Comments on: Bruce Sterling interviewed by Shapeways http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 23:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: lyd http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706052 lyd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706052 Dude, really, you're going with that? http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1088/did-whites-ever-give-native-americans-blankets-infected-with-smallpox Dude, really, you’re going with that?

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1088/did-whites-ever-give-native-americans-blankets-infected-with-smallpox

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706064 SamSam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706064 He didn't sound grumpy to me, just annoyed at the stupid-ass questions. I mean, really, they weren't very good. I think the interviewer was just trying to show how funny he was. He didn’t sound grumpy to me, just annoyed at the stupid-ass questions. I mean, really, they weren’t very good. I think the interviewer was just trying to show how funny he was.

]]> By: maoinhibitor http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706080 maoinhibitor Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706080 If you're going to interview Bruce Sterling, send your best interviewer and make him bring his A-game! Geebus, I've seen more intelligent interview questions from 80-s era DIY fanzines edited by 13 year olds. If you’re going to interview Bruce Sterling, send your best interviewer and make him bring his A-game!

Geebus, I’ve seen more intelligent interview questions from 80-s era DIY fanzines edited by 13 year olds.

]]> By: lyd http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706343 lyd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706343 Well, if we are putting that fine a point on it, what about Simeon Ecuyer at Fort Pitt? Well, if we are putting that fine a point on it, what about Simeon Ecuyer at Fort Pitt?

]]> By: TheAmazingYeah http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706385 TheAmazingYeah Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706385 @Rob - Bruce spoke to my Literature and Globalization class at North Carolina State about 10 years ago. It was maybe 15 students and a professor, 3 of us who knew who he was and had read anything other than the required reading - Globalhead - and he was still a teddy bear. Not nearly as grumpy in person as he is in his writings. Except when you fawn over him like I did. @Rob – Bruce spoke to my Literature and Globalization class at North Carolina State about 10 years ago. It was maybe 15 students and a professor, 3 of us who knew who he was and had read anything other than the required reading – Globalhead – and he was still a teddy bear. Not nearly as grumpy in person as he is in his writings. Except when you fawn over him like I did.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706162 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706162 sterling is such a pessimist. read our great writer of genius= walker percy's 'love in the ruins' and see where sterling stole his ideas for distraction' sterling is such a pessimist. read our great writer of genius= walker percy’s ‘love in the ruins’ and see where sterling stole his ideas for distraction’

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705913 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705913 Well...that was fairly awesome. Well…that was fairly awesome.

]]> By: Pantograph http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705916 Pantograph Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705916 What's with all the interviews Shapeways? Get printing! What’s with all the interviews Shapeways? Get printing!

]]> By: Frank W http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705918 Frank W Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705918 Q: What will the future be like? A: Like the present, duh. Q: What will the future be like?
A: Like the present, duh.

]]> By: Pantograph http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705925 Pantograph Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705925 Only more so. Only more so.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706181 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706181 Not valid to categorize Sterling as grumpy when he has to put up with such poor questions. Not valid to categorize Sterling as grumpy when he has to put up with such poor questions.

]]> By: Rob http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705939 Rob Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705939 I love me some Sterling, but is no one else tired and exhausted from the relentlessly grumpy and cynical grim meathook future? Honestly? I love me some Sterling, but is no one else tired and exhausted from the relentlessly grumpy and cynical grim meathook future? Honestly?

]]> By: zikman http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705954 zikman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705954 what a pedant. what a pedant.

]]> By: Flying_Monkey http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705956 Flying_Monkey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705956 I think if I had to put up with idiot questions like that, I'd be grumpy to! I think if I had to put up with idiot questions like that, I’d be grumpy to!

]]> By: daneyul http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706227 daneyul Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706227 Dude, Cecil is always in my fact check list. Did you even read his article? Again, absolutely no evidence or documentation of smallpox infected blankets ever being given to American Indians exists--postscripts in a couple of letters between Bouquet and Amherst is not evidence. (Neither is smallpox breaking out nearby--in the mid-1700's, smallpox was rampant throughout the native population. In all the correspondence, both military and personal, we have from that time period (and there's a goodly amount) this is all we got--two postscripts indicated desire and vague intent. But nothing else, ever, to indicate it actually transpired. (And don't even try with taking the diary of William Trent out of context). May have happened. No proof or account of it happening. Shouldn't be assumed to have happened. Dude, Cecil is always in my fact check list. Did you even read his article?

