Five Ways to Make Sure Technology Doesn't Get in the Way of Storytelling

Another Torrific essay, delivering exactly what it says on the tin.

https://www.tor.com/2023/01/25/five-ways-to-make-sure-technology-doesnt-get-in-the-way-of-storytelling/
--
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On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 10:23:22 AM UTC-5, James Nicoll wrote:
> Five Ways to Make Sure Technology Doesn't Get in the Way of Storytelling
>
> Another Torrific essay, delivering exactly what it says on the tin.
>
> https://www.tor.com/2023/01/25/five-ways-to-make-sure-technology-doesnt-get-in-the-way-of-storytelling/

Before the cell phone was the home phone. It's said Jackie Gleason thought it would short-circuit too many comedic situations to have instantaneous commmunication on The Honeymooners, so Ralph was too cheap to have a phone installed. (It's also said that he thought child actors would not be conducive to his recording the show "as live," so at least the episode, "The Babysitter," where Alice cares for children to afford a telephone`gets them both out of the way at once.)

--
-Jack

On 26/01/23 04:23, James Nicoll wrote:
> Five Ways to Make Sure Technology Doesn't Get in the Way of Storytelling
>
> Another Torrific essay, delivering exactly what it says on the tin.
>
> https://www.tor.com/2023/01/25/five-ways-to-make-sure-technology-doesnt-get-in-the-way-of-storytelling/

I think the best example was the Vinge.

"If we’re to believe much of modern media, wealthy folks are admirable,
hard working, and ethical people. Job creators! It follows that large
corporations must, by virtue of the vast wealth under their control, be
exemplary guardians of the public good. Their every action, from
abruptly abandoning long-standing open licenses to inflating the price
of necessities, must serve some higher purpose, even if that purpose
remains unclear. The alternative is to believe we live in some sort of
horrific dystopia. That’s simply unacceptable."

Brilliant, thank you, but what is the "abruptly abandoning long-standing
open licenses" a reference to?

On 2023-02-01, Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> wrote:
> On 26/01/23 04:23, James Nicoll wrote:
>> Five Ways to Make Sure Technology Doesn't Get in the Way of Storytelling
>>
>> Another Torrific essay, delivering exactly what it says on the tin.
>>
>> https://www.tor.com/2023/01/25/five-ways-to-make-sure-technology-doesnt-get-in-the-way-of-storytelling/
>
> I think the best example was the Vinge.
>
> "If we’re to believe much of modern media, wealthy folks are admirable,
> hard working, and ethical people. Job creators! It follows that large
> corporations must, by virtue of the vast wealth under their control, be
> exemplary guardians of the public good. Their every action, from
> abruptly abandoning long-standing open licenses to inflating the price
> of necessities, must serve some higher purpose, even if that purpose
> remains unclear. The alternative is to believe we live in some sort of
> horrific dystopia. That’s simply unacceptable."
>
> Brilliant, thank you, but what is the "abruptly abandoning long-standing
> open licenses" a reference to?

Given James' gaming background, I assume the primary example is
Wizards of the Coast (Dungeons and Dragons) who were attempting to
alter their Open Gaming License earlier this month, though they seem
to have backed off of it for now. There may be other examples as well.

Chris

On 1/31/23 23:49, Chris Buckley wrote:
> On 2023-02-01, Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> wrote:
>> On 26/01/23 04:23, James Nicoll wrote:
>>> Five Ways to Make Sure Technology Doesn't Get in the Way of Storytelling
>>>
>>> Another Torrific essay, delivering exactly what it says on the tin.
>>>
>>> https://www.tor.com/2023/01/25/five-ways-to-make-sure-technology-doesnt-get-in-the-way-of-storytelling/
>>
>> I think the best example was the Vinge.
>>
>> "If we’re to believe much of modern media, wealthy folks are admirable,
>> hard working, and ethical people. Job creators! It follows that large
>> corporations must, by virtue of the vast wealth under their control, be
>> exemplary guardians of the public good. Their every action, from
>> abruptly abandoning long-standing open licenses to inflating the price
>> of necessities, must serve some higher purpose, even if that purpose
>> remains unclear. The alternative is to believe we live in some sort of
>> horrific dystopia. That’s simply unacceptable."
>>
>> Brilliant, thank you, but what is the "abruptly abandoning long-standing
>> open licenses" a reference to?
>
> Given James' gaming background, I assume the primary example is
> Wizards of the Coast (Dungeons and Dragons) who were attempting to
> alter their Open Gaming License earlier this month, though they seem
> to have backed off of it for now. There may be other examples as well.
>
> Chris
The funny thing about the OGL as was pointed out when they first put it
out was that it was basically a promise from Wizards to not use
frivolous lawsuits to put smaller companies out of business for doing
legal stuff.