Topic 2 of 42: Introductions
Tue, Aug 27, 1996 (08:17) |
William (william)
Please introduce yourself and let's give this thing another kick-start. I'm William Meyers and you can find out what I'm up to in a flash by going to http://www.spring.com/~wmmeyers
144 responses total.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 1 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Aug 27, 1996 (13:40) * 2 lines
ptw here. I am chief bottle washer and head cook for the Spring, host of this conference and VP of NetRabbit, a builder of electronic commerce websites. I've known William through the years and he has a fascinating story and besides, he's pretty eloquent at times. Hopefully some aspects of his experiences will unfold via this conference and you'll get to know him (and each other) better. That is, if this conference somehow attains critical mass. William has set the table by creating this conference a
d putting together a gorgeous (and expanding) website. Now, to find the guests . . .
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 2 of 144: William (william) * Wed, Aug 28, 1996 (00:07) * 3 lines
I would only add that our mutual friend Marc Greene, Manhattan webmeister & multimedia magician, should be joining us soon to add some depth to a potentially enlightening conversation about virtuous as well as virtual reality.
Wm
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 3 of 144: Marcury (marcury) * Thu, Aug 29, 1996 (23:56) * 4 lines
Boy Howdy,
Thought I'd leave a post and see if this thing is working. Let's see what we can get started here.
Marcury
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 4 of 144: William (william) * Sun, Sep 1, 1996 (02:18) * 2 lines
Perhaps we could start by having a three-way conversation among those of us who have shown up so far as to how to make this conference corner work better, or at least generate a livelier conversation. I'd like to know how many people, potentially, are participating in Spring conferences; what their interests might be expected to be; and what we could all possibly do, among us, to stir up some juice. This has been too much like dead air so far.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 5 of 144: William (william) * Sun, Sep 1, 1996 (02:22) * 4 lines
I'd also like to know why, in spite of the three separate topics we having going here, and a number of responses within all three, none of them is registering in the main directory, where we're recorded as having 0 topics and 0 responses. Something's not being done completely right, but what? Where are you, Paul? Given up already, and on to the next thing?
Wm
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 6 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Sep 1, 1996 (10:59) * 18 lines
That's because, William, you haven't figured out how your conference list
works. These stats refer to 'new' stuff, stuff you haven't seen yet.
This will become more meaningful as this conference goes and you're
dealing with a lot more new responses.
I have hardly given up. I'm planning new conferences on politics,
movies, tv, genx, health, community and more. The most active
conferences now are yapp, sports, and apps (which has a huge traffic draw
from http://www.stroud.com).
One way to 'pump up' this conference would be to seek out other high
volume, high traffic web sites that are related to the subject matter of
this conference and invite them to add a link to here for their
participants. You can find these sites by doing an internet search.
Want to know about the coolest search engine going? Check out
http://www.webtaxi.com
Sure, let's get a three way going till we get more traffic.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 7 of 144: William (william) * Mon, Sep 2, 1996 (23:44) * 2 lines
Suggest we confine this topic to personal intros and the nuts & bolts of conferencing, html'ing and web-surfing. My friend Melody, who teaches Introductory HTML and Advanced HTML, should be joining us shortly. What's the story with the latest QuarkXTension for HTML? Is that the HTML editor of choice? Or is any of them preferable to the bare-bones version?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 8 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Sep 3, 1996 (00:12) * 1 lines
Take a look at the html editors topics in our apps conference. HotDog is my html editor of choice. Really, any word processor or text editor will suffice.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 9 of 144: William E. Roland (KitchenManager) * Sat, Sep 7, 1996 (15:21) * 4 lines
Hey, new guy here. My html editor of choice is notepad.
Easy, quick, and, oh, so much fun! This appeared to be
the most interesting topic off the main menu, so I really
just stopped by to see what's going on.Ciao, me.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 10 of 144: William (william) * Mon, Sep 9, 1996 (00:43) * 2 lines
There are several people crowded around the gate, waiting to be given entrance and introduced. How can we make it easier for them to get in? William E. Roland, I don't know why your handle is KitchenManager or much you're up to, so maybe you could introduce yourself at greater length. So far, it's nerds by default.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 11 of 144: William E. Roland (KitchenManager) * Thu, Sep 12, 1996 (21:31) * 11 lines
Hello, again, sorry for the delay
but I don't actually own a computer.
I depend upon the availability of
my inlaws. Nerd is a good place to
start, but my handle refers to my
job in the real world (no debating,please)
where I work in a great Italian
restaurant in Austin. Other than that,
I'm thirty and have varied and eclectic
interests including world domination.
Ran out of space, see ya soon. Ciao, me.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 12 of 144: William (william) * Fri, Sep 13, 1996 (00:13) * 4 lines
So do you have any opinions about world cultures, the state of the planet, saving the world, or the role of physical-fitness centers in generating a high level of consciousness? Does anybody?
Ciao, Wm
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 13 of 144: William E. Roland (KitchenManager) * Sat, Sep 14, 1996 (15:39) * 5 lines
Hello, again, everyone. Wm, most of my opinions about world culture are limited
to modern tribalism/neo-paganism but overall I would consider myself a preservationist. The state of the planet is deteriorating, including the loss
of cultures, but as far as the outdoors go I tend to be a conservationist.
Physical-fitness centers? Couldn't one consider restaraunts to be physical fitness centers? Anyplace that can generate extreme levels of pleasure, pain, or sensory deprivation can be used to heighten consciousness. Well, I.m off to read the other topics in the category, so that I can be a more informed member of this particular society.
WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 14 of 144: William (william) * Mon, Sep 16, 1996 (00:23) * 1 lines
See my response in saving the world for thoughts on cultures. I would consider restaurants physical-challenge centers -- a physical-fitness center, in my mind, is where you would have to put out some effort (not just money) to gain something back. A university or any kind of genuine school would be a mental-fitness center. Any monastery worthy of the name should qualify as a spiritual-fitness center. Pushing against something, not just feeling something, seems important to staying fit.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 15 of 144: Mika-Petri Lauronen (Mixu) * Mon, Sep 16, 1996 (04:42) * 5 lines
Howdy, everybody. It is the Finnish eccentric, born in the family of
witches (no kidding) here again.
William talked about being fit. I agree - we should make sure that the
world keeps fit. That way we'll keep fit, too.
Oops, gotta go - lecture's starting!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 16 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Sep 17, 1996 (10:37) * 1 lines
Welcome back Mixu!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 17 of 144: William E. Roland (KitchenManager) * Wed, Sep 18, 1996 (15:21) * 5 lines
Checking in again. Actually, Wm, any place considered to be a fitness center of
any kind would also be a mental-fitness center, because of the determination and
self-control needed to generate any type of true rewards. As to my other
thoughts, I was focusing on the higher consciousness aspect of your message and
not on the physical-fitness aspect. Mi culpa. That's it for now. WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 18 of 144: William (william) * Fri, Sep 20, 1996 (01:09) * 5 lines
Dear Kitchenmanager
Write to Morningside Press, 200 West 86th Street, 6L, New York, NY 10024 for a catalog of earth-saving hemp fashions and products.
