Comments on: Children of 9/11, Children of technology http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html This Blog Sits At the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:01:51 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: David Tufte http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4648 David Tufte Fri, 17 Mar 2006 04:07:09 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4648 <p>Did anyone happen to see the classic episode of "Malcom In the Middle" where the dad and son build a society out of action figures and building blocks ... and then the little boy turns into a despot? </p> <p>Sounds like the shed is going in this direction.</p> Did anyone happen to see the classic episode of "Malcom In the Middle" where the dad and son build a society out of action figures and building blocks … and then the little boy turns into a despot?

Sounds like the shed is going in this direction.

]]> By: Dynamist Blog http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4651 Dynamist Blog Thu, 16 Mar 2006 03:35:29 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4651 <strong>Keep Out</strong> In a fascinating post, Grant McCracken explains how some 21st-century kids secured their secret clubhouse. No printed signs were involved.... Keep Out

In a fascinating post, Grant McCracken explains how some 21st-century kids secured their secret clubhouse. No printed signs were involved….

]]> By: Grant http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4647 Grant Wed, 15 Mar 2006 20:57:56 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4647 <p>Dilys and Matt, I asked Pam and she thinks that not even the oldest one (who is 8) uses a password to access a computer. Her mum may clarify. Thanks, Grant</p> <p>Peter, I happen to know Charles Ravioli and he doesn't have any time for me either. I am this close to saying, Charlie, I don't care if you are imaginery, you've got to get in the loop. Thanks, Grant</p> <p>John, Good spot. The flag is vertical bands of yellow, red and blue. I agree with you, I really do think they were thinking in terms of soverignty. Thanks, Grant</p> Dilys and Matt, I asked Pam and she thinks that not even the oldest one (who is 8) uses a password to access a computer. Her mum may clarify. Thanks, Grant

Peter, I happen to know Charles Ravioli and he doesn't have any time for me either. I am this close to saying, Charlie, I don't care if you are imaginery, you've got to get in the loop. Thanks, Grant

John, Good spot. The flag is vertical bands of yellow, red and blue. I agree with you, I really do think they were thinking in terms of soverignty. Thanks, Grant

]]> By: John Galvin http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4646 John Galvin Wed, 15 Mar 2006 19:56:43 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4646 <p>I disagree with the comments that these four- (and other-) year-olds are merely mimicking/mirroring a familiarity with computer passwords. First off, at least one of them was four. Do four-year-olds these days have their own usernames and passwords or do parents log them on? (I ask in earnest; I do not know and am not lucky enough to be close to any four-year-olds.) I mean, I never pretended I had a social security number when I was 4. (I don't think -- better ask my mom.)</p> <p>Second, the kids' level of security is HIGHER than we routinely face when using passwords, so there is at the very least exaggeration present even if their base behavior is "merely" mimickry. You either have to use a username and password (to get your gmail) or you have to use your PIN (to get your money out of the wall). We almost never have to have a special word and a special number IN ADDITION to already being ourselves (as most usernames are based on names/nicknames).</p> <p>Finally, and most convincing to me, they made a flag. When I was a kid, we had clubs and teams and pretend identities -- but we never had a sovereign nation whose borders we enforced. What colors were on the flag, Grant?</p> <p>The comments so far are true, and of course there's some mimickry going on, but Grant's right -- there's more going on here.</p> I disagree with the comments that these four- (and other-) year-olds are merely mimicking/mirroring a familiarity with computer passwords. First off, at least one of them was four. Do four-year-olds these days have their own usernames and passwords or do parents log them on? (I ask in earnest; I do not know and am not lucky enough to be close to any four-year-olds.) I mean, I never pretended I had a social security number when I was 4. (I don't think — better ask my mom.)

Second, the kids' level of security is HIGHER than we routinely face when using passwords, so there is at the very least exaggeration present even if their base behavior is "merely" mimickry. You either have to use a username and password (to get your gmail) or you have to use your PIN (to get your money out of the wall). We almost never have to have a special word and a special number IN ADDITION to already being ourselves (as most usernames are based on names/nicknames).

Finally, and most convincing to me, they made a flag. When I was a kid, we had clubs and teams and pretend identities — but we never had a sovereign nation whose borders we enforced. What colors were on the flag, Grant?

The comments so far are true, and of course there's some mimickry going on, but Grant's right — there's more going on here.

]]> By: linkage http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4650 linkage Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:55:20 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4650 <strong>http://www.abstractdynamics.org/linkage/archives/007521.html</strong> This Blog Sits at the: Children of 9/11, Children of technology... http://www.abstractdynamics.org/linkage/archives/007521.html

This Blog Sits at the: Children of 9/11, Children of technology…

]]> By: The TrueTalk Blog http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4649 The TrueTalk Blog Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:33:19 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4649 <strong>Permeable?</strong> I had a great dinner and conversation last evening with Michael Montes, the guy who composed the music for the title sequences for the last two TED conferences. We met fortuitously at the San Jose airport on our way to Permeable?

I had a great dinner and conversation last evening with Michael Montes, the guy who composed the music for the title sequences for the last two TED conferences. We met fortuitously at the San Jose airport on our way to

]]> By: andrew http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4645 andrew Tue, 14 Mar 2006 13:28:33 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4645 <p>I view this as part of the human impulse to be exclusive (Maslow's stage of self-actualisation) - of creating a boundary and saying everything within that boundary is special (the boundary could be anything - a religion, a political party, a social class, a social anti-class etc). Boundaries define the people who are "in" just as much as they define the people who are "out".</p> I view this as part of the human impulse to be exclusive (Maslow's stage of self-actualisation) – of creating a boundary and saying everything within that boundary is special (the boundary could be anything – a religion, a political party, a social class, a social anti-class etc). Boundaries define the people who are "in" just as much as they define the people who are "out".

]]> By: Matt http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4644 Matt Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:05:36 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4644 <p>If you think their education doesn't "bristle with security" then you haven't been inside a school very recently. The major remaining distinction between school and prison is that in the former, the inhabitants are allowed to leave at night.</p> <p>I agree with dilys, though, that this is more likely to be a function of familiarity with the virtual border of a computer login prompt than anything relating to 9/11 or similar events.</p> If you think their education doesn't "bristle with security" then you haven't been inside a school very recently. The major remaining distinction between school and prison is that in the former, the inhabitants are allowed to leave at night.

I agree with dilys, though, that this is more likely to be a function of familiarity with the virtual border of a computer login prompt than anything relating to 9/11 or similar events.

]]> By: Peter http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4643 Peter Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:06:23 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4643 <p>Adam Gopnik, in The New Yorker a few years back, wrote about his 3-year-old daughter's imaginary friend, Charles Ravioli, who was always too busy to actually meet her, and with whom she had to communicate with via (imaginary) voice mail, or via his (imaginary) assistant. </p> <p>("Bumping into Mr. Ravioli", issue of 2002-09-30: tried to find it online, but no luck!)<br /> </p> Adam Gopnik, in The New Yorker a few years back, wrote about his 3-year-old daughter's imaginary friend, Charles Ravioli, who was always too busy to actually meet her, and with whom she had to communicate with via (imaginary) voice mail, or via his (imaginary) assistant.

("Bumping into Mr. Ravioli", issue of 2002-09-30: tried to find it online, but no luck!)

]]> By: dilys http://cultureby.com/2006/03/_yesterday_pam_.html/comment-page-1#comment-4642 dilys Tue, 14 Mar 2006 01:29:49 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-4642 <p>I think this is directly related to their familiarity with computer passwords.</p> I think this is directly related to their familiarity with computer passwords.

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