiro and YT meet up and she expresses distaste. Neil missed predicting the popularity of livestreaming.

 

[trappedslider]

It wasn't so much that tech marched on,but tech sprinted.

 

[Malmuria]

At this point, I feel like I'm just arguing with AI. Except AI would probably be better at creating a semblance of critical thinking skills

 

[JAMUMU]

At this point, I feel like I'm just arguing with AI. Except AI would probably be better at creating a semblance of critical thinking skills

Give it time and people will be feeding your arguments into CritThinkAI to come at you on the interwebz.

 

[MarkB]

I re-read snow crash, and it is really steeped in the 90's though I'd say what we have now is by far more intrusive than anything he dreamed of.

Yeah, I re-listened to it on Audible recently, and it is very of-its-time. While I'd love to see an adaptation of it, it's hard to see how it could be made contemporary while still keeping all its themes intact.

 

[Malmuria]

Give it time and people will be feeding your arguments into CritThinkAI to come at you on the interwebz.

In the future, all edition wars will be fought by robots