Please have a look at this
article dealing with a way of using the internet that even Albert Borgmann might endorse. The basic idea is an internet forum called The Front Porch Forum that is designed specifically to build a sense of community
within neighborhoods. Is this an example of the internet as a way of fostering "focal things and focal practices, or simply another example of the device paradigm shaping the way we live? Discuss.
6 comments:
I would have to say the site is just another example of the device paradigm at work. Reading the user comments on the site (frontporchforum.com) the users clearly enjoy reading every issue and actively participating in the forum. The site markets itself as something that the best neighborhoods participate in. It is merely a "technological device" that is aiming to promote focal things and practices. It only further illustrates the magnitude of how intricate of a hold the device paradigm has on our lives. This forum definitely proves that a device can in fact promote focal things and practices. In the article the creator stated that he tried to make the site as simple as possible to use in order to promote more users adopting its use, however no matter how simple he may make the front end of the site most users would still have no idea how the backend of the site works. Unlike its simple counterpart, the newspaper, in which ink is printed on the paper in which the end user physically holds, there is a lot more going on in the background to make this site function correctly. The site offers a way to enrich our lives through a greater since of community and friendship, while imposing virtually no burdens on the user, in a safe, easy to use, and near instantaneous fashion. The site has broken down the barrier separating devices from focal things and practices and allowed them to work together and complement each other.
Neat idea. A buddy and I tried a similar site and got threatened with a lawsuit! Anyhow, it seems to be an example of the device paradigm, as well as a sign that maybe some of these worries of technology separating people and communities may be a bit exaggerated. Too many extremists with some of this stuff and ideas. Definitely shows that technology can be family- and neighborhood/socially- friendly, and not just a divider.
I think that this is just another example of the device paradigm. I think that this still takes away from the idea of going and meeting people personally rather than meeting them through the internet. I agree with what Nick said about people exaggerating a little too much about technology seperating communities. I think that this frontporch idea is a really good idea it brings people together, but it does take away from the focal thing and practices idea from Borgmann's book. With this frontporch idea we lose the sense of going to a neighbor and knocking on their door and meeting and communicating for the first time that way. Borgmann illustrates through his book that due to the device paradigm we are losing these practices. So the idea of frontporch is a great idea and I think something that can benefit many people, but it can be looked at as another device rather than a focal thing.
I think the Front Porch Forum is another example of the device paradigm. Although it is an example of the device paradigm, i think this use of technology is a good idea and has many benefits to the people in the community. Often it is difficult to meet neighbors and many times people don't feel comfortable going over to a neighbor's house and introducing themselves. I think the forum is a good way to break the ice with the neighbors, and gives a good opportunity to get to know some of the neighbors before actually meeting them face to face. It also benefits the community because everyone knows eachother and are willing to help eachother out. They will be more willing to watch out for your property providing members of the neighborhood with a sense of comfort and security. Not all technology that takes form in the device paradigm is bad, and i think this specific example is how technology in the form of the device paradigm can be beneficial.
Coming from the perspective of someone who lives in a rural area where value is seemingly placed on the family community more so than the regional community and where the most widely shared resources between neighbors are hunting grounds, the struggles of neighborhood suburban life are especially hard for me to assess. The farmers and the regular homeowners in my area seem to approach each other with polite civility and willingness to cooperate in moments of crisis, but I think the farming families especially treasure their independence and sense of privacy on the farm property. I consider our farm to function like a widespread subdivision of family members, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents; however, within this familial network there is no sense of alienation and perhaps shy reservation that traditional subdivision communities experience. If there were to be a Front Porch Forum for my area, my appreciation for it would be restricted to its ability to connect me with potential jobs and equestrian sales and opportunities. In other words, I would venture to say that it would be the personal benefits and not the relational benefits that would attract farmers and rural residents to this forum.
Keeping this in mind, my concern is that Front Page Forum could easily be exploited as a sort of commodity that does little to promote community “focal practices” or “focal things” but instead focuses on immediate personal benefits. I think that Borgmann would consider Michael Wood-Lewis’s system to exist within the device paradigm as a “device” that attempts to harness technology in such a way that it instigates physical, face-to-face “focal practices” within a community. Yet, again, whether or not this goal is being met is questionable and probably varies from neighborhood to neighborhood. It is undeniable that the safe distance of impersonality associated with an online forum helps to erase lines of reservation between shy individuals, which might lead to lasting friendships; also, the forum adds a heightened accessibility to neighborhood news and events that may prompt an increase in community involvement. On the other hand, in some ways, the online forum provides people with more excuses to sit inside their homes and become disengaged with the outside world. Furthermore, I think that Borgmann would deem recurring one-dimensional dialogue between neighbors on a forum as an inadequate end when advancing to face-to-face contact is as simple as walking a few blocks down the sidewalk.
Blog #5- Reaction to the Front Porch
Although it does indeed promote focal practices and ideas, I believe this is just another way of the device paradigm shaping the way we live. It can be argued that many technologies lead to the adoption of focal things and practices, however we need to analyze the the route to which we reach these focal things and practices. For example, instead of using electronics we should use more focal objects, or simply interact more with people.
As Nathan points out, Borgmann would probably advocate a newspaper over a computer for neighborly information, as it does not require an intense focus to use, and it would be easier to interact with others. Also, getting the newspaper out in your yard would let you see your neighbors more, which would make it easier to approach them later on if you wanted to talk.
I also feel like this Front Porch Forum may be CraigsList in disguise; people would probably be willing to use it more if they were advertising a garage sale, and not ask the neighbors if they would like a hot pan of brownies.
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