the most important essay you'll read all year

Gin, Television, and Social Surplus at World Changing

Really great article about the role of the internet in social interaction and in our relationship with media. Basically, it encapsulates the argument I've been having with my mother for years.

Excerpt:

If I had to pick the critical technology for the 20th century, the bit of social lubricant without which the wheels would've come off the whole enterprise, I'd say it was the sitcom. Starting with the Second World War a whole series of things happened--rising GDP per capita, rising educational attainment, rising life expectancy and, critically, a rising number of people who were working five-day work weeks. For the first time, society forced onto an enormous number of its citizens the requirement to manage something they had never had to manage before--free time.

( archived )

the most important essay you'll read all year

Gin, Television, and Social Surplus at World Changing

Really great article about the role of the internet in social interaction and in our relationship with media. Basically, it encapsulates the argument I've been having with my mother for years.

Excerpt:

If I had to pick the critical technology for the 20th century, the bit of social lubricant without which the wheels would've come off the whole enterprise, I'd say it was the sitcom. Starting with the Second World War a whole series of things happened--rising GDP per capita, rising educational attainment, rising life expectancy and, critically, a rising number of people who were working five-day work weeks. For the first time, society forced onto an enormous number of its citizens the requirement to manage something they had never had to manage before--free time.

( archived )