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:
Play audio:
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
Play audio:
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[Original image by wili hybrid]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This is never easy.