Pissing in the wind
Friday, May 19th, 2006
Does anybody read this site, yet? Or is this some kind of Beta test?
It’s reminding me of something that used to happen a long time ago. See, I was early on the cyber-scene, so I used to get interviewed for the first editions of lots of cyber-culture magazines. This was back in the early 90’s, when Wired and all the other fledgling cyberculture mags were just popping up. I’d even get on the cover of some of these, but since it was their first issue, they didn’t yet have enough of an audience for anyone to notice my mug.
This is starting to feel a bit like that.
rushkoff,
i’m here. reading.
k
I’m reminded of the early days of online video back in the dotcom Gold Rush. Long before I ended up becoming a teacher (and SMITH diarist) I was a producer for a user-generated Internet video company called Eveo (I seem to remember the two of us talking briefly). The company had some teething troubles (I reported on my bizarre experiences there in the London Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/internetnews/story/0,,422199,00.html), but looking back, Eveo and other similar companies were just ahead of their time: the technology was there, but the audience (and market) would be playing catch up for half a decade. During the launch last year of Current, Al Gore’s user-generated cable news channel, I was struck by how many of its marketing buzzphrases might have been transplanted directly from an Eveo press release circa 1999. That said, I have way more faith in SMITH than Eveo…
I’m here - referred by your blog.
And btw, if I was ever lucky enough to meet you in person, I’d be early.
Thanks for replying. Good to know there’s someone reading. And ‘hey Janet!’ Glad to see you here.
My “guest blog” is actually over as of today. I think I’ll post something else before the day is out.
I just wanted to see if I was real or not. I remember I shot a Fox show once - before we all knew what FoxNews was going to be. It was with a real right-wing guy, who seemed at pains to attack me.
Turned out to be Bill O’Reilly. But the show was shot as part of a Fox getting-ready week, and never aired!
I just found the referral from your site today, your last day as guest blogger. I like the “early” motiff you have going here… from the girl you were supposed to meet being the antithesis of early, to the hesitation that comes with being “early” in the cyber-scene (or whatever we call it now). Would you consider “early” a theme in your story or personal narrative, then?
Drop me a line next time you’re in Chicago and I’ll be early if not right on time.
I guess so. Sometimes I wait around for people to show up at something - be it a cultural phenomenon or idea - and then get bored and leave just in time for it to become a big deal. Cyberia ends up being the Internet, Media Virus becomes “viral marketing,” and so on.
I’ve even tried making investment decisions, and end up being right only a year too soon.
So yeah, it’s a fun theme to consider. It’s kind of the “time travel” theme in my first novel and my new comic, as well. Thanks for putting it in perspective for me! I’ll think about this for some time.
we’re readin and havin pooploads of fun doin’ so!
Checking it out - it helps that those associated with Smith are just good at spreading the word
Oh, Rushkoff, your 15 Minutes aren’t up, yet. Be patient, man. Enjoyed the blog. Like the mag. Like Wired and those other magazines you refer to, these things take time. I think the Smiths said that.
Oh, Rushkoff, your 15 Minutes aren’t up, yet. Be patient, man. Enjoyed the blog. Like the mag. Like Wired and those other magazines you refer to, these things take time. Wait, I think the Smiths said that.