Episode 61 – January 7 & 10, 2009
UPDATE: As promised, episode 61 of Spark has been updated with a new CES report from Peter Nowak. The newer version (episode 61B) is available as an MP3 download here and in the player below:
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The original show notes, MP3 download, and player are below. On a related note, we’re wondering how to best handle updated podcasts. Got an idea? Leave it in the comments.
On this episode of Spark: CES, Xenophiles, and what if gamers ran the world?
- Nora checks in with Peter Nowak at CES 2009 (Peter’s CES preview article)
- Tom Armitage wonders what would happen If Gamers Ran the World, and discusses what video games can teach the leaders of tomorrow (full interview)
- Ethan Zuckerman on xenophiles, bridge figures, and third-culture kids (full interview)
- Update on Mitch Kapor’s idea of a CTO for the USA (full interview)
This episode features Creative Commons music and sound effects:
- “Wadidyusay?” by Zap Mama
- “The Incredible Joyfulness of Sentience” by DJ Rkod
- “Good Night and Good Luck” by Jaspertine
- “Dm Chilling Beat Reggae organ, bass and rhythm” by Caleb Charles
- “Why?” by khidir
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[Original image by wili hybrid]
January 7th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
While living in Europe for the first part of my life I had not learned anything substantial about the people from the neighbour countries. This all changed when I moved to Canada and met with people from many other cultures, some of them close to my own, some of them quite different. It gave me a whole new perspective not only how to understand others, but also how to objectively see the place of my own background in the world. Something you can’t lern at home.
I wish people from all cultures may have the same opportunity to meet and talk to others and understand that we will get nowhere as a civilisation when divided.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Note that xenophile means “love of others”: Emotion matters.
Like Ethan, I left Canada to work in West Africa (Cameroon) after six years of University. I did a two year placement as a CUSO volunteer, teaching at an institute for training government field agents from across English speaking Africa. On my way to Africa, I stopped one day in Brussels. At that time, Brussels seemed exotic and foreign. After two years in Africa, I again stopped one day in Brussels. This time, I had the overwhelming feeling that, in Brussels, I was already home. Compared to Africa, Europe is not distinct from Canada.
I still had this feelting 20 years later when I worked for six weeks in Brussels.
Similarly, when I was in University, I thought issues like Quebec separatism were important issues and a major source of conflict.
After working with multiple African cultures for two years, I came to feel that most of the world would view Quebec separatism as an agreement. After all, we are not shooting at each other, both separatists & federalists respect elections and the vote of the electorate, and we are law abiding.
The logic, the facts, had not changed. What had changed, was how I felt about the facts.
January 11th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I found there are advantages and disadvantages moving from one culture to another. In my case I moved to Canada from India at the age of 18. There are things I liked in India and things I liked it here. So I was able to use the things for my benefits what was good for me.Also being from different culture you are struggling to fit in this new culture.
Just like Eathan I really enjoy meeting different people. You can learn so much from other people’s background. It gives me trmendous joy. I am always educating people about my culture.In future I would like to travel to different countries.
January 11th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Ethan’s interview has deep resonance when it comes to “digital natives” and “digital immigrants.” The cultural differences between the two are alomst as dramatic global cultures. I see myself as a xenophile…someone who attempts to explain the digital world to a non-digital audience. I am an early immigrant, dating back to the mid-80s and an online service called Prodigy. While not entirely inculturated digitally, I am well ahead of many of my peers (mid-50s).
Spark is one of my windows into the digital culture. It would be cool for you to do a joint program with BBC’s Digital Planet.
January 20th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I found this episode on xenophiles very interesting.
I like to think of myself as a scientific xenophile. During my career in new product development I have switched between physics, chemistry, biology and medicine. Each scientific discipline has its own way of approaching problems and “standard solutions” it employs. By switching between fields, I have been able to “bridge the gaps” – bringing new ways of thinking to traditional problems – and provide unique solutions to interesting problems.
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 pm
This is never easy.