As for higher consciousness, hemp was an introduction to that for me. The higher grades, of course.
Wm
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 19 of 144: Matthew McClure (mmc) * Mon, Sep 23, 1996 (13:28) * 12 lines
My name is Matthew McClure. I used to be an activist when I was
at the hippie monastery William and PTW lived on, the Farm in
Tennessee. When I left the Farm, I found the exigencies of earning
a living made it harder to allot enough time to make much of a
difference. Maybe that's changing now.
Two things have happened in the past couple of weeks - my younger
daughter took part in a save-the-redwoods demonstration at Headwaters
forest, and I heard Helen Caldicott on the radio pushing her autobiography.
Helen reminded me that our fragile ecosystem is in imminent danger. It would
be a matter of regret if I didn't do what I could to help keep life on the
planet.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 20 of 144: Clif Figallo (fig) * Mon, Sep 23, 1996 (16:43) * 4 lines
Count me as another ex-resident of the Farm and acquaintance of William. I left there in 1983 and have worked in the computer networking field since 1985. I'm now researching an idea that will make use of the Internet to help turn the tide against the increasing degradation of our habitat here on earth. Focusing on spirituality and the relationships we individuals share with each other and with all living things was what the Farm and Stephen Gaskin's early teachings were all about. Pollution and defor
station are now teaching the rest of humanity the same lessons. Now we have to get practical and really make a difference, so I'm glad to rediscover William and his work.
Hi, William!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 21 of 144: William E. Roland (KitchenManager) * Fri, Sep 27, 1996 (14:26) * 5 lines
Hey, William, are you a preservationist or a conservationist? And why do
so many people get them confused? I put a link to this conference up on
GeoCities, so maybe some more people will come our way. Well, my time's
up again.
WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 22 of 144: William (william) * Fri, Oct 4, 1996 (01:13) * 6 lines
I'm back, thank God...it's a jungle out there. I'm inundated in so much stuff I have to be careful in setting my priorities every day. Anyway, Matthew, Cliff, William, et al., thank you for showing up. I will be more of an attendant host to this conference...
I'm both a preservationist and a conservationist. I believe in preserving as much of our original natural habitat as possible and conserving as much energy as possible. I'm immediately suspect of conservation in the name of "using resources wisely," "harvesting oldgrowth," etc. I think the Headwaters deal as proposed by Feinstein is a typical Clinton compromise, just this side of a sell-out. Basically I think it's a moral travesty to allow "venture capitalists" to purchase something as priceless and irrep
aceable as a virgin redwood grove in the first place. Buying as much as possible back from them at a high price stinks to high heaven. So does an electoral system that bars candidates with serious constituencies from entering a debate. I thank God (the heavens / Buddha) for providing us with enough people with enough bodhisattvic courage and determination and grit to get out and put their bodies on the line between the natural world and the despoilers. I'm sick of seeing the world wasted by the ignorant u
derbelly of humanity. When are the people of wisdom of compassion -- of which there are so many -- finally going to take a united stand? The planet can't wait much longer.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 23 of 144: Matthew McClure (mmc) * Thu, Nov 14, 1996 (18:23) * 10 lines
Interesting point you raise about the Headwaters.
I mean, granting that we live in a society that permits private ownership
of land, where do we go from here in order to protect what's left? I don't
really think it stinks for the government to decide it's worth a bunch of
money to save the environment, and to pay these companies for their land.
It seems like a reasonable use of capital to me.
I also think it would be good to make some laws about how people can use
what kinds of land, so that we don't perpetuate the problem.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 24 of 144: bob99 (bob99) * Sun, Dec 1, 1996 (03:23) * 1 lines
Thanks to Paul Terryu Walhus for inviting me to the Spring. Why did clicking my left mouse button delete my previous message, which was more detailed?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 25 of 144: bob99 (bob99) * Sun, Dec 1, 1996 (03:23) * 1 lines
Thanks to Paul Terryu Walhus for inviting me to the Spring. Why did clicking my left mouse button delete my previous message, which was more detailed?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 26 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Dec 1, 1996 (08:34) * 1 lines
It depends on where your mouse was pointed when you left clicked. What you want to avoid is clicking your mouse twice or double clicking because that results in two identical responses.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 27 of 144: Alonzo W. Coleman (AlonzoC) * Sun, Dec 8, 1996 (17:06) * 3 lines
Thanks for the invite. I am 43 and currently work in a hospital as a respiratory
therapist. I am more into holistic health though. I am a Baha'i by faith, and also a Star Trek fan. I don't know if they go hand in hand, but it would be nice to see a bright future for mankind. I am new to this site, so maybe discussions about The brave new world our children are about to enter in the year 2000 might be of interest to me. Looking forward to having some thoughtful
conversations.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 28 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Dec 8, 1996 (18:28) * 1 lines
Great suggestion, I'll start the topic now.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 29 of 144: Dani (Dani) * Mon, Dec 9, 1996 (13:06) * 5 lines
Hi. Dani in Alaska here...you know, the state with ANWR...the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (or something like that). For years, Alaska's federal representation has been pushing to get oil drilling allowed in that refuge and one administration after another has been reluctant to do so. In the years of Reagan and Bush the administration agreed that there should be oil drilling/exploration there but the democratic Congress said no. Presently, the Congress agrees but the Clinton administration doesn't.
laska is such a strange state...it has a culture all its own. :)
Of course, I have my own opinions on ANWR but I am not totally passionate about it like I am about so many other things that have to do with culture, society and the like.
It's good to be here, btw...thanks for inviting me, Terry!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 30 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Dec 9, 1996 (21:12) * 2 lines
Glad you made it Dani. Feel feel to explore and feel welcome to invite
others. We're pretty new and just starting to build traffic.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 31 of 144: prp1 (prp1) * Mon, Dec 23, 1996 (21:27) * 1 lines
Hi, every body can you here me. And how are you ?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 32 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Dec 23, 1996 (23:10) * 1 lines
We hear you and we're just fine.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 33 of 144: Ian Davey (geekman) * Sun, Jan 5, 1997 (21:05) * 1 lines
Just popped in from the Austen Conference. G'day and now I'm your token Aussie!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 34 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Jan 6, 1997 (18:42) * 1 lines
Welcoem Ian!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 35 of 144: Anna Summers (AnnaSummers) * Thu, Jan 9, 1997 (22:26) * 21 lines
This is amazing! Everyone can actually spell! Hi ya'll
Everytime I see an internet discussion about saving our earth, my heart leaps with hope. Finally, with the internet, there now exist an avenue for true grass roots sharing among people without government or media filtering. I believe that, if the earth is to be saved, it will have to come from the people of the world changing their hearts and most of all, changing their VALUES - the governments are never going to save the world, much less the international corporations. Until we replace the idea in men
s minds that a person's worth comes from how much they can consume, with the idea that a person's worth comes from their spirit and their character, we will continue to degrage our environment. I wonder if the idea that it is shameful to consume too much will ever catch on? Or the idea that a true test of a man's personal freedom is how much he doesn't need in order to be happy and can be happy without?
