From: venturer@fuchsia.co.uk   
      
   Fair enough. I'll try to keep up with this group more rather than only   
   every few months!   
      
      
   On 15 Dec 2004 01:00:58 -0800, "FixinDixon"    
   wrote:   
      
   >Ah, wondered who sent me that offer to join a yahoo group...  Although   
   >very kind, I'll pass on the opportunity.  I've just got too much on to   
   >be posting to another "CP" newsgroup...  besides, the original is   
   >always the best, neh?   
   >   
   >Anwyay   
   >Venturer wrote:   
   >   
   >> On our group we were discussing on whether CP was dead and/or needed   
   >a   
   >> new name for a new generation.   
   >   
   >It's not dead (see the emergance of Jeff Noon's writing,   
   >alt.cp.chatsubo etc) and it doesn't need a new name.  Thankfully, the   
   >media haven't cottoned onto the phrase yet, nor has anyone applied it   
   >to any form of fashion in any meaningful way.  The closest they've got   
   >in the UK is the phrase "future-punk", and I've only seen that once.   
   >   
   >> One problem with CP is same with sci-fi. There is so much SF in   
   >> everyday life and on TV, films etc that it just isn't SF anymore -   
   >> it's just normal and often very dull reality to us.   
   >> CP was supposed to be a vision and inspiring objective, but now it   
   >> just seems summed up by those you see wearing the imitation Matrix   
   >> clothing props and who insist they dressed like that before the films   
   >> came out.   
   >   
   >You might be interested in the post below entitled "Quick Sartorial   
   >Question".  You'd be surprised what different CPs here wear.  I'm   
   >currently advocating a "keep under the radar" style of blue jeans and   
   >unique t-shirts and, as ever, avoiding labels whereever I can.   
   >Although it's the mind-set really that we have to nuture, not the   
   >fashion.  Frankly, let them all walk around like Neo - they may think   
   >they're the bomb, but really, they look like posers.   
   >   
   >> We need a new CP and a new manifesto.   
   >>   
   >> What is/was the point of CP?   
   > The point of CP was that it was a counter-revolution to   
   >the growing future-seeking-enlightenment of the late 80s.  It grew out   
   >of the SF work of Gibson et al that emphasized a darker future that   
   >could embrace us.  However, within the darkness, there was a form of   
   >light, CPs, cynical, aware, able, fighting ... wrong word, skirmishing   
   >is probably better, against the men in suits.   
   >The problem is that ... well, is it a problem?...mankind has actually   
   >achieved, in my eyes, the dark future that was prophesised, as   
   >evidenced in the tech, the politic, the social scene, the drugs, the   
   >cynicism...   
   >We don't need a new CP.  We just need to examine the old one (see the   
   >FAQ) and to apply it.  The point of CP is, in my mind, to be aware of   
   >the futility of humanity at the moment and to better it, through use of   
   >the tech that we have available.   
   >   
   >> I've posted your message there, hope you don't mind.   
   >   
   >Nah, s'cool. Just get some of your group onto here and we'll call it a   
   >fair trade.   
   >   
   >>   
   >>   
   >> On 13 Dec 2004 15:10:30 -0800, m.butcher@liv.ac.uk (FixinDixon)   
   >wrote:   
   >>   
   >> >1984 - arguably the first CP book ever written.  In it, emotions are   
   >> >restricted, and control is supreme.   
   >> >Gibson's work (incl Neuromancer) - based in a world with dark edges,   
   >> >towering cities, grime, dirt, kibble splashing around feet, combined   
   >> >with cleaner, more humane areas.   
   >> >Snow Crash - Strip Malls across the USA, where everything is the   
   >same   
   >> >because that's the way people like it.   
   >> >   
   >> >Fiction - or strangely now Fact?   
   >> >   
   >> >I could be a bit paranoid (which, as everyone knows, is very   
   >healthy),   
   >> >but is it just me or is the world becoming our reality?  Robots with   
   >> >guns going into battle, rigged elections (allegedly - alright, not   
   >> >rigged, but there was some dodgy stuff going on), iPod and MP3s and   
   >> >Napster changing the size of our music...  The list goes on.  And,   
   >> >when you think about it, have we created a monster?   
   >> >   
   >> >Walk down any "fashionable" shopping area, and there's the essence   
   >of   
   >> >chrome, the reaching out of architecture's fetid grasp towards what   
   >> >they consider to be an 80s inspired view of the future.  Clothes and   
   >> >fashion are moving slowly and strangely towards more "futuristic"   
   >> >ideas - for example, the expansion of Cyberdog.net over the last   
   >year,   
   >> >and the current obsession with tight leggings for women, moving away   
   >> >from the more utilitarian combats.  Sleek halves meet padded tops   
   >with   
   >> >fake fur sprouting out from every hem line.  I've seen people out on   
   >> >the town looking like extras from any sci-fi movie (although,   
   >> >thankfully, no-one in the Buck Rogers full body lycra...  but there   
   >> >have been several women attempting Jedi-esque clothing and the Style   
   >> >section of the Sunday Times is starting to look like the inside of   
   >> >Daryl Hannah's and Harrison Ford's wardrobes).   
   >> >   
   >> >Xmas gifts - the electronics industry has had record sales this   
   >year,   
   >> >with internet sales doubling (Times report, 13/12/04).  Admittedly,   
   >> >that's John Lewis's, but if my Mum, who can't work the DVD player,   
   >is   
   >> >willing to buy stuff off Amazon and Ebay (admittedly with someone   
   >> >present to work the computer) then anyone is going to do it.   
   >> >   
   >> >Cybernetics - well, we can live in hope.  But some of the surgery we   
   >> >can do at present...  We can give people 20-10 vision (see at 20m   
   >what   
   >> >most people see at 10m), we can replace body parts, attach   
   >pacemakers   
   >> >to still moving hearts, alter the human body to be stronger, faster,   
   >> >better...   
   >> >   
   >> >So my point is...   
   >> >Well, my point is that CP is now no longer science-fiction, but a   
   >> >depressingly overt science-fact.  Even Jeff Noon's work (arguably   
   >CP)   
   >> >has resonance in today's society (even if sticking feathers down   
   >ones   
   >> >neck isn't quite de rigeur yet).  Throw in foreign wars over   
   >> >commercial interests, religious terrorism, zenophobia, people too   
   >> >scared to leave their homes, political leaders getting elected   
   >through   
   >> >references to fear and terror, international financial instability   
   >> >(including the US dollar and Japanese Yen being distinctly unstable)   
   >> >and you've got most of the storylines of most books that we   
   >recognise   
   >> >as CP - without the huge robots, cybernetics (shame) and other   
   >> >accoutremants.   
   >> >   
   >> >Society has become, IMO, CP without the tech.  Hell, there are   
   >enough   
   >> >teenage "punks" out on the streets and on the web to confirm that.   
   >> >The tech - well, it's almost there, and I'm sure our intrepid   
   >> >adventurers will be able to tell us what Japan can do to redress   
   >that   
   >> >particular balance.   
   >> >   
   >> >So, the question is: What do WE do?  Sit around being cynical?   
   >> >Destroy it all in a mass orgy of violence and sex?  Hack the world?   
   >> >Act as impartial observors?  Enjoy the ride - live fast, die young   
   >and   
   >> >leave a mangled corpse?   
   >> >We're part of a genre that encourages living on an "edge".  Only   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)