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Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003)

gutenberg.org

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Re: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003)

#11

Post by prepend »

I like this book and I’m never quite sure how some of the terms were Doctorow capturing what’s going on and writing it down vs inventing it. I think how whuffie was described here seems like something that will really exist and I don’t know if there were any sites displaying cumulative karma for people.

It was at least the first time I read it.

Also, I think the “comm” described in Eastern Standard Tribe is the first time a smartphone was practically described with functions we had later in the iPhone (payment, maps, pervasive information, camera, image and video sharing). I wondered if phone designers ever drew inspiration from Doctorow’s specific books.

Re: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003)

#12

Post by lproven »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #6
lproven wrote: post #3

As far as I know, all of Doctorow's books are on his website for free download anyway. E.g. here is Content ... https://craphound.com/content/download/ DAOITMK is here: https://craphound.com/category/down/

I don't think they're all there, e.g. https://craphound.com/category/redteamblues/

Don't know. Maybe it's too new?

Re: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003)

#13

Post by dochtman »

lproven wrote: post #3

As far as I know, all of Doctorow's books are on his website for free download anyway. E.g. here is Content ... https://craphound.com/content/download/ DAOITMK is here: https://craphound.com/category/down/

I don’t think the newer ones (like Walkaway) are Free like the early ones?

Re: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003)

#16

Post by tetris11 »

prepend wrote: post #11

I like this book and I’m never quite sure how some of the terms were Doctorow capturing what’s going on and writing it down vs inventing it. I think how whuffie was described here seems like something that will really exist and I don’t know if there were any sites displaying cumulative karma for people. It was at least the first time I read it. Also, I think the “comm” described in Eastern Standard Tribe is the first…

I find Whuffie as a concept pretty interesting, though not that different from regular wealth. For example, being the daughter of prominent Imagineers did hold a lot of sway in their world, despite the daughter herself not being particularly remarkable.

What I mean to say is, trust-fund kids will still be alive and well in some form in a post dollar world.

Re: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003)

#20

Post by keepamovin »

tetris11 wrote: post #16
prepend wrote: post #11

I like this book and I’m never quite sure how some of the terms were Doctorow capturing what’s going on and writing it down vs inventing it. I think how whuffie was described here seems like something that will really exist and I don’t know if there were any sites displaying cumulative karma for people. It was at least the first time I read it. Also, I think the “comm” described in Eastern Standard Tribe is the first…

I find Whuffie as a concept pretty interesting, though not that different from regular wealth. For example, being the daughter of prominent Imagineers did hold a lot of sway in their world, despite the daughter herself not being particularly remarkable. What I mean to say is, trust-fund kids will still be alive and well in some form in a post dollar world.

Maybe I'm extending your sentiment-vector too far in its direction (or maybe mistaking its direction entirely!), but are you at the: "So no matter what kind of future we have, there's still no point in trying, because in the end it's not about what you choose, it's about what's given to you?"-Level or a less extreme version of that-Level...?
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