Again, absolutely no evidence or documentation of smallpox infected blankets ever being given to American Indians exists–postscripts in a couple of letters between Bouquet and Amherst is not evidence. (Neither is smallpox breaking out nearby–in the mid-1700′s, smallpox was rampant throughout the native population.

In all the correspondence, both military and personal, we have from that time period (and there’s a goodly amount) this is all we got–two postscripts indicated desire and vague intent. But nothing else, ever, to indicate it actually transpired. (And don’t even try with taking the diary of William Trent out of context).

May have happened. No proof or account of it happening. Shouldn’t be assumed to have happened.

]]> By: daneyul http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705977 daneyul Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705977 >>> You mean besides "smallpox blankets?" Since there's absolutely no evidence or documentation of smallpox infected blankets ever being given to American Indians, the answer should have been: No, I mean a "non-urban legend" prank disease. >>> You mean besides “smallpox blankets?”

Since there’s absolutely no evidence or documentation of smallpox infected blankets ever being given to American Indians, the answer should have been: No, I mean a “non-urban legend” prank disease.

]]> By: Day Vexx http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705991 Day Vexx Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705991 I'm waiting for Part 2, where Sterling snaps and kicks a chump interviewer in the teeth. I’m waiting for Part 2, where Sterling snaps and kicks a chump interviewer in the teeth.

]]> By: lysdexia http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-705992 lysdexia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-705992 If only Joris had had the foresight to be carrying a Jaccizi stim disguised as a sheep's bladder, the interview might have turned out more interesting. If only Joris had had the foresight to be carrying a Jaccizi stim disguised as a sheep’s bladder, the interview might have turned out more interesting.

]]> By: OneAmp http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706252 OneAmp Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706252 "Mr. Sterling, if you were a salad dressing, which one would you be?" Shapeways needs to stick to the printing. “Mr. Sterling, if you were a salad dressing, which one would you be?”

Shapeways needs to stick to the printing.

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706013 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706013 I can't even figure out what they meant by the "speak quicker" question. Like, if you can speak quickly you get what you want that much sooner? I don't know. To me it reads kind of like, "If everyone had oranges, do you think the people with denim pants would be happier?" I can’t even figure out what they meant by the “speak quicker” question. Like, if you can speak quickly you get what you want that much sooner? I don’t know. To me it reads kind of like, “If everyone had oranges, do you think the people with denim pants would be happier?”

]]> By: Pantograph http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706025 Pantograph Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706025 Yeah. I also don't agree with the answer. People who talk loudly into cellphones are more happy. For one thing they aren't bothered by the loud ass talking on a cellphone. Yeah. I also don’t agree with the answer. People who talk loudly into cellphones are more happy. For one thing they aren’t bothered by the loud ass talking on a cellphone.

]]> By: Faustus http://boingboing.net/2010/02/05/bruce-sterling-inter-1.html#comment-706030 Faustus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-706030 @dculberson Yeah, you got it. The idea being that currently one point of view about things is that the more you have of them the more happy you'll be, the greater GDP = always good version of life. So if we all had cheap replicators who would be the most happy? Well according to our previous theory it would be the person who could get more things, and more quickly once he'd thought of something to get. Hence it would be the person who could speak more quickly to his replicator. The converse is that those who could only speak slowly would be unhappier, because they'd always have their things after the quick speakers. Poor, poor Morgan Freeman. @dculberson

Yeah, you got it. The idea being that currently one point of view about things is that the more you have of them the more happy you’ll be, the greater GDP = always good version of life.

So if we all had cheap replicators who would be the most happy? Well according to our previous theory it would be the person who could get more things, and more quickly once he’d thought of something to get. Hence it would be the person who could speak more quickly to his replicator.

The converse is that those who could only speak slowly would be unhappier, because they’d always have their things after the quick speakers. Poor, poor Morgan Freeman.

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