Choice Challenge

Fired at first sight with all the Net imparts

in dial-up mode we suffered, half-resigned,

intrepidly all surfed by fits and starts,

unfurled new u.r.l. blue underlined.

To surf with mirth the internaut departs

to world wide web with novelty designed.

Unused to hypertext, at first each charts

from chat to games, from games to chat’s fine arts,

new territory, numbers, names assigned.

Then, signets structured, searches more refined,

online purchase supermarket carts

are tested, tried, the novice left behind.

Through double clicks the tricks of mice and men

we learned, and, learning, Pavloved modem’s ring

salivating more, constraints with zen

treating till dsl became ‘the thing’.

To USENET then to Prodigy, and then

to Compuserve would super-surfer cling,

subscription tied till bubble market’s ken

puffed model free – whose praises all could sing.

From site to site attention swift would (s)wing

its way with more to test or try again -

absorbing “this” or thinking “that's” a thing

undeserving of attention’s pen.

As surf advanced we witnessed with surprise

that boundaries traditionnal fell flat.

Far near became, Komodo Dragon's cries

appeared as common as the alley cat,

its habitat familiar to surmise

as sleepless sighs or lovers' tit for tat.

Identity protection ? Some, more wise,

Magellan sailing with mosaic hat,

soon banished cookies, surfed on in disguise,

with Google, patience lost, were driven bats.

From worm the early bird was spared, from lies,

from virus, Trojan horse, spam, bot spy stats.

Once storage space was very, very low, -

though ‘netiquette’ prevailed in spam free states,

and download rates excruciating slow.

Soon science fiction world which dissipates

delays and pays itself on ads will flow

seamlessly; - access all accomodates.

There to grave from cradle all will know

their place, in grid gaol gathered, - dire straits -

with nowhere left go, or hide, or sow

the seeds of independent thought. The dates

of life and death extended may bestow

new paradoxes none anticipates.

From modem slow to ubiquity

on call installed, mandating plug and play,

most are migrating as the century

ushers in a different state of play

where everyone to everything may be

connected – yet what what risks, rewards, today

are seen ? what threats ? what opportunity ?

behind the barter where we piper pay

indirectly. Recording industry

copyright strangles peer-to-peer at bay.

What free remains when governments with glee

Minority Report t(r)aps every day ?

From ‘place to place’ – the model history

accustomed all who sojourned on this earth –

man must adjust, the term RFID

pervasive, tags implanted from our birth,

are here to stay. The part these parts play we

must predefine, control, - their role, their worth,

cannot be left to greed’s monopoly,

abrogating ‘privacy’, whose dearth

is proof of dictatorial decree,

falls witness-victim sacrificed, with mirth

silenced on altar of “Security”.

The links each thinks (s)he inks as trace unique,

sustaining individuality, -

those links enchain the double helix freak

as Brave New World Big Browser to a T

ties down. The clown is exiled and the weak

become more weak, see their fragility.

For double bind as well as double speak

within a globalized economy

their tentacles extend, control now seek

through cartel, organized monoply.

Where, where is gone attraction and mystique,

of “Internet for All” in liberty ?

Tomorrow’s mobile networks well may s(t)ing -

with nano chips to filter out all pain -

emotions, read between mind's lines, to cling

like moss to psycho psyché-stone, while brain

analysis of sub-atomic string

could all neuronic mysteries explain.

Minute implanted tracing tags could bring

a new dimension to existence, train

mankind to telekinesis and ping

from ISP to ESP, maintain

a dialogue embracing everything

without the need for coded speech or plain.

In the domain of ‘Disabilities’ -

or ‘Special Needs’ – inclusion is a theme

which may stand out as positive, which frees

from walls and calls within, converting dream

to individual realities

as sight and sound enhancement soon could seem

empowerment for those who, ill at ease,

today through struggle suffer pain extreme,

who even daily practicalities

must face with courage, exiled from ‘home team’.

Yet ‘beggars can’t be choosers’, and some keys

constructive could unlock true self-esteem.

Yet Special Needs and medical advance

form only part of life – one hundred years

on Earth may hell become with “freedom”, “chance”,

deleted from the dictionary, if fears

for job, retirement benefits, nuance

the Zeitgeist of tomorrow, if careers

depend on lifelong learning where perchance

access thereto’s restricted or appears

reward for dumb allegiance, quickstep dance

designed for who to party line adheres.

