Neil Hopcroft

A digital misfit

“According to Rosen, we’re already succumbing to our desire for “constant, escapist fantasy” by favoring passive entertainment to active participation in society. We risk succumbing to a “vast cultural impatience” with anything that doesn’t fit neatly into our narrowly defined parameters….Now iPod users are accused of a similar withdrawal from the world at large. They “might be enjoying their unique life soundtrack, but they are also practicing ‘absent presence’ in public spaces,” Rosen writes.”


Categories: Memories.

/ 6 Comments

6 comments

  1. stouters

    Interesting piece. Not sure I agree with all of it – after all, Walkmans have been around for 20 years with no deeply destabilising effects as yet – but Rosen’s right I think in that there is a withdrawal from public space going on.

    I know people who are fairly revolted at the thought of going on public transport these days. In the US they stopped building houses with front porches several decades back. As to cinemas? Well, you can’t just pause things and make a cup of tea can you?

    A consequence of hyper-individualism I guess. Not to mention the increased turnover time of capital and the need to divide and conquer to sell more crud to us all. Then again, when they start pumping adverts at you in buses and train carriages, as they will do imminently, retreating into the halo of distortion provided by an iPod is the only act of rebellion we’ve got left.

    Oh, and if I ever nod at another iPod wearer while having the white earbuds in myself, please take me out and shoot me.

    Reply
  2. ex_lark_asc

    What happens to our ability to commit to a long-term partnership when we’re used to disengaging as soon as we become bored or uncomfortable?

    Very valid point. That’s a tendency I’ve noticed in myself as well as in several of my partners.

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    • neilh

      Commerce relies on churn, so I suppose the answer is to increase relationship churn too, the more divorces there are the more marriages there can be, selling the next dream, a better dream.

      Reply
  3. neilh

    But if you live in London you don’t want to participate, the world is bad, its just something you have to put up with, you can soothe it a bit with music but its never going to go away.

    Reply
  5. neilh

    Agreed – I’m in no hurry to go back there. And there are a whole long list of other places I’d not consider either.

    Reply

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