Comments for On Web Culture

Comment on True by John

John — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:59:49 +0000

Hi Bro
Good read. I have come to understand better while in Perth what we are as New Zealanders. The College where I work and my church are very very multicultural. But as a Kiwi I am not the dominant culture here. Yet there are many Kiwis and we have a good reputation and as a group we are recognised for certain traits. I have grown to like that feeling. I was at a working bee with three other kiwis the other day and the feeling we had together was awesome. I had imagined I would blend in here, now I am happy to stand out.

Comment on True by Dave Broome

Dave Broome — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:20:24 +0000

Good post, yeah interesting that it goes right down to the terra firma. My concept of New Zealand is inextricably tied to images of windswept, sun-drenched mountains & coastlines.

Such an odd truth that you feel much more of a New Zealander once you’ve left. In particular I remember the Waitangi Day Pub Crawl, the Christchurch Memorial Service & the RWC final as moments of strong national identity.

Heh, actually, one more — Whaka Yeah! My brain lit up like a Christmas tree with all the icons flashing through that. I was recently at a Halloween party in South London, and one guy came dressed as David Bain. Needless to say: Legend.

Comment on Tim Keller – The Reason For God by Dave

Dave — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:17:52 +0000

Yeah definitely. I’m a fan of this guy. The book is good too: http://www.amazon.com/Reason-God-Belief-Age-Skepticism/dp/1594483493/

Comment on Tim Keller – The Reason For God by Hamish

Hamish — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:00:26 +0000

Just watched this, pretty good aye!

Comment on South Island Tour by On Web Culture - Thoughts and news on emerging web culture » Blog Archive » Photos from the 2007 South Island Tour

Tue, 17 May 2011 12:25:20 +0000

[...] Back in 2007 Dave Broome & I toured the South Island. These are the photos from that trip! [...]

Comment on On Facebook by Dave

Dave — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:35:16 +0000

@davebroome: “In a way, it’s a free market victory – the wider internet did not provide easy discussion, event-planning and photo sharing. Universal identity, aggregation, blah blah, were not well solved” – yeah good point man. The irony here is I wanted to click ‘Like’ on your comment. Oh Facebook.

Comment on On Facebook by Dave Broome

Dave Broome — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:59:33 +0000

Good post man. And some good thoughts added by Mr. Jackson.

I guess, devil’s advocate a bit, I wonder if Facebook is just a case of people getting what they want. In response to ‘pervy’ – gossip is certainly nothing new, nor is Google stalking, or simply watching people out our windows. And I guess those things are all OK (in moderation!)… So while Facebook makes it easier (and perhaps encourages it, which is not so good) it’s something we have to learn to healthily live with.

Relationships maintained exclusively through Facebook seem pretty daft, and commenter #1 has neatly skewered them. But as a tool to maintain the bond in-between IRL? Perhaps it’s good. Hard to say yet. I still find it a bit weird sometimes, finding out someone’s news through Pervebook.

What is definitely shit is the insular walled-garden of Facebook. In a way, it’s a free market victory – the wider internet did not provide easy discussion, event-planning and photo sharing. Universal identity, aggregation, blah blah, were not well solved. Hopefully they’re on the improve, and people can get the “benefits” of Facebook without having to join a cult.

Comment on On Facebook by Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson

Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:04:30 +0000

“I think grassroots movements on Facebook spring up in spite of Facebook.” This. Facebook is it’s own internet; a habitable solar system in the World Wide Web Nebula of the Internet Universe. Arguments about how lovely Facebook is for bringing people together and “affecting change” are really just compliments for the Internet in general.

Facebook is equal parts internet, computer game, and eternal party. It’s a party in which you don’t have to make any negative effort; every action is like playing an RPG where you play around with your characters inventory and customize, etc. Any conversation or action which is unpleasant is instantly avoided with a mouseclick. There’s always something to do, experience to gain, hot girls to perve at. Endorphins are constantly flooded. Why *would* anyone want to leave?

I deleted my Facebook a few months ago when I realised that I didn’t like anyone on it, and the few that I did, I kept in touch with directly. The friendships that I didn’t feel like putting any effort into were ones I was happy to let go.

Comment on Redacted – Part 2 by Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson

Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:05:05 +0000

As soon as it’s written, formulated, attempted, it becomes Your View, which people are going to attack using whatever rhetoric, argument, or stupidity they have. It can feel soul-destroying to have all philosophical arguments end up being about whether we know if the sky is really blue or not, or having people name exceptions, resort to ad hominems or logical fallacies… but what great suffering! What insight into the murky… bits of man!

Comment on Redacted by On Web Culture - Thoughts and news on emerging web culture » Blog Archive » Redacted – Part 2

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:54:50 +0000

[...] Last week’s post was useful because I realised I was wrong. Sometimes you need to say something out loud to realise you actually don’t think that. [...]