Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!dali.cs.montana.edu!milton!hlab
From: galanter@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Philip Galanter)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: CyberCon2 Organizer Replies!
Message-ID: <1991Jun1.224724.4388@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 31 May 91 23:50:19 GMT
References: <1991May31.050056.10025@milton.u.washington.edu>
Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu (Human Int. Technology Lab)
Organization: Northwestern University
Lines: 37
Approved: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu



I am writing this as someone who was at CyberCon1, didn't apply for
CyberCon2, but looks forward to CyberCon3.  There are a lot of things about
the way things are going with Cyberspace that bother me.  It bothers me that
there is little discussion of the dangers and downside of Cyberspace.  It
bothers me that there seems to be a prevailing "political correctness"
regarding Cyberspace.  It bothers me that Cyberspace has been
commandeered by trendy would-be social reformers who didn't get it right
in the 60's, and have now succeeded in creating a PR cliche for the 90's.

But what would _really_ bother would be if we lost the chance for
artists, engineers, writers, anthropologists, etc. to interact with 
and reach out to each other, each in their own way.  

I understand physics, FFT's, acoustics, etc. but thats not the kind of
language I would choose to describe a great concert.  If Cyberspace is to
encompass many forms of human experience, then discussions about Cyberspace
will require many disciplines each with its own language.

I don't see any easy way around this.

One suggestion...I understand the need to limit the number of active
participants, but couldn't there be a second tier of "listen-only"
and "written questions" attendees?  I see a growing danger of elitism and
incestuous development with this conference...

Phil



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