Offline Media... About the Internet!

[wolfkitty42]

Hi guys! I wanted to start this thread. Lately I've been getting into reading my library's books on the origins of computing and the internet and social stuff. I like reading books about the internet whether they be nonfiction or fiction. This is a place to share cool offline media you find that focuses on the Internet!

1. I recently read What The Dormouse Said by John Markoff. I found it really interesting as someone who is still very new to computer history! It was an engaging read and lovely to bring along on a camping trip. I really liked the parts about the development of a mouse and the various experimental desks and computer set ups. I find some of the more unconventional ideas really compelling! I also felt like it had some really relevant aspects with ideas about technology and society. I would love to discuss it if anyone else here has read it!

2. In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang. I honestly wasn't super into this book. It was interesting, but I felt really disappointed by the way the digital world wasn't depicted much differently from the physical world. I think I was just looking for something different... Oh well. It's not for me, but it was an okay read!

I'm currently making my way through the movie You've Got Mail so when I finish that I'll update it here!

[IndigoGolem]

I haven't read either of those, but i did read Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch a little while back. It's about language online and in places like text messages, memes, email, etc.

[wolfkitty42]

I haven't read either of those, but i did read Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch a little while back. It's about language online and in places like text messages, memes, email, etc.

This definitely sounds familiar! I  will try to see if my library has a copy... I feel like language online is such an interesting topic because at least from my perspective I do feel like I put a lot of effort into what I am communicating with the way I type and my grammar aand what emoticons I use. I wonder if other people also feel like they put in active effort? I'm not sure how else to say it. I think I also put active effort into social interaction and speech offline, but I guess  I might not notice it as much because I find my tone of voice and expressions to be more automatic and less voluntary.

[ThunderPerfectWitchcraft]

Howard Rheingolds the virtual community, the Shockwave Rider and the whole of the output of Friedrich Kittler (although it is more about electronic media as a whole, it is very topical, as one will realize on reading it) are to be recommended. Code by Geoghegan will blow you away.

Howard Rheingold was an internet OG, and described the first communities. The book was released as book, but is fully available online for now.

The Shockwave Rider predicted a world covered by an information network, features a hacker hero, and computer worms in 1975. It probably had an influence on how the internet was modeled.

Kittler analyzed how media change our way of thinking, and how they will eventually always have more control over us than we have over them. The english Wikipedia labels him as conservative, but he certainly wasn't.

Code is the currently most lucid history of the development of computer and internet technology. It explains the historical placing and development along with the social, philosophical and the early technical roots of computer technology.

[wolfkitty42]

Howard Rheingolds the virtual community, the Shockwave Rider and the whole of the output of Friedrich Kittler (although it is more about electronic media as a whole, it is very topical, as one will realize on reading it) are to be recommended. Code by Geoghegan will blow you away.

Howard Rheingold was an internet OG, and described the first communities. The book was released as book, but is fully available online for now.

I opened the link and I am literally already so excited by the first paragraph.... I'll definitely try to get through it because this looks fascinating!

[wolfkitty42]

Hi folks! I figured I'd pop in! I am still working my way through the  Virtual Community (WHICH IS AMAZING OMG) but I figured I would stop in and talk about Player vs. Player. It is a children's book written by M. K. England and illustrated by Chris Danger. The illustrations are charming, the story  is lovely and I think it represents the internet with a certain flavor of realism you don't always see. The real and digital worlds feel distinctly seperate and the character's circumstances clearly shape who they are in the digital world. I'll be putting the rest of my review in spoilers.... I can't wait to read the next book!

Spoiler

I really, really enjoyed the different circumstances of the characters. Larkin constantly going offline was super relatable! I totally get it, and I also related to having your own relationship with videogames be influenced by family members. With Josh... I am luckily blessed to have a family who understands the concept of multiplayer games, haha. I  thought his chat filter mod was a very charming way to adapt the trash-talking filth that happens in some games into a more kid-friendly mode. I loved the scene where he met Hannah! It was such a sweet coincidence, and I've had daydreams exactly like that before. Lastly, with Wheatly... Okay, I clocked he(she?) was an AI pretty quickly, but it didn't stop me from being super reminded of people I know who are really only out online. Staying up as late as you can- because it lets you be yourself... The emphasis on how he wants to design his appearance and his spaces was lovely. It really reminded me of an online friend I have who is homeschooled, very closeted about her gender and only really out online. I'm not sure what Wheatly's gender is meant to be, since he/she returns at the end with a feminine honorific. Regardless, I think that he should get all the gender juice (enough to also feed his bees)

TL;DR oh my god this is such a fun way to write about growing up and discovering who you are on the internet mk england you have my soul!!!

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