Reading Group (or something) Week 1 Roundup
I saw a lot of interesting comments this week! I'll share a few of the comments that I can link to.
emenel: "@ali@masto.al2.in Joseph Weizenbaum wrote a lot a…" - post.lurk.org
@ali@masto.al2.in Joseph Weizenbaum wrote a lot about this in Computer Power and Human Reason. He referred to engineering-brain as the “compulsive programmer” and his analysis is excellent.
Excellent book! Here are a few favorite quotations— "We must, in a sense, continuously deprogram ourselves, challenging the hierarchies that place us above or below, and decode the imaginative justifications that make those social hierarchies seem natural, durable, and deserved” (p. 64)
— Philip Nel (@philnel.bsky.social) 2025-01-20T18:06:27.359Z
"Who we imagine ourselves to be matters a great deal to who we become." (p. 89)
— Philip Nel (@philnel.bsky.social) 2025-01-20T18:06:27.377Z
"Imagination is a field of struggle, not an ephemeral afterthought that we have the luxury to dismiss or romanticize” (p. 8)
— Philip Nel (@philnel.bsky.social) 2025-01-20T18:07:34.955Z
After reading the intro and first chapter, I really took notice of the idea of eschewing cynicism. At some point in the past few years I tried to think of writing something completely devoid of cynicism, and I was struck with how difficult that can be and am looking forward to seeing what the rest..
— Elijah Cohen (@elilillil.bsky.social) 2025-01-24T00:41:41.447Z
.. of the book says about casting off that burden. In the second chapter I was most taken by the mixing of the ideas of Buen Vivir, degrowth and the imagination. I'll have to check out Arturo Escobar's work and let things turn over in my mind Really enjoying the book so far
— Elijah Cohen (@elilillil.bsky.social) 2025-01-24T00:41:41.678Z
Saturday chats
If you're still simmering on some thoughts, or if something here has piqued your interest to talk about something, feel free to drop in Saturday, January 24 at 12pm ET (that's tomorrow, as I'm writing).
We'll go for an hour and mostly talk about the introduction as well as chapters 1 and 2. Or you can talk about reading this book. Or you can talk about reading in general.
I'll probably have a shared doc so people can stack their thoughts in case you're forgetful like I am, though. I'll share it in the call.
Experiment updates
Last weekend I said I wanted to run a little test; I tried using jitsi and it seemed to pass muster with the people who joined, so I'll try using it tomorrow.
If you've never used jitsi, it's pretty similar to zoom - you might want to install the app (iOS and android), but if you're on a computer you can join via your browser.
Remember, January 24 at 12pm ET. Please reach out if you're having trouble getting online.
See you then!