inkwell.vue.556 : In Formation Magazine: Computers are making people easier to use
permalink #76 of 79: Emily Gertz (emilyg) Fri 26 Sep 25 10:22
    
"the unofficial editorial policy was that if there were a chance to​
be clever, we took it."

Great policy. There is so right now that isn't clever, that this mag​
stands out all the more.

At a publication I work with, DeSmog, we've been covering MAGA and​
tech from the perspectives of angles like climate action, data​
center development and disinformation. We tend to be pretty earnest​
in tone. I think some of these articles can indirectly inform how​
I'm approaching these topics. (Mostly, I edit.)

Still, I'm starting my reading on a personal note, with "What hath​
the iPhone wrought?" 

For the past few years, I've been making myself think back A LOT to​
how we did daily life before 2014. 

It's actually a relief to remember that I tended to get where I​
needed to go, and stayed in good touch with loved ones, and kept up​
with news, and took photos of interesting things or people, and did​
math in my head and more and more...

It felt confining enough that I had a phone with me at almost all​
times from 2000 onwards. I switched to an iPhone around...I don't​
know. It was an iPhone 4, but a hand-me-down from a friend who was​
upgrading to a 5 or 6. I was consciously not an early adopter.

Now I have this little supercomputer in my pocket almost all the​
time, to the point of anxiety if I happen to forget it --- followed​
by remembering that this is how I went about my days for more than​
half my life...and they went FINE.

I have thought about going back to a dumb phone, but at this point​
not having a smartphone would be problematic for work.

All that said, I'm starting to learn how to make films with the​
iPhone. It's thrilling that I can carry around so little equipment​
and get such good results. 
  
inkwell.vue.556 : In Formation Magazine: Computers are making people easier to use
permalink #77 of 79: Paulina Borsook (loris) Fri 26 Sep 25 10:56
    
i think the photo essay by eric p., with ppl with their iphones​
blanked out, is very telling.

my 'silicon valley truth and rec' conference program walked the line​
between humor + 'j'accuse..

how can one do that with climate stories? not sure. there is swift's​
'a modest proposal'...
  
inkwell.vue.556 : In Formation Magazine: Computers are making people easier to use
permalink #78 of 79: Emily Gertz (emilyg) Sun 28 Sep 25 06:58
    

Funny, "truth and reconciliation" has been on my mind a lot. Not​
about climate specifically, but that's a pretty compelling angle.
  
inkwell.vue.556 : In Formation Magazine: Computers are making people easier to use
permalink #79 of 79: Paulina Borsook (loris) Sun 28 Sep 25 10:47
    
we have thrown around the idea of making the fake 'truth and rec'​
confernce --- a real event.
  



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