There are two sites that you may enjoy visiting:
Planetkeepers http://galaxy.tradewave.com/editors/wayne-pendley/plankeep.htm
Ishmael http://galaxy.tradewave.com/editors/wayne-pendley/pkishsum.htm#TOP
(they are also reachable from each other.
=============
At the beginning of this conversation, there were references to learning HTML. I have a site reserved in the Rainforest at GeoCities, but I don't yet know how to put anything on it. Is there a place to go to learn how to manage a site, or even just to start one with something on it?
==============
I will mention, I almost gave up before I got here, because I couldn't figure out how to leave a response. Maybe some instructions up front would be helpful.
Anna
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 36 of 144: Anna Summers (AnnaSummers) * Thu, Jan 9, 1997 (22:28) * 8 lines
Oh my lord! Did I mention spelling. I left out typo?
exist = exists
degrage = degrade
sorry about that!
Anna
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 37 of 144: Ian Davey (geekman) * Fri, Jan 10, 1997 (07:35) * 1 lines
Anna, you can practise your HTML in the Austentest Conference at http://www.spring.com/yapp-bin/restricted/browse/austentest/all/ Just subscribe to Austentest as another topic in the portfolio of those topics you are interested in here at Spring.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 38 of 144: Emilio Sempris (granpana) * Sat, Jan 11, 1997 (11:31) * 1 lines
Hello there,,
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 39 of 144: Emilio Sempris (granpana) * Sat, Jan 11, 1997 (11:32) * 1 lines
what is up ,,,any topic you'd like to argue about
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 40 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sat, Jan 11, 1997 (12:27) * 2 lines
What's your favorite subject?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 41 of 144: kristi wyatt (katt) * Tue, Feb 4, 1997 (19:53) * 3 lines
Hi, I'm Kristi. I'm 24 and I'm just starting out using a computer. I guess your never too old to start, huh? Well I just wanted to say "Hi" and I'm glad you're
out there.
kkw
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 42 of 144: Jean Amariah Hofmann (Amariah) * Tue, Mar 11, 1997 (23:20) * 3 lines
Hi I'm Jean, but everyone calls me Amariah. Anne, you mentioned everyone was spelling right, well I am here now, that will change! I just thought I would check out this spot and say Hi!
Amariah
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 43 of 144: Jean Amariah Hofmann (Amariah) * Tue, Mar 11, 1997 (23:26) * 3 lines
Hi I'm Jean, but everyone calls me Amariah. Anne, you mentioned everyone was spelling right, well I am here now, that will change! I just thought I would check out this spot and say Hi!
Amariah
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 44 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, Mar 12, 1997 (07:46) * 1 lines
Welcome Amariah. What's going on in your part of the world?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 45 of 144: John Vandersea (frogpajamas) * Wed, Apr 9, 1997 (23:38) * 7 lines
I am a new member of spring.com. I am working as the VP-Finance of an Internet Applications Development Company (Mercury Productions, Inc. www.mpinc.com) in Gainesville,FL. Here is a quote I read yesterday and I have been thinking about quite a bit these days. Here it goes:
" (the universe is change. life is understanding.)" Marcus Aurelius
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 46 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Apr 10, 1997 (08:19) * 1 lines
Welcome frogpajammas!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 47 of 144: aubrey (aubrey) * Mon, Apr 14, 1997 (10:38) * 2 lines
Howdy from Dallas! I've been cruising about the Spring, clogging up various topics with my endless rambling, avoided "culture" because I don't have any, but now I see you're just folks like me. Do any of you belong to Utne-style salons? Just for intros (I think I posted this somewhere else as well, deja vu): I'm a delighfully effervescent, mildly eccentric molecular biologist; I escaped the rat race by quitting my residency 4 months out of med school and am having a fabulous time, 8 years into my Prime
Ministership of the Shiftless Workshy Slackers Club (join us, please). Totally new to the net (started in Feb) and don't own a computer so I do all this on the government's time (state employee of sorts), heh heh heh. Good thing my boss is a charter member of the SWSC!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 48 of 144: Nancy (nancyw) * Wed, Jun 11, 1997 (20:28) * 1 lines
Mildly eccentric molecular biologist? I thought all molecular biologists (in the stereotypers Lexicon) were VERY Eccentric! Howdy, I'm Nancy -- clogging up as many topics as I can at Terry's invite. My fingers are wearing down...
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 49 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, Jun 11, 1997 (20:30) * 3 lines
I'll be offline in half and hour. I hope some reinforcements show up to keep you
company. I'll be on my way to the sports club to work out other parts of my body
besides these also worn out fingers.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 50 of 144: Nancy (nancyw) * Thu, Jun 12, 1997 (14:33) * 5 lines
Speaking of working out, I've been part of a little experiment with editor Jack Olmsted who is evangelizing working out in front of the computer. You can check out our online exercise diaries (gasp) at http://www.futuremedia.org/Media/imedia/new/year%2097/may97/diary5.html
The above URL is week 5, we are in week 7 so you can go either way with buttons Jack has put on the site.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 51 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Jun 12, 1997 (17:23) * 1 lines
What a great idea!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 52 of 144: Jomik (jo) * Sat, Jul 5, 1997 (17:47) * 1 lines
well, I'm a student at swiss federal institute of technology and yesterday evenig, for exemple, I just talk late in the night with friends about the reject of difference that seems to be a part of the occidental culture. That's why I come first in this conference
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 53 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Jul 6, 1997 (22:48) * 1 lines
Tell us about your conversation, I'm curious.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 54 of 144: Paul Kenyon (pkenyon) * Fri, Aug 1, 1997 (10:19) * 12 lines
Hi, I'm Paul Kenyon & I just realised that I started a fresh topic (CareMail: Reaching out from Cyberspace to reach the unconnected) without introducing myself - Apologies.
I teach Psychology at a university in the UK and I was approached by Klaus Treuherz from Brazil who explained the CareMail concept to me and asked if I would help him set it up.
