Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!ucsd!ucbvax!hplabs!well!bluefire
From: bluefire@well.UUCP (Bob Jacobson)
Newsgroups: news.groups
Subject: Re: CALL FOR DISCUSSION:  SCI.VIRTUAL-WORLDS
Message-ID: <14667@well.UUCP>
Date: 21 Nov 89 07:53:23 GMT
References: <14547-repost@well.UUCP> <1989Nov16.161429.12549@talos.uucp> <3965@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu> <21166@ut-emx.UUCP> <1989Nov19.230638.7288@cs.rochester.edu>
Reply-To: bluefire@well.UUCP (Bob Jacobson)
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Lines: 29


Brian Yamauchi suggests making this a comp.cyberspace, soc.cyberspace, or
similar conference, without a moderator.
 
We (Rheingold and I) see virtual worlds as including phenomenal constructions
that may include cyberspaces, but may also include other types of visual,
aural, and tactile stimuli alone or in combination.  These may or may not
approach the idealization of the cyberspace, as most people conceive of that
term's meaning -- an all-encompassing environmental simulation.  Some virtual
worlds may be much more limited in their scope and more dependent on certain
types of psychophysiological illusions than computers put on overdrive.
 
I'm drawn to the idea of soc.cyberspace (actually, soc.virtual-worlds), but
most of the research being done currently is not social in nature but techno-
logical, psychological, and physiological.  For now, it is a science;
hopefully,it can someday accommodate cultural critics and philosophers in
greater
numbers.

As for a moderator, anyone who has observed alt.cyberpunk, the precursor
of this proposed newsgroup, in action knows why a moderator is a good idea.
No amount of speed in turnover is worth the savaging of thought that can
occur in a non-moderated newsgroup, IMHO.

-- 
BOB JACOBSON, Associate Director, Human Interface Technology Laboratory
       University of Washington (FU-20), Seattle, WA 98195 USA
   (206) 543-5075 (voice), 543-5380 (fax)   *   bluefire@well.uucp
                >> "We can do virtually anything." <<