A quick experience, the other day when in Paris. I was looking at a subway map with a friend… We were talking in English when a tall American in her 20’s warned us: “do not go there, it is dangerous…” talking about Barbès, and yes… a quite colorful neighborhood in Paris! Granted, she wanted to be sweet to a fellow citizen (my friend). I was crushed. When rumors prevent mingling and discovery. Is technology also doing this?
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alf says:
Sweet (her willingness to protect) and sad… It reminded me of taking a friend of ours to Place St Marthe (in the 10th) and going through rue st Maur. He’s been living in Paris for 4 years, in the Marais… and have never been up to Belleville or Menilmontant - maybe 30 min walk away… because it was dangerous! He looked around surprised and said that in fact, it was nice and safe!
Biases, prejudices… can we get rid of them?
As for the technology bit? what do you mean? I guess in an ideal world because technology gives access to information and knowledge, it should limit, decrease prejudices. Yet, technology is also a support for gossips and story exchanges reinforcing prejudices and biases… This reminds us, if needed, that technology does not mean much, what we need to take into account its technology-in-use, the practices it supports…
al
October 8th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Yaz says:
I was wondering in what context technologies enable the serendipity of encounters or, on the contrary create virtual corridors (passages) in the urban fabric. Tagging, recommending and sharing personal information and experiences with friends has a little to do with spreading rumors…
October 12th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
al says:
interesting question… it brings us back in some ways to “building space with words”. How do you create connections or walls through the technology? I am not sure… I will tend to say that it affords encounters: I read your blog, like the post, forward it to friends or colleagues who might find it interesting, mention it on my blog. Yet, there have been cases of rumors or false information spread around.
You might find the article by Blum that I discussed on building_space_with_words http://blogs.poly.edu/bsww/2009/10/17/in-cities-the-virtual-enhances-the-physical-andrew-blum/ interesting. I find this idea of technology as a tool to “manage” the city, supporting its social fabrics, really fascinating.
al
October 20th, 2009 at 8:48 pm