EDCMOOC discussion
The Machine Stops
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Machine or metaphor?
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Yes, I was thinking that too!ie. The ways that the material and the metaphor of the machine can alienate us from direct experience: what are your experiences and resolutions on these?
A second possible question that arises for me:
Given The Machine Stops was published just over a century ago, how much has technology now affected our sense of and understanding of space?
And a third:
What analogies can we draw from this cautionary tale (apparently drawn from Forster's meditation?) and our lives today?
And a fourth:
Who or what comprises the 'Central Committee'?
A fifth:
What kinds of human:technologyenvironments would you like to project for our collective futures? Or is there even a choice?
More questions please, anyone?
On #edcmooc: other questions are on their way?
Would someone like to finalise four to chat on?
Will see who I can invite from Twitter, tomorrow, for our chat; re: The Machine Stops.
Random thoughts? Regarding the two main characters:
Vashti's an unusual name!
So is Kuno.
Found on Vashti: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vashti
As for Kuno: http://www.sheknows.com/baby-names/na...
Mod
Looks like 1June's #edcmchat's going to be quite open-ended;will need active and discursive moderation, freer 'structuring'/responsive flow;
questions didn't immediately arise as quickly as they had for Vernor Vinge's Rainbow's End;
Forster's short story sort of had roots that sank more deeply, with more abstract notions.
Here's a try at a questions list: (please feel free to edit!)
From the context of E.M. Forster's The Machine Stops:
Q1 What did/does Forster's short story The Machine Stops bring up for you? (themes/anecdotes/etc)
Q2 Have technological inventions aided in or removed humans from direct experience with the harsh realities of nature? In what ways?
Q3 What has humanity:nature gained/lost in the processes of technological adaptations? eg. 'original ideas' (tech as helpful/disruptive)?
Q4 What technological adoptions can best help/harm re: technology+human:nature involvements for the future?
For possible newcomers joining our Twitter chat event: a recap.:
1) Date & time: 1 June 2013, GMT 21:30-22:30.
2) Hashtag to use: #edcmchat. Please remember to use it for all chat-related tweets.
3) Good to 'tune' into the chat about 5-10 minutes in advance.
4) Tweetdeck can be used to monitor tweets. (Tweetchat may or may not work, though its format's been best for monitoring tweet flow.)
Mod
All the questions look good to me. I was wondering about the same things when reading too. I kept also thinking what was EM Forster's motive for writing? ie how much was a reaction to current affairs of his time, or how much just a story & a meditation.
Also, the notion of the people in the story worshipping the machine, and accepting everything it does, but not knowing how to detect a fault or fix it if it goes wrong was interesting. Are we like this with our technology now?
Will have another read before tonight. I spotted a TV adoption of it from 1966 on YouTube too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvrGUn...
Mod
Mine could be (in a proper English :) - When can we estimate that we are serving the Machine rather than it's serving us ?
Q4 (adapted from Stephane's): Are we serving TheMachine or is it serving us? What kind of scifi/changes would b best re: technology/human involvements for the future?
"Let your ideas be second-hand, and if possible tenth-hand, for then they will be far removed from that disturbing element - direct observation."
"Century after century had he toiled, and here was his reward. Truly the garment had seemed heavenly at first, shot with colours of culture, sewn with the threads of self-denial. And heavenly it had been so long as man could shed it at will and live by the essence that is his soul, and the essence, equally divine, that is his body."