devolving 10 years, internetz time.
Loading ...I have been thinking since last class how I should try and intervene on this space of old school communications. Last week I covered Usenet, and while it was pretty interesting, it was pretty hard. Thats not to say I didn’t like it, but it got me thinking about all sorts of ways the internet used to be much more about. IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, is protocol for chatroom, within a self contained program. Like AIM or some of the newer instant messaging technologies, a person can log into IRC from a variety of clients. And while IRC is still widely used by a variety of people ( much like usenet,) the technolgy behind it could have been eclipsed by a variety of technologies.
However, I would be lying to you all if I didn’t say for a moment I lost a little faith in where i was going with all of this.  Semi paniced, I emailed Mushon, and actuallly in confessing I didn’t feel like I had any good ideas, I came up with a few:
Mushon,
I am having trouble coming up with an “intervention” within looking at ways of communication on the internet. I have looked at usenet/newgroups, IRC, listservs seen how they kind of melded into bulletin boards, instant messaging, and social networks, but I am not exactly sure how I can intervene with such a historical approach.
I have been trying to think about these platforms in terms of your article, (which I am sorry if my synopsis does not do it justice, I don’t think it does) which has got me thinking about the limitations and context of each. Each came about at different times, at all were cutting edge when they were at their height and many of the limitations in interface were largely due to limitations in technology, not entirely out of specific choices.
The only thing I could think of which would be sort of a counter intervention would be to get people who understand the most evolved of these tools, and “devolve” them, which is in a sense what I have been doing myself. I myself have been going out of my way to understand how these new web tools have come to be, and pulled back many of the obscuring layer of polish in order to understand the roots behind “today’s” interfaces. I don’t know if this really counts as a intervention….more like a de-evolution…
I think it also sort of stems from my fascination with “old guard” computer users, from my CS professors who refuse to code in anything but emacs or VIM, still use pine and SSH to their home computer to check their email and generally prefer the command line for all computing tasks, and how some even refuse to use a mouse. I see usenet and IRC sort of being sustained by this type of crowd, one which has come to understand a computer as a tool for people to use and shape what they do with it vs a mentality that one has to adhere to how windows/mac works, and thats that.
ok, so that was more of a little rant than a question, but you have any advice for how I can move forward? I just have been looking and looking and I am not sure I found anything…
Thanks, Max
Mushon got back to me with a simple idea:
Hi Max,
I don’t have much time, but…
Think of a survey among IRC users, with a couple of questions, or even just one…
Try to find out is it a matter of tradition or does IRC really provide a fundamental advantage to other social media.
I think that by raising the questions you might actually challenge the perceptions of those that often act from habit only.
See you tomorrow,
Good luck!
Mushon Zer-Aviv
So I was set towards IRC!
I chose Colloquy for MAC (which if you are a mac user and need IRC software, I have never seen it been implemented so nicely!)Â I had a couple of servers to pick from, and at first I saw one i recognized freenode.net, a server for Free and Open Source Applications, which I know would be hoppin and bobbin at 4:30am, but I wanted to try a more “normal” room and see if I could get anyone to talk to me.
EDIT:Â I actually lost the account I have, but my question got lost in a sea of penis jokes, and my question went completely unaddressed.
Feeling rather rejected from the 20something IRC room, I decided to go to a place where I knew they’d be nice.
The Ubuntu Linux support room!
(I know you thought this post couldnt get any worse!)
checking in at about 1200 users online as I type, it was by far the most populated room I saw while on IRC. When I joined, they were trying to tell some n00b how to parition his harddrive, so I just went ahead and asked a since question:
[04:34am] mbs348: hey sorry for a slightly off topic question, but why do any of you think IRC is still so widely used when there is lots of other newfangled technologys communities could use to chat?
[04:34am] juzzy_: IRC is instant
[04:34am] bsdnewb07: mbs348: it used to, not any more
[04:34am] hischild: mbs348, it’s easy to use, even for new people.
[04:35am] IAMSAM: all of the above
[04:35am] bsdnewb07: irc isnt as popular as it was about 5 years ago
[04:35am] Filiph: hischild, http://pastebin.com/m33833537
[04:35am] juzzy_: mbs348, why do you think usenet is still used? because it still works
[04:35am] mbs348: but do you think maybe it out of habit?
[04:35am] mbs348: ok cool
[04:35am] IAMSAM: plus, you can incorporate into chat rooms on websites easily
[04:35am] mbs348: thats a good answer
[04:35am] coldhak joined the chat room.
[04:35am] bsdnewb07: yeh java applets
[04:35am] mbs348: so its portable
[04:35am] juzzy_: mbs348, what else is out that is better than irc?
[04:35am] IAMSAM: exactly
[04:35am] hischild: Filiph, you should type +30000M
[04:35am] mbs348: thx
As you can see, it was pretty much business as usual. I tried to find some other rooms that would answer my question, but mostly people seemed to be talking to people they knew in these rooms and really didn’t want anything to do with me. The only other server I could find with much activity at this hour was a furry room, but I don’t know if I am quite ready for that intervention myself.
I think I want to continue using IRC, partially because I am so impressed with Colloquy http://colloquy.info/
but also I could see how it could be fun, instant gratification. So I will continue for next week, but I think I might also try and bug my dear CS professor who still uses all sorts of old computer technology like it came out yesterday, and see if I can pick his brain as to why he does what he does.
bedtime.
Hey Max,
I’m glad I could help.
While there’s something to be said for transparency, I must say your post is not very accessible, and you should try to make it more so if you really want the rest of us to give you feedback.
Some editing, titles and bullet points might do the trick. Think about it…