The age of frozen self has finally arrived i.e. you either update your web presence, or remain “frozen” in cyber space.
Years from now, people remotely connected to you will Google you and mine all the intimate data about you or written by you. Personal digital archive.
At the turn of our century, Command-and-Control model dominated management practices. Now, with better algorithm, faster broadband and only a few degrees of separation, suddenly we all “footloose” like Kevin Bacon (who is purportedly connected to everyone in Hollywood by one film or another).
Mass media gave ways to niche media. And we start hearing voices from the fringe. It only takes a camera and an upload.
News personalities are not making nearly enough money as once thought. It’s an age of “do-it-yourself journalism” or Pro-Am.
People point, shoot, upload and save. Gone are the photographers, photo shops, post office and stationery stores.
With Wal-Mart moving in, we are just about to see a complete overhaul of small town America. The Age of Nextville.
No wonder the trend now is to move to North Dakota and the likes. As long as there is broadband connection, a heater and a Wal-Mart.
Online, it doesn’t matter where you live. Or that you are a dog, as they say.
As long as you can repackage yourself, brush up your web presence and leave behind well-orchestrated digital footprint.
It’s a new world. It’s a beautiful world i.e. a hybrid world of on and off-line, virtual and organic relationships. Charlie Chaplin was only partially correct. We are not just an extension of the Machine. It’s the Machine that has become us, shaped and repackaged according to our narcissistic image. I am beautiful. So are you. As long as there is still Photoshop. .
Thang Nguyen 555 