Very interesting editorial from Neal Stephenson in New York Times

Neal Stephenson is the author of Snow Crash where he described and coined the term Metaverse. SL is loosely based on the Metaverse for those who don't know. He has written a very interesting editorial on Star Wars in recent New York Times. There are certain sections in his article that in my opinion perfectly reflect many of the ongoing struggles and discusssions about people in SL. I cut and pasted some of the interesting parts:

"In sum, very little of the new film (Star Wars Episode III) makes sense, taken as a freestanding narrative. What's interesting about this is how little it matters. Millions of people are happily spending their money to watch a movie they don't understand. What gives?

Modern English has given us two terms we need to explain this phenomenon: "geeking out" and "vegging out." To geek out on something means to immerse yourself in its details to an extent that is distinctly abnormal - and to have a good time doing it. To veg out, by contrast, means to enter a passive state and allow sounds and images to wash over you without troubling yourself too much about what it all means."
*
*
*
"Scientists and technologists have the same uneasy status in our society as the Jedi in the Galactic Republic. They are scorned by the cultural left and the cultural right, and young people avoid science and math classes in hordes. The tedious particulars of keeping ourselves alive, comfortable and free are being taken offline to countries where people are happy to sweat the details, as long as we have some foreign exchange left to send their way. Nothing is more seductive than to think that we, like the Jedi, could be masters of the most advanced technologies while living simple lives: to have a geek standard of living and spend our copious leisure time vegging out.

If the "Star Wars" movies are remembered a century from now, it'll be because they are such exact parables for this state of affairs. Young people in other countries will watch them in classrooms as an answer to the question: Whatever became of that big rich country that used to buy the stuff we make? The answer: It went the way of the old Republic."

I know NYT requires registration, but could you provide a link to the article? I don't read the Times daily, but I try to religiously read everything by Mr. Stephenson.

Ok, by that analysis, I'm definitely a geeker-outer in SL, rather than a vegger-outer.

coco

Ok here is the link (requires free registration):

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/opinion/17stephenson.html

And here is another interesting bits from the article, especially the last sentence so pertinent on the techno/geek content creators vs consumers/prosumers in SL:

""Concentrate on the moment. Feel, don't think. Trust your instincts," says a Jedi to the young Anakin in Episode I, immediately before a pod race in which Anakin is likely to get killed. It is distinctly odd counsel coming from a member of the Jedi order, the geekiest people in the universe: they have beards and ponytails, they dress in army blankets, they are expert fighter pilots, they build their own laser swords from scratch.

And (as is made clear in the "Clone Wars" novels) the masses and the elites both claim to admire them, but actually fear and loathe them because they hate being dependent upon their powers.

Anakin wins that race by repairing his crippled racer in an ecstasy of switch-flipping that looks about as intuitive as starting up a nuclear submarine. Clearly the boy is destined to be adopted into the Jedi order, where he will develop his geek talents - not by studying calculus but by meditating a lot and learning to trust his feelings. I lap this stuff up along with millions, maybe billions, of others. Why? Because every single one of us is as dependent on science and technology - and, by extension, on the geeks who make it work - as a patient in intensive care. Yet we much prefer to think otherwise."

I dont see anything geek about it, even though Star Wars appeals to a geek audience in stereotypes.

Neither would I compare them to scientists really.


The Jedi Order is basically teaching Zen, and is very similar to Zen, Tao, and other Eastern teachings. They don't wear army blankets, they wear outfits that fit their lifestyle of simplicity and martial arts.

If you compare the Jedi Order to Eastern philosophy and practices you will come up with so many similarities you will think the Jedi Order is just a science fictionalized version of it.

Even George Lucas himself has said in several places I believe that the Jedi teachings and Zen are similar.

I think Stephenson is making a political and intellectual analogy - that as the Republic depended on the Jedi for the welfare of society, and yet were uninterested in their "arts" and critical of them - we depend on science for our welfare, and yet we are uninterested in science and critical of scientists. So as the Republic "fell" because they did not nurture the core group, we shall fall for similar reasons.

Personally, if I'm going to think apocalyptically, I prefer Jared Diamond and Vernor Vinge.

I second that.. lol

Thanks for the article link. I think his conclusions are spot on.
I made a similar observation on the "Veg Out" phenomenon here: /120/2c/49254/1.html




But "The Force/Farce" is a long way from Zen and more closer to a distorted version of Taoist teachings simplified for mass market "good vs evil" plot consumption. Just because Zen and Tao come from the mysterious "East" does not mean they are in any way similar disciplines.
eg: http://www.exn.ca/starwars/taoism.cfm

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the escapist movies...as long as you confine them to the entertainment category. It's sad to see people absorb this stuff without thinking there may be some deeper wisdom behind it that might be worth a bit of energy exploring.

As an aside to Neal S's metaverse concepts I just reread Alexander Besher's "Rim" last night after a long time...it's also an interesting take on the Vachuru metropolis theme.