AOL-T/W the new shepherds of the herd?
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AOL Nation
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Nietzsche said that "the herd instinct of obedience is inherited best." In other words, it is easy for herd-dwellers to follow the path of least resistance in developing their worldviews. Nietzsche had this insight before the days of electronic media.
The AOL-T/W merger simply represents a centralization of the shepherds, making it easier for them to round up the herd. Since there are already so many herd-dwellers around, things won't change much. Those of us who strive to overcome the herd and escape it won't be affected at all, unless the shepherds begin restricting access to our information.
Look at the reactions to this event: business herd-dwellers point at how profitable this could be. Those of us outside the herd point out how much stronger the herd will be, and how much more difficult it will be for herd-dwellers to escape it.
To understand the effect mass media has on society, try unplugging your television for 6 months. Stop listening to commercial radio for 6 months. Don't read mainstream press for 6 months. A haze will be lifted, and you will see more clearly.
I myself have just scheduled a T/W cable-modem install this week, before this announcement. I will probably go ahead with it, simply because I don't have major servers to run and it does represent the best technology at the best price available to me. But this merger, if it imposes itself upon the spirit of free communication on the net by restricting the availability of technology to those who want it, will be A Bad Thing.
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The AOL-T/W merger simply represents a centralization of the shepherds, making it easier for them to round up the herd. Since there are already so many herd-dwellers around, things won't change much. Those of us who strive to overcome the herd and escape it won't be affected at all, unless the shepherds begin restricting access to our information.
Look at the reactions to this event: business herd-dwellers point at how profitable this could be. Those of us outside the herd point out how much stronger the herd will be, and how much more difficult it will be for herd-dwellers to escape it.
To understand the effect mass media has on society, try unplugging your television for 6 months. Stop listening to commercial radio for 6 months. Don't read mainstream press for 6 months. A haze will be lifted, and you will see more clearly.
I myself have just scheduled a T/W cable-modem install this week, before this announcement. I will probably go ahead with it, simply because I don't have major servers to run and it does represent the best technology at the best price available to me. But this merger, if it imposes itself upon the spirit of free communication on the net by restricting the availability of technology to those who want it, will be A Bad Thing.