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Before the Web, Hearts Grew Silent

nytimes.com

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Re: Before the Web, Hearts Grew Silent

#41

Post by rcthompson »

drawkbox wrote: post #18
rcthompson wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assumed that flip phones and old laptops were eliminated because companies were stealth-marketing their (new) products by "encouraging" TV shows to have their characters use them. I'm pretty sure I've seen at least a few clear-cut "product demo" moments in some shows, where the camera spent a little longer than was really necessary showing the device and the character's interaction with it. See also the transition…

Probably. The old phones before flip, home phones/office phones you could hang up all intensely. The flip phones replaced that with hanging up with the massive flip, but got annoying when everyone is using smartphones. Now when they hang up they can't tap the phone harder to hang up. A tension moment has been taken.

On the other hand, we, as the owners of similar devices, get to empathize with the characters' silent frustration at not having anything to slam down.

Re: Before the Web, Hearts Grew Silent

#42

Post by summerdown2 »

Not only is this still a thing, but it's something you help with:

http://www.redcross.org.uk/Get-involved/Volunteer/Migration-...

"When families are separated by war or disaster, our volunteers search for lost loved ones and put them back in contact."

Or, outside the UK:

http://www.redcross.org/what-we-do/international-services/re...

Re: Before the Web, Hearts Grew Silent

#43

Post by joe_the_user »

InclinedPlane wrote: post #29
joe_the_user wrote: post #3

Hmm, Book plots, movie plots and real-life drama in many ways revolve around missed connections. TV shows where everyone has a cell phone now have to use the device of turned-off, missing etc phones. A world of perfect connections would theoretically have no drama but since connections are never perfect, we would never have that. On the other hand, in the technologically connected world, missed connections become tec…

I think missed connections are just a crutch, a plot-writing cliche that was popular just because it was so easy. But I don't think it's necessary for great story writing.

Yeah, that guy William Shakespeare was quite a hack for using the missed connections device in Romeo and Juliette as well as most of his comedies.

Re: Before the Web, Hearts Grew Silent

#44

Post by rcthompson »

icebraining wrote: post #33
rcthompson wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assumed that flip phones and old laptops were eliminated because companies were stealth-marketing their (new) products by "encouraging" TV shows to have their characters use them. I'm pretty sure I've seen at least a few clear-cut "product demo" moments in some shows, where the camera spent a little longer than was really necessary showing the device and the character's interaction with it. See also the transition…

Some of them are pretty blatant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLzMVMPd_4Y "Don't believe me? Bing it!"

Yep, that's exactly the kind of thing I've noticed.

Re: Before the Web, Hearts Grew Silent

#45

Post by elwell »

justinpombrio wrote: post #22
elwell wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if your post is entirely serious, but I like it.

Imagine falling in love with someone in perfect silence, knowing them entirely through their actions, having only the feeling of their presence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0AKJMGxwpE
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