I'm also interested in the opportunities offered by the Internet to support students, see http://salmon.psy.plym.ac.uk/year1/bbb.htm
An increasing number of students are working part-time to support themselves and their families and are simply not able to attend lectures at a set place and time. I was attracted to the idea of exploring the Net to break what I call 'the tyranny of the lecture theatre' which is a phrase I use to describe a number of failings with conventional lectures including the 'blink and you have missed a vital bit of information', phenomenon.
I seem to spend a lot of time now doing what I call 'Internet gardening': planning new features for my websites, selecting plants, sewing seeds, keeping down weeds on the site etc.
I look forward to hearing your comments on the CareMail concept.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 55 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Fri, Aug 1, 1997 (10:46) * 1 lines
What conference did you set up the Caremail topic in?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 56 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Thu, Oct 23, 1997 (11:49) * 2 lines
Hey all you culture enthusiasts out there...
Who's into world domination! Screw mutliculturalism!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 57 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Oct 23, 1997 (12:08) * 1 lines
*Now* you tell us you're into total world domination and absolute control over mankind.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 58 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Thu, Oct 23, 1997 (14:14) * 1 lines
Just role-playing...
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 59 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Oct 23, 1997 (21:35) * 1 lines
Whew, had us sweating there for a bit.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 60 of 144: KitchenManager (KitchenManager) * Thu, Oct 23, 1997 (22:34) * 3 lines
One hand up for world domination in this corner!
WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 61 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Fri, Oct 24, 1997 (13:33) * 1 lines
I think I could've guessed that! :)
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 62 of 144: KitchenManager (KitchenManager) * Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (00:22) * 4 lines
.......Keep sweet talking me like that,
and I might let you stay on my continent!
WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 63 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (13:06) * 1 lines
*eskimo kisses* on the soft parts. (!)
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 64 of 144: KitchenManager (KitchenManager) * Wed, Oct 29, 1997 (01:32) * 4 lines
..........Yeah, like I've got any of those when
you're on a roll! Speaking of you on a roll...
WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 65 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Wed, Oct 29, 1997 (11:03) * 1 lines
*giggle*
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 66 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Wed, Oct 29, 1997 (11:04) * 1 lines
*purr*
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 67 of 144: KitchenManager (KitchenManager) * Fri, Oct 31, 1997 (16:35) * 4 lines
There you go,
in the middle of a sandwich again.
WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 68 of 144: sally (forest) * Tue, Nov 4, 1997 (22:55) * 4 lines
My name is Sally. I don't what to say at this point.
I'm overwhelmed at all the information and wonder if I will be able to do this. I want to have a concrete thing to start with.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 69 of 144: William E. Roland (KitchenManager) * Tue, Nov 4, 1997 (23:51) * 7 lines
Welcome, Sally. Don't be discouraged by the
amount of information. There are lots of nice
folks here, so don't be afraid to ask questions.
WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 70 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, Nov 5, 1997 (10:20) * 4 lines
She's overwhelmed by technology.
Practice empathy.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 71 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Wed, Nov 5, 1997 (11:44) * 2 lines
Where's the empathy key? Is that a function? Is there an empathy macro?
Just teasing Sally. Oh, we do like to tease here, but were really a fun bunch of folks! Where are you physically located?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 72 of 144: KitchenManager (KitchenManager) * Wed, Nov 5, 1997 (14:38) * 3 lines
I am the master of...like it's important.
WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 73 of 144: KitchenManager (KitchenManager) * Wed, Nov 5, 1997 (14:40) * 3 lines
Ooops, thought you said apathy...
WER
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 74 of 144: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Wed, Nov 5, 1997 (22:01) * 3 lines
I'm with Sally--it is kind of overwhelming! My name is Autumn, a definite "newbie" at all this computer stuff, and I live in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland (midway between Baltimore & Philadelphia).
Terry, I'm still awaiting a French topic in this conference...ca va marcher?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 75 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Nov 6, 1997 (08:43) * 2 lines
Is that what you want to call it ca va marcher?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 76 of 144: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Thu, Nov 6, 1997 (17:01) * 1 lines
Maybe something a little more descriptive of its purpose, such as "parlez-vous francais?" or "Parlons francais!" or something like that. What do you think? I'm eager to get your input.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 77 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Thu, Nov 6, 1997 (17:05) * 2 lines
OK! parlons francais
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 78 of 144: Christine Morris (didi) * Wed, Dec 3, 1997 (18:02) * 6 lines
Je suis tad bit bewildered by the lot of you but my flat mate
has convinced me this is a good idea
so: hello!!
I am didi and well .... hello, really.
P.S. Je parle francais un petit peu.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 79 of 144: nick a'hannay (pmnh) * Wed, Dec 3, 1997 (19:14) * 2 lines
imagine the lot of us are a tad bit bewildering...
agree with you re: "Lady of Shallott", by the way...it is quite beautiful, worthy of inclusion (book or no)...
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 80 of 144: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Thu, Dec 4, 1997 (12:06) * 1 lines
Bonjour, Didi! Hope to see you in the French topic soon--we need some fresh karma there. Nick & I are running out of poems to recite.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 81 of 144: bett lujan martinez (bett) * Sun, Dec 7, 1997 (04:19) * 1 lines
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 82 of 144: Annette Mercer (LaughingSky) * Sun, Feb 22, 1998 (20:31) * 2 lines
Hello to all! I jumped right into the culture, eh? No French - sorry!
How about...Namaste! Just wanted to say, "hello"!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 83 of 144: wer (KitchenManager) * Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (01:07) * 3 lines
well, hello to you, too!
Seems we meet again...
(more or less...)
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 84 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (18:15) * 1 lines
hi annette. no French here either but that doesn't mean we aren't cultured now, does it?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 85 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (00:04) * 12 lines
I was sitting at a table with mostly French people at the CFP98 banquet,
listening to the keynote speech. Our table was up near the front,
directly to the side of the podium.
I was about to doze off, when I heard a bunch of gasps in the room and
shrieks, the lady from Vancouver shouted at me to "watch out!"
I looked up and their was about a 12' potted tree falling and heading
directly for the guy sitting next to me. I jumped up and lunged for the
tree and caught it just inches from his head.
It got me back in the here and now!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 86 of 144: wer (KitchenManager) * Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (14:16) * 1 lines
Trees are good for that...
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 87 of 144: Annette Mercer (LaughingSky) * Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (18:56) * 2 lines
Think of it this way, Terry; you saved a human and a tree, all at one time!
Way to go!~~~*
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 88 of 144: Riette Walton (riette) * Wed, Jun 24, 1998 (02:06) * 1 lines
Hopefully one will be worth the pain-in-the-butt rescue effort . . .
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 89 of 144: David A. Spitzley (SpitzleyD) * Thu, Feb 7, 2036 (03:38) * 1 lines
Hi, folks. I'm here mainly to participate in the Viridian discussion (topic 18).
