Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Eric Hoffer from The Ordeal of Change (1952) -
...once writing came into the keeping of the scribe he set his face against any simplification and practical perfection of the art. For two millennia after its invention writing remained a cumbersome, complex affair the mastery of which required a lifetime of application. Indeed, where the influence of the scribe remained unchallenged, as it was in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China, there is evidence of a retrograde evolution: a tendency to overburden writing with all manner of artificial inflections. In short, the scribe was not interested in the elaboration of a practical script but in keeping writing a prerogative of the privileged few. He had a vested interest in complexity and difficulty. The simplification of writing by the introduction of the phonetic alphabet was the work of outsiders - the Phoenician traders.
The influence of the internet, more specifically, blogs, is having the same affect on mass communication today. Later Hoffer wrote -
Nothing is so unsettling to a social order as the presence of a mass of scribes without suitable employment and an acknowledged status. The spread of literacy in an illiterate society is, therefore, a critical process, and it is probably an element in many turning points in history. One hears a lot about the revolt of the masses but aside from the rise of the United States, it would be difficult to point to a single historical development in which the masses were a prime mover and chief protagonist.
If only he could see us now.
...once writing came into the keeping of the scribe he set his face against any simplification and practical perfection of the art. For two millennia after its invention writing remained a cumbersome, complex affair the mastery of which required a lifetime of application. Indeed, where the influence of the scribe remained unchallenged, as it was in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China, there is evidence of a retrograde evolution: a tendency to overburden writing with all manner of artificial inflections. In short, the scribe was not interested in the elaboration of a practical script but in keeping writing a prerogative of the privileged few. He had a vested interest in complexity and difficulty. The simplification of writing by the introduction of the phonetic alphabet was the work of outsiders - the Phoenician traders.
The influence of the internet, more specifically, blogs, is having the same affect on mass communication today. Later Hoffer wrote -
Nothing is so unsettling to a social order as the presence of a mass of scribes without suitable employment and an acknowledged status. The spread of literacy in an illiterate society is, therefore, a critical process, and it is probably an element in many turning points in history. One hears a lot about the revolt of the masses but aside from the rise of the United States, it would be difficult to point to a single historical development in which the masses were a prime mover and chief protagonist.
If only he could see us now.
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--La Shawn
www.lashawnbarber.com
# posted by 
: 2:23 PM
: 2:23 PM 
I'm pretty sure Hoffer didn't even go to journalism school, nor was he a tv news anchor or a reporter. Gosh. However did he figure this out?
JorgXMcKie
JorgXMcKie
# posted by : 2:33 PM
: 2:33 PM
Click on the link under hoffer's name above to go to a great site on him. He is pretty amazing. Self-educated migrant worker.
Excellent post, Eric. I work in what is now called "e-learning," teaching faculty how to use the Web to enhance F2F classes or to teach completely online. I keep having an image of medieval professors in the cloister, worrying over how they will teach now that Gutenberg can put a copy of the text into the hands of every student. (Yes, I know it didn't really work that way; even printed books were too expensive for most students then, but the image remains.)
The Internet has been correctly viewed as a disruptive technology. The rise of the blogosphere makes that abundantly clear.
Corrie
A Simple Desultory Dangling Conversation
The Internet has been correctly viewed as a disruptive technology. The rise of the blogosphere makes that abundantly clear.
Corrie
A Simple Desultory Dangling Conversation
Hoffer was a longshoreman. If you get a chance, read The True Believer. One of the greatest books I've ever read.
Having access to so many literate people with such diverse opinions, ideas and senses of humor creates a irresistible draw for others to join, and become part of a collective power. Once I learned it was a big pyjamma party, I could not longer remain on the sidelines. What a great name for a site, BTW.
Pat is right, The True Believer is one of the five most important books I've ever read. If you haven't already read it you should take a week to do so, it's very short.
Sorry to post anon, but this is my first visit and I was lured here by the mention of Hoffer. I've been a fan of his since college (early 70s) and even once managed to meet him before his death in '83. He reminded me of my grandfather, who also had no education, but a lifetime as a railroad engineer made him a man wise in the ways of the world.
My favorite book was the first I read: Thinking and Working on the Waterfront. I have no idea if it is still in print, but I recommend it to all. It's in diary form, he starts each chapter with a description of the work he had that day and the people he worked with. It's like listening to a favorite old uncle talk over the after-dinner table.
My favorite book was the first I read: Thinking and Working on the Waterfront. I have no idea if it is still in print, but I recommend it to all. It's in diary form, he starts each chapter with a description of the work he had that day and the people he worked with. It's like listening to a favorite old uncle talk over the after-dinner table.
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: 6:36 PM
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