[oldboys] commitment and purpose

[LockSocrates@aol.com]

Cornelia and everyone:

I am very late responding to your call for updates access to my PC has been  
intermittent... I will get my CV etc. to you and it will, of course, be one 
for OBN by a 'self proclaimed non-artist!' Although my view about this has 
changed considerably since I met you at Dundee and I now  know that my 'art' 
is in creating jigsaw puzzles of words and actions to map events

As you know, I come from an educationalist background and that I am doing my 
doctorate  (my puzzle)  on academic women's experiences of virtual learning 
environments using 'cyberfeminism' as the glue. I read Faiths comment about 
serious events in the world, and I agree. I am not a feminist but I sure do 
have feminist tendencies and I expected more evidence of 'collective 
activism' from the OBN at this stage. Yes, I know that I am a lurker and do 
all the naughty things that a member of a virtual society shouldn't do (you 
know, the 'get around to it philosophy') but I wouild like to make a few 
comments which I hope will get some responses

With such a powerful tool like the 'Net' where are  the 'collective' actions 
against the injustices against women - I am thinking here specifically of the 
case of the mother in USA who killed, murdered, removed. obliterated, wiped 
out,  snuffed out, (saved?) her 5 children - were these the actions of a 
rational person.If not, what do we have here? a case of someone who might 
possibily  be sent to 'death row'  who may be 'mentally unstable' - If I had 
5 children under 8 years I wouldmore than likely have severe (and probably ) 
undiagnosed postnatal depression....will we ever know the truth? Is it right 
that anyone should be  killed, murdered, removed. obliterated, wiped out,  
snuffed out, punished (saving society?) - who learns the lesson, who is 
punished, to what end. It is so much easier to save society at the expense of 
 a 'life' 

I see cyber-feminism as having four strands - the artistic strand, the cyborg 
theorists, the positivist technology theorists and the virtualists.It 
occurred to me that in a case such as that outlined above all of these 
strands should unite to achieve a political end. Namely: highlight, question, 
probe and demand self-reflection from those with the job of  enforcing the 
law.  I had half expected to see a political strategy using images reflecting 
the enormity of the incident coupled with a bombardment of emails etc to the 
relevant authority. An amalgamation of the strands with a common goal - after 
all those with access to communication technologies are the power holders!  
Is it that there has to be a LEADER before actions can be joined up?


Just a few thoughts from a novice CF (although one who really doesn't not 
agree with the cyborg theorists)


Debbie Lock