Delicious LiveJournal Links for 8-29-2008

[andrewducker]

• On the distribution of species by the social class of the players in MMORPGs
  Exactly what you'd expect, but might not be willing to say out loud...
  (tags: mmorpg gaming sociology)
• On web2.0 porn reviewing
  A fascinating look at internet forums for the critique of porn
  (tags: web2.0 porn reviews sociology)
• Israel/Palestine - let's have a sane debate
  It's a nice thought. Points 1-7 are very good. Point 8 is less persuasive, but one can't have everything...
  (tags: israel palestine politics)
• 24% of UK says it does not want Internet access
  Also, some very interesting stats, broken down by gender, of what people use the internet for. Some things are much more gendered than others. Interestingly, more men read blogs, but more women have them...
  (tags: internet uk)
• Neal Stephenson on the differences between SF fans and others
  People who do read science fiction and fantasy can pick up a book and begin reading it, and it will have all of these words that they have not seen before and names that they are not familiar with, and it's set in a world whose geography they don't know and whose customs they don't know--and it can be a bit hard to follow at first, but those kinds of people know that if they just keep reading and are patient, over time all of that will be explained. And doing that is actually part of the pleasure of reading such a book. People who don't habitually read fantasy and science fiction find it a bit off-putting. I noticed very early when people were reading early drafts of this book that the ones who were habitual science fiction and fantasy readers blew through it with no trouble, and the ones who weren't frequently said, "I would like a glossary. I'd [kike] a timeline. I'd like a map. I'd like more explanation of the background of this world."
  (tags: SF NealStephenson writing)
• HBO TV version of Preacher not going into production
  Too dark and controversial, apparently
  (tags: comics preacher TV)

Comments

[ninebelow.livejournal.com]

the ones who were habitual science fiction and fantasy readers blew through it with no trouble

Pft. I don't know any one who has read it who isn't an SF reader and they've all made substantially use of the glossary. Admittedly after the first four hundred pages things become a bit more embedded but still.

It is interesting to compare it to The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon which I am also reading at the moment. That uses lots of unfamilar words - presumably mostly Yiddish in origin - but they are never explained and they never need to be. Stephenson takes the use of unfamiliar terminology to new heights and even more confusingly often uses words that sound like English words but mean different things.

[andrewducker]

Interesting counterpoint, thanks.

Also: Envious Andrew is Envious of your access to The Mysterious Future of Neal Stephenson Books.

[anef.livejournal.com]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Yiddish Policeman's Union, but I would have liked a glossary for the Yiddish words.

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

I do love the links you post. Fascinating stuff.

[andrewducker]

Cheers - it's always nice to have positive feedback :->

[missedith01.livejournal.com]

My Dad doesn't even have a computer. Keep offering him one of my Extensive Range of Pre-Owned Computing Equipment (TM) (some of it working) and extoling the virtues of blogging and online shopping and funny pictures but he says he doesn't want one. What can ya do???