What would, the eighties’ fer de lance,

would greet the current context with three cheers ?

‘Choice’ and ‘Challenge’ generations face,

‘Challenge’, ‘Choice’, repeated as each tries

to overcome their heritage and trace

fresh writing on the wall and realize

goals attained, suspending ‘time’ and ‘place’

ambitions universal recognized.

Most must, corrupted, witness their disgrace

ambitions high attainted, compromised,

as age controls what youth yearns to replace.

Climatic change for Nature’s scant surprise,

climactic phase awaits the human race,

prized principles, alas, cut down to size.

Although this overview to optimist

may seem exaggerated, much too strong,

societal equations out of twist,

with progress’ spit manipulated prong

may roast man’s boast of freedom. Who’ll resist ?

Technologies emerging – hear doom’s gong,

convergence, acting as a catalyst, -

their sum implies that there is something wrong

in Denmark’s state, in hamlet, city, ‘kissed

by the sun and morning dew’ whose song -

too passive – risks perversion. Who’ll insist

on high ideals, or struggle very long,

when threatened with exclusion, from a list

pricked for delinking, from right to belong ?

A risk/reward conundrum is not new,

each generation met the challenge where

the context – time and distance – all well knew,

in common held by friend, foe, everywhere.

Upon the cusp of change momentous through

ubiquitous computing we must spare

no effort comprehending out of cue

powerplay conditions leave most bare,

with oversight rejected by the few, -

must plan while we still find time to prepare,

anticipating mind-sets all askew

according to the tenets most now share.

The times are changing, shifting paradigm

accelerates cause-and-effect equation,

opens Pandora’s box from the sublime

to the ridiculous, grabs each occasion

to highlight contradictions - powder prime

linking the bomb of Internet invasion

to new technologies’ emerging clime.

Societies, black, western, arab, asian,

are stretched by birth pang cries as auld lang syne

offers no escape, polite evasion.

Don’t underestimate the dangers that this rhyme

tones down to tune to intimate persuasion.

There is no moral to this tale, no guide

on how to act, - fact, fiction tell apart.

The future’s pages only will provide

the blog recording how each played a part

protecting (as we see it) what world wide

is just, is open sharing. Each should start

reflecting on true choice, not set aside

these challenges through laziness, nor, smart,

seek to outplay the odds, nor hitch free ride

upon the back of privilege. Let heart

explore all open options, shed false pride

before face pales, pulse fails, - time to depart.

2 March 2001 substantially expanded and rewritten 14 September 2006

for previous version see below

Choice Challenge_20060914_Fired at first sight ROBIN Jonathan 1947_2006 robi3_1094_robi3_0000 XXX_EJX

ROBIN Jonathan 1947_2006 robi3_1094_robi3_0000 XXX_EJX Choice Challenge_Fired at first sight

Sur(e)fing

Across the world wide web from modem's ring

to disconnection information bring :

through double click the tricks of mice and men

we learn, and, learning, treat constraints with zen.

Fired at first sight with all the net imparts

intrepidly we surf by fits and starts,

though from the bounded framework of the mind

most take views narrow, little look behind.

Unused to hypertext, at first each charts

from chat to game, from game to chat’s fine arts,

then progress makes, with numbers, names assigned

as signets structure searches more refined.

From site to site attention swift will wing

its way absorbing “this” presuming “that's” a thing

undeserving of attention when

there's so much more to test or try again.

From click to mortar back again cost sting

will ease with margins under pressure, – bring

security to this equation, vain

will top-down distribution be, ‘tis plain.

As surf advances witness with surprise

far near becomes, Komodo Dragon's cries

appear as common as those alley cats’

midnight cries, or lovers' tits for tats.

Identity protecting, yet more wise,

some banish cookies, surf on in disguise,

who, pleased, at first donned Alta Vista hats,

now Google's limits reach, near driven bats.

Tomorrow Mpeg 21 shall sing

emotions, read between mind's lines, to cling

like moss to psycho-stone, while on some vein

a nano chip will filter out all pain.

Although storage capacity is low,

and download rates excruciating slow

tomorrow will infinite giga rates

encourage as the world anticipates

a science fiction world which dissipates

delays while access all accomodates

from cradle to the grave, where all will know

their place with nowhere left to hide or go.

2 March 2001

robi3_0614