January 31, 2010
iPrius
At risk of being labeled a tool, lost, or a 90-yr-old, here is yet another iPad / automotive analogy:
The automobile went through a similar evolution. From eminently hackable to hood essentially sealed shut. When the automobile was new, you HAD to be a mechanic to own one. Later, being a mechanic gave you the option of tinkering and adapting it to your specific interests. In fact, that’s how most people up until about 1985 learned to be mechanics. The big changes came with the catalytic converter and electronic ignition (and warranty language to match). Now the automobile has reached the point in its development where you don’t even have to know whether it has a motor or an engine to use it, but to tinker at all requires highly specialized skills.
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I like it, you lost, aged tool.
me too. and for the record, even though I called him out, I like Kyle’s comments on clusterflock. I hope he knows that.
I second that, Deron.
I tried to tell him as much on twitter.
Don’t be shy Kyle! Come back, call us all tools. We don’t care.
Well, I disagree with the second part.
It was the calling of the tools that was problematic. I don’t have a problem with strong discussion, or heated discussion, or even angry discussion, but in a case where a discussion has clear — if heated — distinctions, calling someone out instead of addressing the issue isn’t welcome here.
Deron, that’s almost exactly what I told him. Only in 140 characters.
tnk u, Mikl. Kyl, plz cm bak.
I think I used fewer vowels.
Joseph, I’m never going to live that down, am I?
I don’t think I ever clarified in the other set of posts, which I obviously should have, but those comments were directed at the author of the original blog post that was linked. Not that it matters at this point any more.
As much as I appreciate the OK to show my face again from the likes of Deron/Michael, this experience was a good one for me. Even though I kind of make part of my living via reputation management online for others, it’s not often that I have to think about how my own words are taken. Through Twitter, Facebook and others I’ve been conditioned to the fact that people have a choice to hear my often over-opinionated banterings – if they don’t like it they can leave, and that doesn’t bother me. Then I took that mindset to someone else’s turf, where I don’t set the rules and people weren’t there to listen to me.
It’s funny how a few lines in the comments of a blog can overtake someone for the better part of a few days.
Among the limitations of the post/comment/overlapping comment structure as here constituted: the ease with which the object of a reference may be misconstrued.
One of the reasons I’ve taken to avoiding serious debate in such settings.
For the most part.
Kyle – I’m glad it happened. That discussion was really enjoyable, and you were a big part of that.
Kyle, I knew what you meant, but I thought it best if you clarified yourself and couldnt understand why you didn’t say that you meant the author from the outset. There’s a real freedom to defending yourself here, and just push back when you get shoved a little.
Deron, I tried to star your comment above, I loved it so.
which, Amanda?
It sometimes takes a while for people to understand how we encourage a wide open range of comment here while also being quick to jump over the drum set to watch out for a fellow flocker. It’s the love, man. Flockers love flockers and we love to see all of the wonderful people who show up. And god help the person who pisses on our rug. We have all had to shore each other up a few times too, even when we were the ones doing all the talking!
Love that about the Flock, Daryl. That rug really ties the room together.
I’ll tell you the problem: Goddamned dangling pronouns.
Also, lts alwys tlk lk ths.
I want Daryl in my foxhole. If ever I’m in a foxhole.
It is only love, friends. It is honest, pure-dee Love.