Comments on: Innocents abroad http://www.clayfox.com/2009/06/17/innocents-abroad/ Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:36:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anastasia Kirtiklis http://www.clayfox.com/2009/06/17/innocents-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-24402 Anastasia Kirtiklis Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:59:02 +0000 http://www.clayfox.com/?p=338#comment-24402 Mark, I'm slow in seeing this reply. I admit I still choose the Luddite path when it comes to twitter, mobile devices, etc--at my speed, it might as well be snail mail correspondence! Regarding these articles, I have to say that it's difficult to know what is going on anywhere via any media, or for that matter, in person. While it's wise to be skeptical about what's going on in Iran, and the quality of the info being passed on, etc, it's also simply amazing. People wouldn't have the capacity to meet or communicate this way in Iran otherwise, or to get their message out to the wider world.  Regardless of whether or not there was election fraud, in the last week it's become clear that this isn't just about the election any more, but about freedom of speech, and what has become of the government of Iran.  As for twitter and internet news, we saw that skepticism is alive and well this week with Michael Jackson's death. When the news spilled out, people first asked, "Is it true?" and went searching to find solid answers. Have to say my bias is against the old media. We still need it, but we need new media at least as much. Hopefully, it will force the old to improve, rather than kill it off completely.  Mark, I’m slow in seeing this reply. I admit I still choose the Luddite path when it comes to twitter, mobile devices, etc–at my speed, it might as well be snail mail correspondence!
Regarding these articles, I have to say that it’s difficult to know what is going on anywhere via any media, or for that matter, in person. While it’s wise to be skeptical about what’s going on in Iran, and the quality of the info being passed on, etc, it’s also simply amazing. People wouldn’t have the capacity to meet or communicate this way in Iran otherwise, or to get their message out to the wider world. 
Regardless of whether or not there was election fraud, in the last week it’s become clear that this isn’t just about the election any more, but about freedom of speech, and what has become of the government of Iran. 
As for twitter and internet news, we saw that skepticism is alive and well this week with Michael Jackson’s death. When the news spilled out, people first asked, “Is it true?” and went searching to find solid answers.
Have to say my bias is against the old media. We still need it, but we need new media at least as much. Hopefully, it will force the old to improve, rather than kill it off completely. 

]]> By: Mark Phillipson http://www.clayfox.com/2009/06/17/innocents-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-23984 Mark Phillipson Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:50:15 +0000 http://www.clayfox.com/?p=338#comment-23984 Thanks Anastasia.  Having actually worked there & parried pro-American sentiment first-hand, you're way ahead of most of us in imagining and understanding what's happening there.  And I'm sorry about that nightmare. Two other interesting/skeptical points about understanding Iran with new media, via the <a href="http://alchemicalmusings.org/" rel="nofollow">alchemist</a>:  <a href="http://trueslant.com/joshuakucera/2009/06/15/what-if-we-are-all-wrong-about-iran/" rel="nofollow">What if Twitter is leading us astray in Iraq</a> -  misinformation 'revealed' by Twitter <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Media_revolution_--_whats_gained_whats_lost.html" rel="nofollow">Media revolution:  What's gained, what's lost</a> - the digital divide:  new media improves coverage for some, but decaying old media affects many more Thanks Anastasia.  Having actually worked there & parried pro-American sentiment first-hand, you’re way ahead of most of us in imagining and understanding what’s happening there.  And I’m sorry about that nightmare.

Two other interesting/skeptical points about understanding Iran with new media, via the alchemist: 

What if Twitter is leading us astray in Iraq -  misinformation ‘revealed’ by Twitter

Media revolution:  What’s gained, what’s lost – the digital divide:  new media improves coverage for some, but decaying old media affects many more

]]> By: Anastasia Kirtiklis http://www.clayfox.com/2009/06/17/innocents-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-23980 Anastasia Kirtiklis Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:46:59 +0000 http://www.clayfox.com/?p=338#comment-23980 Thanks for posting this, Mark. I had a nightmare last night about the violence in Tehran. It's amazing that the election is now getting so much attention. I happened upon a Moussavi demonstration last night in Union Square and there were an impressive number of people there. When I worked in Iran in 2000, people were always <em>delighted</em> to meet an American. (Once a busboy came to me in a restaurant as I was about to leave and whispered, "You're an American?" When I said yes, he replied with a thumbs up, "Cool!") I wonder how much the gov keeps an eye on people and their internet actions. In 2000, my friends felt very monitored. I'm delighted that people feel either free enough or rebellious enough to act as they are. It's not a surprise, as Persians are a passionate lot. Thanks for posting this, Mark. I had a nightmare last night about the violence in Tehran. It’s amazing that the election is now getting so much attention. I happened upon a Moussavi demonstration last night in Union Square and there were an impressive number of people there. When I worked in Iran in 2000, people were always delighted to meet an American. (Once a busboy came to me in a restaurant as I was about to leave and whispered, “You’re an American?” When I said yes, he replied with a thumbs up, “Cool!”)

I wonder how much the gov keeps an eye on people and their internet actions. In 2000, my friends felt very monitored. I’m delighted that people feel either free enough or rebellious enough to act as they are. It’s not a surprise, as Persians are a passionate lot.

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