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 90 of 144: Ray Lopez (ratthing) * Thu, Feb 7, 2036 (03:43) * 3 lines
hi dave. hope to see you around in other conferences, too!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 91 of 144: wer (KitchenManager) * Thu, Feb 11, 1999 (18:50) * 2 lines
Welcome, David!
Discuss away!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 92 of 144: Adam C. Lipscomb (AdamLipscomb) * Fri, Feb 12, 1999 (00:28) * 3 lines
Adam Lipscomb here. I'm employed at a local telecommunication company - IXC Communications. I'm mainly here for the Viridian conference, but I'm prone to wander around and post on things that catch my eye, also.
I've brought up this on the Books conference, but I'll mention it here, also - have any of you read _The Transparent Society_ by David Brin? It's a pretty fascinating study on current attitudes toward privacy and openness. I'm normally a strong privacy advocate, but Brin raises some very strong points regarding the ways in which the concept of Transparency could enable all of us to hold our government accountable.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 93 of 144: wer (KitchenManager) * Fri, Feb 12, 1999 (11:50) * 1 lines
the more I think about that, the more I want to go get that book...
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 94 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Fri, Feb 12, 1999 (15:23) * 7 lines
I just blew my weeks book budget on a $60 technical analysis book,
but I'll put this on my amazon list. A lot of good it will do me though,
as net stocks defy any analysis!
I'll check this out sometime, Adam. Tell us more about it!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 95 of 144: Adam C. Lipscomb (AdamLipscomb) * Fri, Feb 12, 1999 (20:43) * 4 lines
Brin's basic proposition is that, as technology has progressed, it has become easier and easier to monitor the activities of others. Brin proposes that we set up clearly defined zones of privacy/secrecy, but in other areas, allow for what he calls "reciprocal transparency," which is basically that everyone not only has access to that information, but their accessing it is also monitored. For instance, if there are cameras mounted to monitor a section of a city, any citizen should have access not only to
the output from the cameras, but also to the central office where the police monitor the cameras. This information would not only allow police surveillance (which has been proven to reduce street crime) but would also allow ordinary citizens to both monitor the police and the streets near where they live.
I'm not as articulate as I like right now, but that is the gist of his argument. I'll try to dig some better figures and information this weekend.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 96 of 144: Alexander Schuth (aschuth) * Mon, Apr 19, 1999 (15:18) * 5 lines
I would like regulars of this conference invite to visit the International Conflicts conference here on the Spring:
http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/browse/InternationalConflicts/all
This conference is dedicated to the disputes between groups all over the world, be that social, cultural, political or ethnical differences.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 97 of 144: Barry Kort (moulton) * Mon, Jul 12, 1999 (01:38) * 3 lines
Hello. I just registered on the Spring, at Terry's invitation.
I'm a cognitive scientist doing research in educational technology and learning theory.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 98 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Jul 12, 1999 (01:55) * 3 lines
Where are you doing this research, geographically? And is it independent
or part of a larger organization?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 99 of 144: wer (KitchenManager) * Mon, Jul 12, 1999 (03:10) * 1 lines
Welcome, Barry!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 100 of 144: Barry Kort (moulton) * Mon, Jul 12, 1999 (10:38) * 7 lines
Thank you. I live in suburban Boston. For the past 10 years I've been affiliated with the Educational Technology Research Group at BBN. However, GTE recently bought up BBN to acquire their Internet Services (BBN Planet), and dissolved most of the rest of BBN. So the Educational Technology Research Group is no more.
I am also affiliated with projects at the MIT Media Lab (Affective Computing) and until recently with the Community Outreach Lab at UMass Lowell. I continue to volunteer at the Boston Museum of Science, in the Children's Discovery Center.
Most of my research has been independent, although my latest project is a collaboration with Rob Reilly of UMass and Roz Picard of the MIT Media Lab.
The MuseNet K12 Project is my oldest and longest running project. It's entirely unfunded and has never sought funding. The Joy Project and the Orenda Project are newer, and require no funding. See http://www.musenet.org/orenda
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 101 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Jul 12, 1999 (12:12) * 5 lines
Maybe you could start a topic on musenet and the orenda project int eh vc
conference? And I'd be interested in hearing your comments on this and on
other vc's that you have experienced.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 102 of 144: Barry Kort (moulton) * Wed, Jul 14, 1999 (10:19) * 1 lines
Sure. My personal experience with MuseNet is summarized in my Web-published article, "Bring a Candle, Not a Sparkler," at http://www.musenet.org/WCE
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 103 of 144: Debra Tenney (dawnis) * Sun, Jul 25, 1999 (03:12) * 4 lines
Hello, my name is Debra Tenney. When I sang in Texas in the 70s I was known as Debby-Dawn, I am still screaming about the injustice. only now I do not sing it
I cry out to the universe to be heard.
La Paz Sea Contigo
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 104 of 144: Robert Oveson (ov) * Mon, Jul 26, 1999 (00:45) * 2 lines
I've just put culture on my hotlist. Saw that Debra was posting here and I wanted to hear more. So now I'm in vc, communities and culture. I think I will keep it at that for awhile.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 105 of 144: Barry Kort (moulton) * Mon, Jul 26, 1999 (09:39) * 3 lines
Debra is a good communicator. She's worked in broadcast journalism and politics, and has a keen sense of how to package a message as a story, poem, play or essay.
I'm hopeful that Debra will convert the more iconoclastic ideas and insights developed here into presentation formats that the public will find more digestible.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 106 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Mon, Jul 26, 1999 (16:52) * 1 lines
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 107 of 144: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Mon, Jul 26, 1999 (16:53) * 2 lines
oops...
that was intended to be a 'welcome debra' post...
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 108 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Aug 26, 2000 (06:28) * 1 lines
Can I have an African culture topic in this conference please, and that'll give me a 'home' to post cultural thoughts while I am away (or well, for Marcia to post them anyway...)
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 109 of 144: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Aug 30, 2000 (02:24) * 2 lines
Certainly my dear. Did you try to create one and it did not take??? If that is so, we might have to ask Terry for assistance
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 110 of 144: Carys (Carys) * Sat, Sep 9, 2000 (14:05) * 1 lines
Hello one and all. I'm new here and my name is Anna (boring) but you can call me Carys. Unfortunately my entire experience with other cultures consists of courses I took at school and television documentaries. I am here to learn. It seems as though it might be fun.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 111 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Sep 9, 2000 (20:42) * 3 lines
Hey, welcome Carys!!!! I thought I was in here all on my own!!!! How nice to have some company .....
I'm posting mostly on Africa because that's what I know about .... but give me some ideas and I'll research them for you .....Oh BTW no question is too dumb here so please take your shoes off, get a cup of whatever you fancy, and feel at home ....
