Victoria Ward talks about objects and the stories that we adhere to them. VW starts off with French policeman rapping and then namechecks Sherry Turkle's Evocative Objects. This reminds me that human beings are tool-makers. We are not unique in the animal kingdom in this regard but we make a wider variety of tools than any other species. Our relationship to objects (esp. those of our own creation & design) is therefore somewhat unique. And as described they not only extend our bodies but also our minds. We have evolved to deal with the concrete, not the abstract. And our ideas & worldviews are rooted in "stuff" - whether we like it or not. I've mentioned clay & lego on this blog as "stuff to think with". VW highlights the importance of allowing people to choose what "stuff' they want to think (& feel) with.
Meanwhile Katie talks about one thing that we do with objects. And that is the curious form of exchange known as "giving away". With an informational object, we can give it away and still keep it. The proliferation of informational objects has a couple of consequences. The first is that because we get to keep it and give it, it costs us less (emotionally as well as financially) to do so. Which means that giving it away means less - so those that we might chose to give informational objects to might mean less to us than those we give solid stuff to (get over it, people). But it also means that we can do it more often. So informational gifts can mediate broader (if shallower) networks of relationship than solid stuff can.
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2 comments:
Dunno... different pieces of information have different values and impacts on relationships, some information (like where the treasure is buried) can create very deep relationships... consistent supply of accurate if relatively minor information can also create relatively deep trust relationships. Sometimes information is worth more to me than the overpriced Christmas present that's not quite "me"
Patrick - I think that's a good point. The other part of this is that when something is given there is a giver & receiver. I suppose my post came from the point of view of the giver.
Information exchange is absolutely part of deep relationships. But as you point out not all information is equal. Secrets for instance...
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