When considering the kind of imprint our own time period might have on the next one, I hone in on language. What words invented now will be fully integrated within the next generation and what words will seem like relics? I decided to put my facebook profile page through wordle.net. a site that makes images out of the blocks of text submitted by the user giving prominence to the most used words. I expected to see "unlike," "friend," "post," and even months and times among the words, but the three words that stuck out weren't any of those. "Jessica," "Suzanne," and "Stokes" appeared with less frequency than "March' while tying with "like" and "unlike." My name appears on facebook far more than anything I would ever assert in the world. Does that make for better conversation?
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Jessica Suzanne Stokes
When considering the kind of imprint our own time period might have on the next one, I hone in on language. What words invented now will be fully integrated within the next generation and what words will seem like relics? I decided to put my facebook profile page through wordle.net. a site that makes images out of the blocks of text submitted by the user giving prominence to the most used words. I expected to see "unlike," "friend," "post," and even months and times among the words, but the three words that stuck out weren't any of those. "Jessica," "Suzanne," and "Stokes" appeared with less frequency than "March' while tying with "like" and "unlike." My name appears on facebook far more than anything I would ever assert in the world. Does that make for better conversation?
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I am intrigued by the question you raise through having used wordle as an experiment, and not just as something decorative (though I like the outcome as a decorative object also).
ReplyDeleteWhat does make for better conversation? What are the goals of conversation?
Conversation seems like one of the infinite ways things can interact as part of Limited Fork Theory. For me the goal of interaction right now is to be affected--to experience empathy and connection with another person that lets me remember what it was when we were one mass before distance--. I think the celebrity culture that we once joked would result in everyone's 15 minutes of fame has instead turned into a land of always famous individuals. I struggle to see the difference between my father following Charlie Sheen for hours and myself clicking through the facebook page of a high school acquaintance who is breaking up with her boyfriend via wall post. Somehow I don't think this egocentric online universe promotes empathy even though so many of us have similar profile pictures. I feel like a spectator online and easily forget everyone reading my comments keeps seeing Jessica Suzanne Stokes.
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