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 112 of 144: culturespring (sprin5) * Sun, Sep 10, 2000 (12:26) * 3 lines
Welcome Carys!
Check out the porch conf if you get the chance.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 113 of 144: Carys (Carys) * Mon, Sep 11, 2000 (17:57) * 2 lines
Thank you! It is lovely to be here with such nice people as yourselves. I've some Australian cousins but my own American family, well quite frankly they hate them. They're referred to as the sub-humans. When I was a kid we went to visit them in Melbourne and that was a horror. Anywho I like some of them. The thing which always fascinated me about Australia is Aboringinal Culture. They seem to me to be remarkable people. I went back to Australia with my husband right after we married. We went to see Uluru (Ayre's Rock) and I just wouldn't climb it. My husband did. But I refused. It is a sacred place and it seemed such a sacrilege. I drew and painted it(in watercolor) though. I left with over 30 studies of Uluru from all angles and times of day. I also think that Madagascar is an interesting place. I've never been there. Have you been, Maggie? Thanks for the invitation to check out the porch. I must do that.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 114 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Tue, Sep 12, 2000 (04:03) * 3 lines
I've only really travelled in Africa ...apart from a walking holiday in Switzerland in my teens (long ago now!). I've always wanted to go to Australia. I understand what you mean about Ayers Rock. I think I'd probably feel much the same, and my husband would be much like yours!!! I also paint, and I'm taking paints with me to AFrica this time to try and rise to the challenge of capturing some atmosphere ...the colours are so different to England!!!
I've only travelled in West Africa - Cameroon, Senegal, Gambia, Mali. Madagascar is fascinating, particularly for wildlife ... maybe one day ....
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 115 of 144: Carys (Carys) * Sat, Sep 23, 2000 (13:07) * 11 lines
You've mainly been in West Africa then? That would still be a very large area. Africa is the second largest continent. I get to learn all of these fun facts over again with my little boy.
I used to work with a really charming woman from Ghana named Josephine. She was one the nicest and most articulate people that I've ever met. I was so embarassed the day when another co-worker asked her, "Do you have radio there in Africa?" I was not a momemt which made me proud to be an American. Josephine was very gracious about it calmly explaining that yes, they did and that while in Ghana she had worked as the executive assistant to the president of bank, which was a very modern building with all the amenities. I admired her restraint and good manners.
From Josephine I learned that education is highly valued in some African societies. That attaining advanced degrees is very encouraged. She had been sent to boarding schools when she was a child. Her husband was also very interesting. He had been largely educated in England, so he had an English accent. I did learn from them that Ghana had once been part of the British Empire, like neighboring Nigeria. Josephine's husband was working on his Ph.D. at the time I knew them. She had put her graduate school off until their two young children were older.
A question on the Gambia. I have heard that the official name of the country is "The Gambia". The reason for that was that they didn't want to be confused with another African country, Zambia. Is that true.
I would love to hear more about the societies of West Africa. I majored in Art History so I did get a bit of information on the art of the region. But as my focus was European Art, it was mostly concerning the influence of different forms of African Art on the Western Artistic tradition of the 20th Century. Whew! The course was more interesting than the title. The Benin bronzes from Nigeria in the 17th Century are considered very extraordinary. They are pieces of great naturalism and beauty. Very much examples of a highly developed artistic tradition.
I do look forward to finding out more about your work and experiences in Africa.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 116 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Sep 23, 2000 (15:50) * 7 lines
Yes, I heard that too ...that The Gambia is always stated with the article to distinguish it from Zambia.
I can identify with your 'josephine' story ...
I'm trying to post in a varied diet of sotries and info about African societies. Hope you enjoy them.
Have you looked at what I'm psoting in Travel conference too??? Look under Gambia and Mali topics there...
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 117 of 144: Carys (Carys) * Sat, Oct 14, 2000 (11:09) * 1 lines
Maggie, thanks so much. I'll check the Travel conference.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 118 of 144: Marcia (MarciaH) * Tue, Nov 28, 2000 (20:57) * 27 lines
The Melungians
* is anyone intereted enough for me to start a new topic?*
Most families in the Southern part of North America in some way have family roots to the Melungeons. So lets start from the
Beginning . Where did the Melungeons come from? That is a good question . Some call the Melungeons the " Lost People " or the
"Mysterious " people of Appalachia. There are a lot of stories of where the Melungeons came from . I will try to explain a few. They
say that they are descended from the "Lost Colony of Roanoke" who married into the local Native American tribes. Others say that
they were descendants of Welsh explorer Modoc who came to North America around 1100 AD, with ten ships of colonists . Still
others say that Melungeons are the lost tribe of Isreal,lost Spanish explores and just simply a "tri -racial isolate, made up of Native
American/ African American/Caucasian mixture. " But then there are those that say they were Portuguese .
The Melungeons according to Brent Kennedy writer of " The Melungeons , the Resurrection of a Proud People." suggested that the
Melungeons were stating fact when they said they were " Portyghee" . Saying that Portuguese/Morrish people who were being
increasingly attacked during the Spanish Inquisition were a large part of the settlers Spain brought to this country in the 1500's .
The largest bans of Native Americans to intermarry with the settlers were the Cherokee, Powhatans and the Pamunkeys. These
people migrated westward in front of the migrants and on the way married with other groups, possibly escaped slaves, English,
English/Native Americans and Scotch /Irish. The language that they spoke was broken or Elizabethan English . Their features were
said to be from Dark skin to Light skin ,eyes could be Brown or Steel Blue in color while the hair could be Brown ,Black or Blonde.
This comes from intermarrying .
