The Meat Space/Internet Time Conversion Formula
February 23, 2008 8:30 AM Subscribe
What is 10 years in "meat space" time equal to in internet time?
For example, one dog year is roughly equal to seven human years. And we know things evolve faster on the internet than elsewhere, so what would be the conversion rate? Any links, resources, formulas, opinions or generally accepted theories would be appreciated.
For example, one dog year is roughly equal to seven human years. And we know things evolve faster on the internet than elsewhere, so what would be the conversion rate? Any links, resources, formulas, opinions or generally accepted theories would be appreciated.
This post was deleted for the following reason: This is really loosy-goosy chatfilter stuff. If there's a core answerable question in here, it's not clear what it is, and in the comments you've explicitly declining to firm up the question at all. -- cortex
How fast something evolves online is totally dependent on what that thing is.
posted by nitsuj at 8:49 AM on February 23, 2008
posted by nitsuj at 8:49 AM on February 23, 2008
Response by poster: I'm not sure if I want to define the question any further, because that may stifle some of the more creative interpretations that may come my way.
Regardless, please ignore the whole dog years thing (maybe I shouldn't have brought it up). It's not particularly relevant to the answer I'm looking for.
But thanks for weighing in Green with You. You've made some good points.
posted by cameron.case at 8:54 AM on February 23, 2008
Regardless, please ignore the whole dog years thing (maybe I shouldn't have brought it up). It's not particularly relevant to the answer I'm looking for.
But thanks for weighing in Green with You. You've made some good points.
posted by cameron.case at 8:54 AM on February 23, 2008
we know things evolve faster on the internet than elsewhere
Do we, really? It's not as if the internet exists independently of the rest of the world -- it is deeply embedded within the real world, and carries within it all of the imperfections, biases, and limitations of the rest of society.
What moves faster is not "evolution" but rather the spread of ideas, the sharing of memes and phenomena like "Obama Girl" and that poor kid singing that nuba nuba song or whatever it was.
But look at how resistant to change a place like MeFi is -- any proposed change, no matter how small (like the recent change to flagging options) is met with howls of outrage over the damage this might do to our beloved community. Or look at how difficult is being for Facebook to monetize what people are contributing -- seemingly minor changes are met with uproar.
So I think your underlying premise is really flawed -- I don't think that there is an equivalent to the rule of information storage doubling every X months for "evolution" online, because that evolution is societally-dependent, not technologically-dependent, and societies change much slower than do technologies.
posted by Forktine at 9:05 AM on February 23, 2008
Do we, really? It's not as if the internet exists independently of the rest of the world -- it is deeply embedded within the real world, and carries within it all of the imperfections, biases, and limitations of the rest of society.
What moves faster is not "evolution" but rather the spread of ideas, the sharing of memes and phenomena like "Obama Girl" and that poor kid singing that nuba nuba song or whatever it was.
But look at how resistant to change a place like MeFi is -- any proposed change, no matter how small (like the recent change to flagging options) is met with howls of outrage over the damage this might do to our beloved community. Or look at how difficult is being for Facebook to monetize what people are contributing -- seemingly minor changes are met with uproar.
So I think your underlying premise is really flawed -- I don't think that there is an equivalent to the rule of information storage doubling every X months for "evolution" online, because that evolution is societally-dependent, not technologically-dependent, and societies change much slower than do technologies.
posted by Forktine at 9:05 AM on February 23, 2008
meatspace x internet time / askme question = chatfilter
posted by ClanvidHorse at 9:11 AM on February 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ClanvidHorse at 9:11 AM on February 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Let me put it this way. When I was a teenager, I came to the conclusion that it took a rock band an average of 10 years active effort to be successful (re: signed by a major label, have a hit record, widespread recognition etc). At the time anyway, I could find many examples that would support that theory.
Now I'm wondering how long it would take a band today (leveraging the internet and exerting the same energy) to achieve the same level of success and recognition. Of course, success may or may not mean being signed by a major label anymore. But let's say comparative success. Would it still be 10 years? For some reason I don't think so. I think things happen faster on the internet. In essence, time goes faster on the internet.
Bands are just one, very linear example. I hope to learn of more.
posted by cameron.case at 9:15 AM on February 23, 2008
Now I'm wondering how long it would take a band today (leveraging the internet and exerting the same energy) to achieve the same level of success and recognition. Of course, success may or may not mean being signed by a major label anymore. But let's say comparative success. Would it still be 10 years? For some reason I don't think so. I think things happen faster on the internet. In essence, time goes faster on the internet.
Bands are just one, very linear example. I hope to learn of more.
posted by cameron.case at 9:15 AM on February 23, 2008
My personal definition of chatfilter: Any question that can't have demonstrably wrong answers.
I'd say 1:1, myself. Internet time is no different than regular time.
posted by Malor at 9:16 AM on February 23, 2008
I'd say 1:1, myself. Internet time is no different than regular time.
posted by Malor at 9:16 AM on February 23, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
Furthermore, I'm not entirely sure on exactly what you want to compare. Particular memes? Websites? And to what do you wish to compare them to? Actual human lifespans? Non-internet memes?
I guess I'm not sure how this question can be answered.
posted by Green With You at 8:44 AM on February 23, 2008