Comments on: Let Freedom Ring from your Navigation Toolbar! http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/ Notes and Queries in Anthropology — A Group Blog Fri, 25 May 2012 22:34:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Richard http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-550276 Richard Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:13:39 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-550276 I note that blackbird advertises as first among its features "Black Search". http://www.blackle.com/ ? I note that blackbird advertises as first among its features “Black Search”.

http://www.blackle.com/ ?

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]]> By: Lu http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-550125 Lu Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:41:48 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-550125 "Do we need further confirmation that race is now simply a demographic marketing category, and that anyone who feels it is actually an identity has confused consumption profiles with values?" Your statement seems a bit broad to me. I would be more inclined to agree with you if you had stated: "Do we need further confirmation that race as an identity is now simply a demographic marketing category,..." We need only read about the recent hate crimes in NY and genocide around the world to know that race isn't simply a marketing strategy. Race and racial categories are not natural and inherent, but we can admit they have very real, and often painful, consequences. How do we get out of that without using present categories, I have no idea... “Do we need further confirmation that race is now simply a demographic marketing category, and that anyone who feels it is actually an identity has confused consumption profiles with values?”

Your statement seems a bit broad to me. I would be more inclined to agree with you if you had stated:
“Do we need further confirmation that race as an identity is now simply a demographic marketing category,…”

We need only read about the recent hate crimes in NY and genocide around the world to know that race isn’t simply a marketing strategy. Race and racial categories are not natural and inherent, but we can admit they have very real, and often painful, consequences. How do we get out of that without using present categories, I have no idea…

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]]> By: MTBradley http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-549171 MTBradley Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:06:13 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-549171 "…if you experience 'race' as something that is the core of your identity, you are likely confusing how you are marketed to with what makes you you." I could be missing something, but I hear you saying, "If race is an important component of your sense of self then you've been duped by corporate capitalism." I've met more than a few self-reflective people with a racial identity, though. Besides, where is it written that marketing can't play a role in making you you? “…if you experience ‘race’ as something that is the core of your identity, you are likely confusing how you are marketed to with what makes you you.”

I could be missing something, but I hear you saying, “If race is an important component of your sense of self then you’ve been duped by corporate capitalism.” I’ve met more than a few self-reflective people with a racial identity, though.

Besides, where is it written that marketing can’t play a role in making you you?

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]]> By: ckelty http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-549170 ckelty Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:21:11 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-549170 no, if anything I mean "the meaning of race," since saying "race is" anything at all is impossible. So, to be more precise: The meaning of race is that it is now simply a demographically sophisticated marketing category, and if you experience "race" as something that is the core of your identity, you are likely confusing how you are marketed to with what makes you you. no, if anything I mean “the meaning of race,” since saying “race is” anything at all is impossible. So, to be more precise:

The meaning of race is that it is now simply a demographically sophisticated marketing category, and if you experience “race” as something that is the core of your identity, you are likely confusing how you are marketed to with what makes you you.

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]]> By: Chad Nilep http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-548979 Chad Nilep Sat, 20 Dec 2008 05:22:16 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-548979 Do we need further confirmation that race is now simply a demographic marketing category, and that anyone who feels it is actually an identity has confused consumption profiles with values? If I understand your point, I think I disagree with it. I would claim that 'race' is a Discourse, and that marketing is a use of that Discourse. Identifying - including 'feeling' ones own identity or Othering - is another use. Maybe you meant, "Within the context of Mozilla browser users, race is a demographic marketing category"? Do we need further confirmation that race is now simply a demographic marketing category, and that anyone who feels it is actually an identity has confused consumption profiles with values?
If I understand your point, I think I disagree with it.

I would claim that ‘race’ is a Discourse, and that marketing is a use of that Discourse. Identifying – including ‘feeling’ ones own identity or Othering – is another use.

Maybe you meant, “Within the context of Mozilla browser users, race is a demographic marketing category”?

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]]> By: JP http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-548637 JP Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:55:22 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-548637 "my peoples made the browser in the first place, so y’all will have to go on without me" Anthropologists made Firefox? You lie sir! “my peoples made the browser in the first place, so y’all will have to go on without me”

Anthropologists made Firefox? You lie sir!

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]]> By: MTBradley http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-548042 MTBradley Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:31:11 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-548042 "Do we need further confirmation that race is now simply a demographic marketing category, and that anyone who feels it is actually an identity has confused consumption profiles with values?" Well, in North Carolina there is a "Race" field on your driver's license. The NCDMV is a bit of a racket, but they don't so much market items as force you to purchase them. “Do we need further confirmation that race is now simply a demographic marketing category, and that anyone who feels it is actually an identity has confused consumption profiles with values?”

Well, in North Carolina there is a “Race” field on your driver’s license. The NCDMV is a bit of a racket, but they don’t so much market items as force you to purchase them.

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]]> By: thinkingdifference http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-548021 thinkingdifference Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:12:08 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-548021 A software for blacks, then one for reds, for yellows, for pinks, for whites... and let's not forget all those mixed races, let's have a browser for each hue and tone... (and yes, i'd like to download the software for the cynics... every time i'd search something, a little window would pop-up to say "Do not trust what you read on the net") I understand the marketing potential, but the idea is dangerous. Not only it essentializes the concept of 'race', but it naturalizes identity politics. Race becomes embedded in the technology; it becomes part of it. And it the end, it reproduces it in ways that are deeply racist. I wonder if anyone would feel so happy about 'cars for whites' or 'buses for blacks'... A software for blacks, then one for reds, for yellows, for pinks, for whites… and let’s not forget all those mixed races, let’s have a browser for each hue and tone… (and yes, i’d like to download the software for the cynics… every time i’d search something, a little window would pop-up to say “Do not trust what you read on the net”)

I understand the marketing potential, but the idea is dangerous. Not only it essentializes the concept of ‘race’, but it naturalizes identity politics. Race becomes embedded in the technology; it becomes part of it. And it the end, it reproduces it in ways that are deeply racist. I wonder if anyone would feel so happy about ‘cars for whites’ or ‘buses for blacks’…

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]]> By: Ben http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-547905 Ben Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:57:25 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-547905 ust in case for those who might have missed it, Max Forte has also written a lengthy post about blackbird on his Openanthropology-blog: http://openanthropology.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/blackbird-battles-over-a-browser/ ust in case for those who might have missed it, Max Forte has also written a lengthy post about blackbird on his Openanthropology-blog: http://openanthropology.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/blackbird-battles-over-a-browser/

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]]> By: Christina http://savageminds.org/2008/12/17/let-freedom-ring-from-your-navigation-toolbar/comment-page-1/#comment-547564 Christina Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:30:55 +0000 http://savageminds.org/?p=1432#comment-547564 I think you're absolutely right about race-as-consumption-profile in this case, but I don't think the idea of race-as-identity-driven-technology is such a bad one, especially given the kind of disturbing bias in current technology. Of course, much of the bias exists in the culture of the internet rather than in something like a browser--does the browser even given any significant input? Can it? Interesting questions... I think you’re absolutely right about race-as-consumption-profile in this case, but I don’t think the idea of race-as-identity-driven-technology is such a bad one, especially given the kind of disturbing bias in current technology. Of course, much of the bias exists in the culture of the internet rather than in something like a browser–does the browser even given any significant input? Can it? Interesting questions…

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