When the white people caught up with them in Tennessee Kentucky and other Southern States they did not like them around and the
sad part is that for these people they were deemed "Free Persons Of Color " and laws were made and set up to deprive the
Melungeons of their basic rights. Such as the right to Vote, the right to own land , and the right for their children to have an education
. Being Melungeon was not the best way to get ahead in those times. Many of them hid their ancestry with other "covers" that could
account for their dark features, saying that they were " Black Dutch , Black Irish" or having " Native American ancestory"
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 119 of 144: culturespring (sprin5) * Wed, Nov 29, 2000 (08:51) * 1 lines
Sure, sounds like a good topic!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 120 of 144: Marcia (MarciaH) * Wed, Nov 29, 2000 (17:12) * 1 lines
Terry, please kill topic 33. I seem to be unable to do so. It is reduntant and misspelled too. Thanks!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 121 of 144: culturespring (sprin5) * Thu, Nov 30, 2000 (14:57) * 1 lines
Will do!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 122 of 144: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Nov 30, 2000 (23:17) * 1 lines
You may as well kill 34 too I spelled Melungeons wrong... I promise to get it right the next time!!!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 123 of 144: culturespring (sprin5) * Fri, Dec 1, 2000 (08:00) * 1 lines
ok!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 124 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Tue, Feb 27, 2001 (13:41) * 1 lines
Got online in Mali at long last. Greetings. Seems I've been away a long time - Plenty of culture here - Can't stay long today, but will post more stuff when I get back to the UK late March.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 125 of 144: culturespring (sprin5) * Wed, Feb 28, 2001 (11:08) * 1 lines
That's great Maggie, where did yo find access in Mali? Where's Mali and what' s it like there?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 126 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Wed, Feb 28, 2001 (13:52) * 1 lines
I'm actually in my office!!! But connection is not good - cant seem to post in ~Spring sometimes .. three tries so far with this! Mali is HOt Hot Hot - hit 103F yesterday. I love the people and enjoy wearing local clothes. Have asked Marcia to post pic in travel/Mali. Hope she does. Will prepare something offline and post later. Its $3 and hour for access, so I have to be careful.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 127 of 144: culturespring (sprin5) * Wed, Feb 28, 2001 (21:01) * 1 lines
Really, it's 'spensif for you to talk to us. Gotta run, eat dinner and watch Temptation Island. I'll look forward to seeing the Mali topic, we're going to have to crown Marci the "Content Queen".
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 128 of 144: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Mar 1, 2001 (19:22) * 9 lines
Wheeeee! I am Queen of sumthin!!! From Maggie:
I'm actually in my office!!! But connection is not good - cant seem to
post in Spring sometimes .. three tries so far with this! Mali is HOt
Hot Hot - hit 103F yesterday. I love the people and enjoy wearing
local clothes. Have asked Marcia to post pic in travel/Mali. Hope she
does. Will prepare something offline and post later. Its $3 and hour
for access, so I have to be careful
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 129 of 144: Marcia (MarciaH) * Thu, Mar 1, 2001 (19:27) * 1 lines
Maggie!! Post yours or Tony's or both??? You are both so resplendent in your native costumes as to make the rest of us drab by comparison!
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 130 of 144: culturespring (sprin5) * Fri, Mar 2, 2001 (08:45) * 1 lines
Wow, post both of them or all of them if you have pix of Maggies trip?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 131 of 144: Marcia Hemming (marci) * Fri, Apr 27, 2001 (05:09) * 1 lines
I have bboth of their pictures ready to post (I did find them). Now, where to put them? Under the Travel / Mali topic or here in Cultures?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 132 of 144: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Apr 30, 2001 (01:17) * 1 lines
Where are Maggies pictures?
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 133 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Jun 30, 2001 (08:13) * 2 lines
Hi everyone ..have finally moved in here properly ...and I'll try and get things going. Come and join me and introduce yourselves and the cultural topics you're interested in. This conference can include almost anything to do with 'culture' so everyone should be able to find something that interests them.
Maggie
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 134 of 144: Culcha (terry) * Sat, Jun 30, 2001 (08:39) * 1 lines
Wow, great, Maggie. Could you expand on your feelings about what constitutes culture and about naming this conference cultures instead of culture, how do you think that affects the perception of the conference.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 135 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Jun 30, 2001 (09:36) * 7 lines
Thanks Terry. Some interesting questions there. I am not sure I have a lot of answers, but here are some thoughts.
There is a lot of disagreement about what the word and concept of 'culture' means. For many people the word culture has a connotation with 'high art' ...which is usually taken to be painting, opera, classical music etc. In that sense culture can be understood, by some, to be elitist. Now, to me, although I agree that these things are generally part of our western culture, I take a much broader view. By using the term 'cultures' conceptually we are trying to move away from the thought that there is one 'good' culture or one way of living/thinking. There is opportunity in this conference to explore many different issues, and through that perhaps come to our own understanding of what 'culture' is about. This is challenging, and at times, may even be disturbing. Personally I don't have a definitive definition of what culture is ... I am a learner and an explorer too. In the following post I will copy one set of definitions which we can discuss. There are many more ....
The title of the conference 'cultures' indicates pluralism. Our remit in this conference is the way we live in this world of ours. For example, there are a number of topics here which expand on aspects of US culture. I am not part of that culture and so for me, these are areas that I am interested to find out more about. We already have a topic on African culture, or perhaps that should be cultures! More will be added. Some topics will include aspects of religious culture because religion is part of life. We may find things here that we feel strongly for or against. That's OK. Don't forget that it is often by looking at something that we violently disagree with that we hone our own views and come to a better understanding of ourselves.
My hope is that this is a place where people can feel at home and feel free to discuss any aspect of what they perceive to be 'culture'.As we open up discussion here, providing we are tolerant and accept difference, understanding and appreciation will grow.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 136 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Jun 30, 2001 (09:40) * 19 lines
A Baseline Definition of Culture
http://www.wsu.edu:8001/vcwsu/commons/topics/culture/culture-definition.html
People learn culture. That, we suggest, is culture's essential feature. Many qualities of human life are transmitted genetically -- an infant's desire for food, for example, is triggered by physiological characteristics determined within the human genetic code. An adult's specific desire for milk and cereal in the morning, on the other hand, cannot be explained genetically; rather, it is a learned (cultural) response to morning hunger. Culture, as a body of learned behaviors common to a given human society, acts rather like a template (ie. it has predictable form and content), shaping behavior and consciousness within a human society from generation to generation. So culture resides in all learned behavior and in some shaping template or consciousness prior to behavior as well (that is, a "cultural template" can be in place prior to the birth of an individual person).
This primary concept of a shaping template and body of learned behaviors might be further broken down into the following categories, each of which is an important element of cultural systems:
* systems of meaning, of which language is primary
* ways of organizing society, from kinship groups to states and multi-national corporations
* the distinctive techniques of a group and their characteristic products
Several important principles follow from this definition of culture:
If the process of learning is an essential characteristic of culture, then teaching also is a crucial characteristic. The way culture is taught and reproduced (see reproduction in the glossary) is itself an important component of culture.
Because the relationship between what is taught and what is learned is not absolute (some of what is taught is lost, while new discoveries are constantly being made), culture exists in a constant state of change.
Meaning systems consist of negotiated agreements -- members of a human society must agree to relationships between a word, behavior, or other symbol and its corresponding significance or meaning. To the extent that culture consists of systems of meaning, it also consists of negotiated agreements and processes of negotiation.
Because meaning systems involve relationships which are not essential and universal (the word "door" has no essential connection to the physical object -- we simply agree that it shall have that meaning when we speak or write in English), different human societies will inevitably agree upon different relationships and meanings; this a relativistic way of describing culture.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 137 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Jun 30, 2001 (09:41) * 2 lines
That definition came from the following site which in a very interactive way leads you to an exploration of culture.
http://www.wsu.edu:8001/vcwsu/commons/topics/culture/culture-index.html
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 138 of 144: Dorothy Epp (dot) * Sun, Jul 1, 2001 (16:05) * 44 lines
Culture is organic, dynamic and infinitely real. As a culture we choose our priorities and develop them. Within the culture, every racial, cultural group does the same and leaves a history of greats struggling to promote their people often to the detriment of other races.
