Comments on: Orphan objects: new markets, new cultures http://cultureby.com/2007/12/heres-what-i-go.html This Blog Sits At the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:06:55 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bob http://cultureby.com/2007/12/heres-what-i-go.html/comment-page-1#comment-2113 Bob Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:07:16 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-2113 <p>People such as myself, who collect old letters and "postal history" have found the web to be an amazing resource. We are now able to research the people who sent and received the letters. In the past, it was much more likely that an item we purchased was simply "anonymous". The historical aspect opens up even more for us than before. Many people collect these paper items because they "tell a story", something that other collectables may not offer.</p> People such as myself, who collect old letters and "postal history" have found the web to be an amazing resource. We are now able to research the people who sent and received the letters. In the past, it was much more likely that an item we purchased was simply "anonymous". The historical aspect opens up even more for us than before. Many people collect these paper items because they "tell a story", something that other collectables may not offer.

]]> By: erin http://cultureby.com/2007/12/heres-what-i-go.html/comment-page-1#comment-2112 erin Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:10:38 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-2112 <p>Your post takes the "amateur sleuth" fact of current culture to the storytelling realm > we are all constructing a larger circumstance of events as we see it on an individual basis: a "catch & release" phenomenon. We are all contributing our part (and opinion) when we TAG something. Why is it that our opinions become valuable? When did this switch get flipped?</p> <p>It seems there has been a reversal of validity in culture (no?). Society no longer appreciates the company/brand telling us what it is. We want to decide (curate) for ourselves what it means; and in addition, we expect the same company/brand to be transparent with its information. </p> <p>Sorry this has been a tangent from your pill bottle from Lincoln City (I'm an Oregon coast girl myself). I think your sister's gift of adventure is an awesome one. You get to "choose your own" as you find this bottle's story. Your summation centered around the question of privacy. ???</p> <p>In a time of transparency, is privacy even of concern? And, if we get to choose our own TAGs of validity, what does this 'wiki' world of entry mean to the future of history?</p> <p>you've got me thinking... :)</p> Your post takes the "amateur sleuth" fact of current culture to the storytelling realm > we are all constructing a larger circumstance of events as we see it on an individual basis: a "catch & release" phenomenon. We are all contributing our part (and opinion) when we TAG something. Why is it that our opinions become valuable? When did this switch get flipped?

It seems there has been a reversal of validity in culture (no?). Society no longer appreciates the company/brand telling us what it is. We want to decide (curate) for ourselves what it means; and in addition, we expect the same company/brand to be transparent with its information.

Sorry this has been a tangent from your pill bottle from Lincoln City (I'm an Oregon coast girl myself). I think your sister's gift of adventure is an awesome one. You get to "choose your own" as you find this bottle's story. Your summation centered around the question of privacy. ???

In a time of transparency, is privacy even of concern? And, if we get to choose our own TAGs of validity, what does this 'wiki' world of entry mean to the future of history?

you've got me thinking… :)

]]> By: Renan Petersen-Wagner http://cultureby.com/2007/12/heres-what-i-go.html/comment-page-1#comment-2111 Renan Petersen-Wagner Thu, 27 Dec 2007 10:28:46 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-2111 <p>Grant,</p> <p>very interesting entry! That made me think why some mundane "possessions" develop in a special one. With the history (story), the cultural biography of the object, we can understand the owner too. An old idea from Belk, Kopytoff and yours. </p> <p>But what is "new" is the idea of researching objects that aren't anymore with their owners, they are in the world now. Revealing their stories, we can understand what happened before, and what was the "consequences" in todays life. As you said, maybe we are going to have a horde of new genealogists. </p> <p>And with google you can discover lots of things too (I have done with my two last names to understand a little bit of my ancestors). It made everything easier.</p> <p>very interesting!</p> Grant,

very interesting entry! That made me think why some mundane "possessions" develop in a special one. With the history (story), the cultural biography of the object, we can understand the owner too. An old idea from Belk, Kopytoff and yours.

But what is "new" is the idea of researching objects that aren't anymore with their owners, they are in the world now. Revealing their stories, we can understand what happened before, and what was the "consequences" in todays life. As you said, maybe we are going to have a horde of new genealogists.

And with google you can discover lots of things too (I have done with my two last names to understand a little bit of my ancestors). It made everything easier.

very interesting!

]]> By: Tom Guarriello http://cultureby.com/2007/12/heres-what-i-go.html/comment-page-1#comment-2110 Tom Guarriello Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:48:09 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-2110 <p>You, my friend, are one interesting person.</p> <p>Now, in this case, "interesting" is not a euphemism for "weird," "strange," "Canadian," or any of the other things that people might assume. </p> <p>No, I really mean, someone who invariably views the world from a point of view that elicits fresh insights. </p> <p>Oh, and your sister sounds interesting, too.</p> <p>Happy New Year!</p> <p>Dinner with you guys soon.</p> <p>t</p> You, my friend, are one interesting person.

Now, in this case, "interesting" is not a euphemism for "weird," "strange," "Canadian," or any of the other things that people might assume.

No, I really mean, someone who invariably views the world from a point of view that elicits fresh insights.

Oh, and your sister sounds interesting, too.

Happy New Year!

Dinner with you guys soon.

t

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