Althouse: "Most of the groves, courtyards, gardens, fountains, artworks, open spaces and architectural complexes have disappeared behind a cloaking device."

December 14, 2009

"Most of the groves, courtyards, gardens, fountains, artworks, open spaces and architectural complexes have disappeared behind a cloaking device."

What we've lost, looking at screens.

10 comments:

Unknown said...: Given the fact that there were way too many people wandering around in a fog already, it's no wonder RahmBO and Co. thought they could do what they wanted with the country and nobody would notice.

In any case, The Blonde hates all that stuff and swears she'll never become "soap on a rope". Usually, I tell her she needs to get with the real world. With something like this, however, she's got the right idea.; 12/14/09, 10:23 PM
Methadras said...: Why is this a problem for people? Put the phone down and look at stuff. When you are done looking at stuff, then reconnect with people miles and miles away using technology. Is that so hard to fathom? I mean, it used to be you had a write a letter that took weeks or months to get to it's destination. Now, you can contact and get contacted anytime day or night or not allow it to happen? You are in control and you can choose who to interact with. This seeming need to brandish the glory days of yesteryear is a little over-simplified. This is an evolution of how technology has found a niche to benefit those who wish to use it. For a fee of course.; 12/14/09, 10:27 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Nonsense. Computers, like flying cars, are part of the glorious future I was promised and have been waiting all my life for.

Spending time at my computer hasn't deprived me of any of that - I'm more into creating, than looking at what's been created, anyway - but NewAge thinking has altered my world-view enough that A) I'm more reluctant to want to go out, where I have to mingle with those I don't know, to look at such things and B) I'm much less likely to create something, to make others happy, like I used to.

Nowadays, I don't care too much if y'all ever see great art again:

I care that, probably for the rest of my life, I'll be forced to endure the low-rent sleazefest that y'all keep presenting to me as creativity.

I know I'm in a fight for my life now, and, Honest Injun, it ain't computers that's trying to kill me but the anomie that NewAge has forced upon me.

If I'm missing anything, it's my life without this extra layer of mind-boggling bullshit I've been introduced to.; 12/14/09, 10:31 PM
Fred4Pres said...: I make the kids look out the window when the scenery is nice. Even if it is bleak, it is something to see.; 12/14/09, 11:16 PM
traditionalguy said...: Our point of view does expand and contract, and digital screens are not the same as the real experience using all five senses. And I am usualy surprised at how much more can be seen when riding as a passenger compared to being the driver along the same roads...you can see sideways for long looks. So what!We adapt.; 12/15/09, 2:23 AM
Beth said...: I've been staring at this screen pretty much solid since last Friday, grading papers and exams - I collect and grade my assignments in Word, and use software to manage my grades.

But I'm keenly aware of the rain outside, that started Saturday and only occasionally has slacked off since then. The one time I did venture out this weekend I got caught in a flash flood and it took four hours to make it less than five miles home. The rain just won't quit.; 12/15/09, 2:32 AM
Meade said...: I love the screen and I love going through the screen.

See ya.; 12/15/09, 6:53 AM
Icepick said...: Until I clicked through I through Prof. Althouse's comment "looking at screens" had mislead me. I thought the article would be about all the physical screen erected everywhere there might be anything dangerous.

For example, most swimming pools in newer homes are in screened enclosures. (I'm speaking of Florida here, as that's the state I live in.) A lot of the older homes also put screened emnclosures around their pools. It's a safety issue - we can't have wee little ones wandering around falling into pools all willy-nilly and drowning.

But these screens block the view. Sometimes they obscure the architectural details on houses (this usually only matters on aolder houses, as the modern ones usually aren't that appealing anyway), and from the inside one often can't see the lakes or orchards beyond. (Not that we have many orchards left in Florida. We've imported lots of Mexicans to build lots of crappy houses for lots of imported Yankees to live in.)

And why would children want to go outside? When I was in single digits (back in the 1970s mostly) if I wanted to ride a bike, I'd go outside, get my bike out of the carport and go. A child these days would have to go to the garage, put on a helment, kneee pads and elbow pads, get their bike and go. Do you have any idea how much hotter all that safety gear will make it to ride a bike in Florida in July? Hell, I wouldn't want to go outside either. Better to stay inside and play the new Tony Hawk game on Wii.

It's not so much that reality sucks, it's that the regulatory environment has made the real environment an unpleasant experience.; 12/15/09, 11:55 AM
LordSomber said...: It's not just the phone or laptop. There are telescreens hovering everywhere. Every bar. The train. The convenience store. Even my bank just put in 3 huge TVs behind the teller. How do I tune them out?! Maybe with an iPod...; 12/15/09, 12:02 PM
Duncan said...: Of course I used to do the same thing with physical books that I now do with e-books. I carried them everywhere and read them everywhere including when walking.

I guess I was just ahead of my time.

At least I'm not texting and tweeting.; 12/15/09, 4:06 PM