From: Alienthe@hotmail.com   
      
   Jason wrote:   
      
   > Hello,   
   >   
   > 	Newbie here, been reading some of the posts on alt.cyberpunk,   
   > 	curious to the nature of the Usenet group. To my astonishment, along with   
   > 	all the other distinct Usenet groups, I am happy to embark on an active   
   > 	place where people can discuss this strange and exciting concept of   
   > 	"Cyberpunk".   
      
      
   Welcome.   
      
   [snip]   
      
   > 	Cyberpunk, for oneself, seems to be an appetite for future technologies   
   > 	and future ideologies. Simply put, the conception of what is to come. It,   
   > 	for oneself, represents	a real keening towards that which is connected.   
      
      
   At angle of approach to cyberpunk and what it means differs greatly   
   in this newsgroups. To me at least, the position of culture is also   
   important to what cyberpunk is; culture meeting technology head on   
   and at high speed of change.   
      
   [snip]   
      
   > 	There is also a certain satisfaction of what is clever, make shift, built   
   > 	for purpose yet loosely constructed at the same time, an "on the fly"   
   > 	job. This relating to quick and to the point handy-work. An example of   
   > 	this would be how key characters (you, I, or a fictitious antagonist), in   
   > 	some hypothetically anxious situation, must produce a quick remedy or   
   > 	solution to a given problem. The idea of the "hacker" comes to mind.   
   > 	Clever and sly, yet with purpose.   
      
      
   Mind you, the definition of "hacker" differs too.   
      
   > 	There is also an idea of those devices that are built from a rugged   
   > 	perspective, often vintage or old fashion machinery and electronics. My   
   > 	favorite example of this would be the description of the "Hosaka"   
   > 	computer. Not the newest in technology but tweaked, refined, tried   
   > 	tested and true. Often these devices are accompanied with some secret   
   > 	piece of hardware or software, only to be used by the most skillful hand   
   > 	of a seasoned veteran commander _insert your name here_.   
      
      
   Others are given experimental or unknown hardware to see what happens   
   and if they even survive... In real life I would guess people would   
   be very cautious about interfaces to the brain; "Microsoft Brane Driver   
   version 1.0 Beta" would have a limited market.   
      
   > 	One more thing which had almost "slipped my mind". The sarcastic approach   
   > 	to MASS-MEDIA, POP-CULTURE, and MEGA-CORPORATIONS. "BUY NOW!" and the   
   > 	like, seems to be a re-occurring theme. This is what the cyberpunks with   
   > 	wisdom know to be untrue and the failure of what society will be. Even   
      
      
   Recent polls show that even the majority does not believe what   
   media tells them, rather many regard the whole thing as cheap   
   entertainment.   
      
   > 	now we see this in current day people with the anti globalization   
   > 	movement. Cyberpunks seem to be on the opposite end of the mainstream or   
   > 	those that are totally absorbed by it.   
   >   
   > 	This brings me to the question that many people have been asking. Is   
   > 	cyberpunk for real? Agreed Cyberpunk is a great concept with an almost   
      
      
   If cyberpunk is about technology and culture or the world 15   
   minutes in front of the windshield, then yes, we are all in it.   
   Another definition is high tech low life, well that one is also   
   there. Then you have bohemia with computers, not sure about that   
   one.   
      
   > 	cult like perceptions. No true definition can come about except through   
   > 	ones own interpretation of what we read and see. Those that walk the   
   > 	streets at night pretending to be on a secret mission, or those that sit   
   > 	patiently at home typing away on their keyboards, are those with   
   > 	festering thoughts of the true meaning of Cyberpunkism. I can relate. But   
      
      
   Do you pretend to be on a secret mission? I am curious what it would   
   accomplish.   
      
   > 	is it really an active mode, to exist as a cyberpunk? Or much more a   
   > 	personal pleasure? I think the later, just an idea or standpoint of what   
   > 	we as "techno-geeks", fashioned by the media we absorb, find appealing.   
      
      
   I really do not know; I just enjoy the books and the company of   
   these newsgroups.   
      
   > 	The real heads, those depicted as hackers and secret agents probably   
   > 	know nothing of this idea, except that they are true to what they do and   
   > 	we, can only admire them. Yet as a cyberpunk enthusiast, I can't wait to   
   > 	see what my grandchildren will be like in the semi-distant future.   
   > 	Hopefully they will not be those that are stuck behind the glass of   
   > 	Virtual Reality goggles. Instead I hope they are those who are racing   
   > 	against time to further humanity in a human sense. Working for the   
   > 	better something true, and NOT those whom have been consumed.   
      
      
   Is there a conflict between using VR goggles and furthering humanity?   
   Some use VR in R&D, such as in pharmaceutics, which can be argued to   
   further humanity. The world 100 years from now might not be much   
   better though people might live a lot longer.   
      
   ==<)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)