Week 1 - In response to the lecture 28/7

Yes I know, two days late. Whoever invented timestamps I would curse your name if I knew what it was. As I didn't hang around for the entire lecture, I don't know if this specific point was raised; but when the discussion of what constitutes a "new" or "old" technology arose, I couldn't help but think that all of them were simply refinements of the oldest communication technology around: language. Starting with gesture and basic vocalisations through to the spoken word and the pinnacle of human achievement: writing. Granted we have found new means to utilise language, but all these techs are built on the same elements. Telegraph through to instant messages, not too different from the Pony Express, just faster. Telephone is still just long distance conversation, television an impersonal public speech. You're still talking or writing, and it seems to me that no one wants to consider language itself as a technology. Then again I hardly ever interact with anyone else, so I'm certain that all my "original" ideas have been thought of before. My main point - if I have one - is that at their base, these "new" techs aren't even using new methods, just a different mode of distribution. When phone hacking was mentioned, I found it hard not to think of the simple act of opening someone else's mail, and the other kind of phone hacking - wiretapping - is just the same as eavesdropping on a public conversation.

Ah well, way of the future I guess.

Week 1 - I have no idea (transcribed)

Lifted from what will now be an aborted tumblr blog. I hoped I'd never have to use the word "blog" in a sentence... Now commences the mental diarrhoea.

So this is the part where I’m supposed to share myself with others despite having absolutely no desire to do so. Also preset word length requirements are an issue, verbosity not often counted amongst my greatest assets and capabilities. So expect nonsense and repetition in abundance. I’m already blanking, my head hurts and I don’t know if I’m going to stay here, it’s boring and no fun at all. I’m amazed at all of you people who think that the rest of the world wants to hear about the minutiae of your dull existence, as yes it is likely that your life is only exciting to you. I will point out that if I were do this of my own volition (which I would not) this is exactly the kind of content you could expect of me: whiny bitching about how crap everyone is how much I hate them. Of course should I continue this will unfortunately not be the case as there is assessment to consider. I will however take this opportunity to fling insults, particularly at the lecturer for his delivery, where half the utterances are along the lines of “um, ah” and such. I’m already spent, hopefully this has successfully introduced me with an incomplete impression of my personality. Now to wander off and come up with some enthralling nonsense in response to the lecture.