Comments on: lego, power, open projects http://hughmcguire.net/2008/02/21/lego-power-open-projects/ at the intersection of technology, philosophy, and politics (and some other things). Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:26:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Hugh http://hughmcguire.net/2008/02/21/lego-power-open-projects/#comment-5587 Hugh Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:11:12 +0000 http://hughmcguire.net/2008/02/21/lego-power-open-projects/#comment-5587 hey the one significant achievement in my life is LibriVox, which is a collective utopian's wet dream, or at least I think so.... but no I think it was the word "meritocracy" that set me off. or all the "meetings." or the artificialness. or something. i don't know either. hey the one significant achievement in my life is LibriVox, which is a collective utopian’s wet dream, or at least I think so….

but no I think it was the word “meritocracy” that set me off. or all the “meetings.” or the artificialness. or something. i don’t know either.

]]> By: mir http://hughmcguire.net/2008/02/21/lego-power-open-projects/#comment-5586 mir Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:03:52 +0000 http://hughmcguire.net/2008/02/21/lego-power-open-projects/#comment-5586 oh yeah, and also is this not just 'Lord of the Flies' with interlocking pieces? maybe that's basically the thing that you object to, the notion that children are basically little brutes. Part of the burden of education is an attempt to civilize them. It depends on whether you appreciate the development of a capitalist ethic as a civilizing practice or whether you want to obtain a corps of young pioneers, in either respect one has to "raise" them right?? That is a bit scary, but that's why education is scary, period. oh yeah, and also is this not just ‘Lord of the Flies’ with interlocking pieces? maybe that’s basically the thing that you object to, the notion that children are basically little brutes. Part of the burden of education is an attempt to civilize them. It depends on whether you appreciate the development of a capitalist ethic as a civilizing practice or whether you want to obtain a corps of young pioneers, in either respect one has to “raise” them right??

That is a bit scary, but that’s why education is scary, period.

]]> By: mir http://hughmcguire.net/2008/02/21/lego-power-open-projects/#comment-5585 mir Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:59:31 +0000 http://hughmcguire.net/2008/02/21/lego-power-open-projects/#comment-5585 I am definitely a wee but drunk but it sounds to me like you disagree with it because unlike an individualized utopia, it actually is an attempt to produce a feeling of collectivist utopia. Don't forget that individual achievement ( remember all those gold stars on your papers you did or did not receive in grade school) is as much a social engineered aspect of grade school, as is deciding that everyone should be able to collectively decide on Lego structure sizes. I mean, I have to agree making all the houses the same size sounds a bit reductive, but the kids are 8. Neither vision is perfect; the idea of rights based society where the individual is paramount, or a collective where the needs of the community can sometimes overwhelm the will of a sole person. But it is important to realize that in all your however many years, the idea of individual achievement was first implemented at grade school - yours, mine, basically everyone's. Okay, going to go ponder some more. I like you point that the teachers never question their role. Teachers never question that - it's the most sacred cow of all the cows. I am definitely a wee but drunk but it sounds to me like you disagree with it because unlike an individualized utopia, it actually is an attempt to produce a feeling of collectivist utopia.

Don’t forget that individual achievement ( remember all those gold stars on your papers you did or did not receive in grade school) is as much a social engineered aspect of grade school, as is deciding that everyone should be able to collectively decide on Lego structure sizes. I mean, I have to agree making all the houses the same size sounds a bit reductive, but the kids are 8.

Neither vision is perfect; the idea of rights based society where the individual is paramount, or a collective where the needs of the community can sometimes overwhelm the will of a sole person. But it is important to realize that in all your however many years, the idea of individual achievement was first implemented at grade school - yours, mine, basically everyone’s.

Okay, going to go ponder some more. I like you point that the teachers never question their role. Teachers never question that - it’s the most sacred cow of all the cows.

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