[WEB4LIB] Fw: [Libs-Or] [Fwd: Our future??]

[Chris Gray]

Concerning the video's claim that commercial interests will guaranty
that we get a network of information that is largely watered down and
unreliable (this would be something new?), I'm inclined to respond by
quoting Sturgeon's Law:

"Sturgeon's Law /prov./ "Ninety percent of everything is crap". Derived
from a quote by science fiction author Theodore Sturgeon, who once said,
"Sure, 90% of science fiction is crud. That's because 90% of everything is
crud." Oddly, when Sturgeon's Law is cited, the final word is almost
invariably changed to `crap'. Compare Hanlon's Razor, Ninety-Ninety Rule.
Though this maxim originated in SF fandom, most hackers recognize it and
are all too aware of its truth."
--http://www.jargon.net/jargonfile/s/SturgeonsLaw.html

It's a depressing thought in that the good is always swamped by the bad,
but it's an encouraging one in that the good is always there if you're
willing to look for it.  C'est la vie.

Keep reading Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance and keep pursuing
Quality.  Don't get bent out of shape coveting what Amazon and Google and
Microsoft seem to have.

Chris

"The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up
in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office." -Robert
Frost


On Thu, 21 Apr 2005, Ward Price wrote:

> You saw it here first?  (I saw this on the Libs-Or mailing list.)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
> > This was sent to an OCLC list.  I have been thinking about it and am not
> quite sure what to say.  I am curious to know what you might think.
> >
> > ============================================================
>
> >
> > Colleagues,
> >
> > At ACRL I learned about an eight-minute streaming video that you may find
> > .... well, troubling, pure fantasy, depressing ... interesting.  In any
> > case you should probably take the time to view it.  While it is about "the
> > press" as we know it today we might see some dangerous similarities to our
> > situation in libraries.
> >
> > The video is called EPIC - <http://www.robinsloan.com/epic/>Evolving
> > Personal Information Construct.  (http://www.robinsloan.com/epic/)
> >
> > EPIC is a history of the development of the Web as an information resource
> > from the recent past to 2014.  The focus is on what happens to the press
> > over this period.
> >
> > The video begins:
> >
> > It is the best of times.  It is the worst of time.  In the year 2014
> people
> > have access to a breadth and depth of information unimaginable in an
> > earlier age. Everyone contributes in some way.  Everyone participates to
> > create a living, breathing mediascape. However ........
> >
> > What is your reaction? Does this have any relevance for libraries?
> > ============================================================
> >
> >
>
> C. Ward Price    Web Librarian
> University of Texas-Pan American
> http://www.lib.panam.edu/
> wprice at panam.edu
> (956) 316-7046
>
>