Big Brother
I'm not sure if anyone will be in here reading my blog but I will just expand and explain my comment's on Pete's blog. It is in reference to a new way of checking out books at the public library. It is an example of how technology and computers have changed us all into simply numbers rather than humans with souls. It also reflects on that Big Brother 1984 theme.
A friend of mine works for the public library in the city where I live. It's been ages since I last sat and had a properly chat with him. Ron is a walking ball of energy and sarcasm and I love him that way. He works in the library's technical/computer department. So the information I received is from the "horse's mouth". He told me that the library is looking into self checkout. I looked at him with this, "so what is new with that? These days if a library doesn't have self checkout they are looked upon as being behind the times". Catching my expression he leaned in towards me and finished his comment, "All the patron needs to do is walk through the gate and his books are checked out to him. As long as he has his card on his possession the gate will scan and checkout the book. The library can even go as far as checking into where in the shopping mall this person travels to". I have to admit I was quite taken aback by all this. I started to think about how far technology has gone and in the scheme of things we are all merely numbers and codes. When we sit behind our computers we are numbers - IP addresses all of us. Does this mean if we sit in front of our computers long enough we will begin to think of ourselves as such? I'm beginning to wonder. I'm now thinking I'm spending way too much time behind this box. I'm wondering if it's the reason why I'm feeling out of sorts. I'm going with the flow with the rest of the computerized world. I'm getting engulfed and obsessed with reading my email, reading up on my favourite webpages, checking up and maintaining my Who Fan forum, and keeping up with my blogs. I actually had to make time to listen to music the other day. It was never like that before.
However on the other side of it all I've met people via the internet who I've then met in person who have become close friends. I've connected up with people who have had a powerful, positive influence on my life so far. To these people I'm not a number (I'm beginning to feel like an episode of The Prisoner now). I guess what scares me is this image I have of people going through this library checkout gate. Faceless, non emotional and almost robotic like walking through the gate. Perhaps it's my imagination running away from me. Well...we shall see how all this turns out in 5 years time when this new way of self checkout comes to fruition.
"All in all we're just another brick in the wall". ~Pink Floyd
A friend of mine works for the public library in the city where I live. It's been ages since I last sat and had a properly chat with him. Ron is a walking ball of energy and sarcasm and I love him that way. He works in the library's technical/computer department. So the information I received is from the "horse's mouth". He told me that the library is looking into self checkout. I looked at him with this, "so what is new with that? These days if a library doesn't have self checkout they are looked upon as being behind the times". Catching my expression he leaned in towards me and finished his comment, "All the patron needs to do is walk through the gate and his books are checked out to him. As long as he has his card on his possession the gate will scan and checkout the book. The library can even go as far as checking into where in the shopping mall this person travels to". I have to admit I was quite taken aback by all this. I started to think about how far technology has gone and in the scheme of things we are all merely numbers and codes. When we sit behind our computers we are numbers - IP addresses all of us. Does this mean if we sit in front of our computers long enough we will begin to think of ourselves as such? I'm beginning to wonder. I'm now thinking I'm spending way too much time behind this box. I'm wondering if it's the reason why I'm feeling out of sorts. I'm going with the flow with the rest of the computerized world. I'm getting engulfed and obsessed with reading my email, reading up on my favourite webpages, checking up and maintaining my Who Fan forum, and keeping up with my blogs. I actually had to make time to listen to music the other day. It was never like that before.
However on the other side of it all I've met people via the internet who I've then met in person who have become close friends. I've connected up with people who have had a powerful, positive influence on my life so far. To these people I'm not a number (I'm beginning to feel like an episode of The Prisoner now). I guess what scares me is this image I have of people going through this library checkout gate. Faceless, non emotional and almost robotic like walking through the gate. Perhaps it's my imagination running away from me. Well...we shall see how all this turns out in 5 years time when this new way of self checkout comes to fruition.
"All in all we're just another brick in the wall". ~Pink Floyd
posted by Ann at 12:50 a.m.
4 Comments:
Hi Ann
I also have a 17 month old, born May 27th 2004. He's slowly growing to like My Generation! ;-)
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for commenting on my blog. My son was born on April 25th, 2004. When I was pregnant with him I used to stand with my belly by the speaker with Quadrophenia on. Then when he was only a few months old I used to sit him on my lap and we would watch the Who gig footage Matt Kent posted on PT's site. Funny enough the Who's music seems to have a calming effect on him. It'll be interesting to see if he'll grow to love The Who when he's older or if he'll hate them just to piss off his mom. LOL. :-)
The Who and babies!
The first song I've ever sang to my son was the "Tommy can you hear me" bit. I managed to convince my girlfriend to name him Thomas, and it'll eventually switch to Tommy as he grows older. He'll then give rap a try while I still put Who music on the system. As a late teen and young adult, I'm confident The Who will prevail. They have for almost half a century already!
Bruce,
My son's middle name is James, he's named after my husband's late uncle/godfather but I'd like to think he's named after Jimmy from Quad. ;-)
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