We are a culture driven by a need for personal wealth and control. Not one striving for the betterment of all the people and the desire to live with nature. In other words count all life, as equal to my own. It's difficult to do this on an individual basis, let alone imagine it as a mindset we can expect from the government and our neighbors.
But it is our drive for personal wealth, run rampant, that loses the sensitivity we ought to have for each other. To get ahead we do what must be done, paying the common laborer as little as possible and not even paying attention to what we are really desire.
Achieving this dream is also what is driving the poor. Whether they are black or white, Hispanic or Korean, this is what their family expects of them. Their old values are left behind. Here in America, we spend money and if you don't have it you borrow it and if you can't borrow it what's left?
Now are jails are crowded with exactly these people. Whole families, races are affected by this sorry pursuit. What corporations and the wealthy do by bending the rules the often less powerful minorities do by breaking the rules.
The point is not to excuse anyone from wrongdoing. I would just like to question what we consider right and then readjust the vision.
To see ourselves as the sum total of many races and cultural groups and to value what we bring to it cannot happen unless we can see through ourselves as uniquely different and deserving. At the same time we must realize we are deserving and unique but it is our essence that is worth preserving. What makes a culture is the dreams of it's children, the practices of grandparents, stories past on, our language, slang expressions, our sense of humor, the way we work and play, the way we mourn, the food we cook and the way we eat. How we are private and how we express our freedom. What we are fierce about. How we love and whom we worship. What we have to barter with, in life. What gifts we give. Where is our wealth? If there was no one to tell you what made you poor, what made you rich, what do you know is true?
If learning the songs, keeping the garden, making room for the crazy uncle is considered obsolete, what is left that we can attach to that will remind us of who we are, besides a vehicle for money.
Discovery goes backwards and forwards and it is a tradition that honors what is not evident and listens close to what is.
Not only its bright lights measure a society but also by it's sewers.
If we destroy those who do not fit, we are changing the complexion of ourselves and though it may seem to be more practical, it is also eliminating those non practical aspects of ourselves which feed the soul and give us art and define our culture as a rich blend of flavors, colors, sounds, experience. The canvass becomes predictable, boring. Dead.
All along we've known this is an individual stand. Be we can promote it, we can protect it. Most of all we can live this way and change a moment in someone else's life. On the road, someone paused to let me in. They made time for me. I was amazed at the generosity. I let someone else in.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 139 of 144: Dorothy Epp (dot) * Sun, Jul 1, 2001 (16:15) * 1 lines
Society is measured not by its bright lights but also by its sewers. (fix for broken sentence above).
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 140 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Mon, Jul 2, 2001 (01:45) * 2 lines
Welcome Dorothy. Thanks for contributing to our debate, you brought us some interesting thoughts to ponder. Looking forward t hearing more from you.
Maggie
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 141 of 144: Cheryl (CherylB) * Thu, Jul 5, 2001 (20:45) * 40 lines
I wasn't quite sure where to post this article. It's from the Associated Press. I didn't want to put it in the African Cultures topic because it's more about the effects of war and post-colonialism.
Thursday, July 5, 2001
200 Killed in Congo 'Witchhunt'
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - Villagers have hacked to death about 200 suspected witches in rebel-held northeastern Congo since June 15, blaming them for diseases that have gone untreated since Congo's war broke out three years ago, a senior Ugandan army official said Thursday.
Ugandan troops, which had withdrawn this year from the district near the border, were sent back to the area to stop the killings and make arrests, Brig. Henry Tumukunde said.
``Villagers were saying that some people had bewitched others, and they started lynching them. By the time we discovered this, 60 people had already been killed by early last week. About 200 people lost their lives,'' Tumukunde said.
Tumukunde refused to say how many people had been injured or arrested. It wasn't clear whether the witches were mainly men or women.
The killings began three weeks ago in Aru, 50 miles south of Sudan, but spread deep inside northeastern Congo, a country the size of Western Europe. The region of rolling savannas was once a rich agricultural area where wheat was grown and cattle raised, but a series of rebellions have left communities destroyed since the 1960s.
The war that began three years ago has only made matters worse.
``The war forced people to move to other areas, and the internally displaced were the targets of local villagers, who accused them of witchcraft,'' Tumukunde said.
He said diseases endemic to the region were being blamed on witchcraft, noting that drugs to treat the diseases have not been available during the duration of the war.
In much of the rebel-held 60 percent of the country, routes that would carry trade and aid back and forth are cut off. With no immunization programs or other health programs, measles and other diseases are killing people in large numbers. Plague has even made inroads. In the worst-hit areas, people are dying from a combination of disease and starvation.
Some charities have estimated an indirect wartime death toll of about 2 million out of a population of 50 million in the former Belgian colony.
In a report released jointly Thursday by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, experts said after a recent 12-day visit to Congo that ``every facet of society - whether human rights or economy, education or water and sanitation, housing or social care - has collapsed.''
The 10-person mission blamed ``decades of state and external looting of national resources'' and war for pushing ``Congolese households over the brink.''
In Congo's countryside, there is hardly any running water or electricity. In the most devastated areas, people are desperate just for soap and salt.
Although Uganda had withdrawn troops this year from the Aru district, it still employs troops elsewhere in Congo.
Uganda and Rwanda joined forces in August 1998 in support of a rebellion seeking to oust President Laurent Kabila, whom they had backed in a previous, successful revolt that overthrew longtime President Mobutu Sese Seko of what was then Zaire in May 1997.
The senior Kabila's assassination in January and his son's ascension to the presidency appear to have cleared the hurdles blocking the implementation of a 1999 peace agreement signed by the Congolese government, the rebels and Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia, who are all involved in the conflict.
Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia have poured in thousands of troops and materiel in support of the Congolese government.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 142 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Fri, Jul 6, 2001 (05:32) * 1 lines
Thanks Cheryl. I'll cross-post it to the International Conflicts Conference topic 13 ..Africa.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 143 of 144: Cheryl (CherylB) * Fri, Jul 6, 2001 (17:15) * 1 lines
Thanks Maggie.
Topic 2 of 42 [cultures]: Introductions
Response 144 of 144: Maggie (sociolingo) * Sat, Aug 25, 2001 (13:55) * 2 lines
Sorry I've been os absent lately ... lost my oomph at the moment ..will try and recapture it. Meanwhile ..what do you want to talk about???
Maggie
cultures conference 
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