Begin forwarded message:
From: Halltennis@aol.com
Subject: SOME NOTES FOR REVIEW. DONT SEND YET. NEED TO THINK MORE.
Date: July 11, 1997 at 17:50:50 EDT
To: joe@joe10.com
ATTRIBUTES of Net as Environment–
1. An environment is not infinite, not in any respect. It has limits as to
extent, function, form, unique character, etc which enable it to be
identified and even named. This one is named The Internet.2. An environment has constraints as to culture, protocols, languages,
spectra which are more specific and concrete than the limits.3. An environment has occupants that are created by their users. The two
constitute the population within the environment at every given moment.4. An environment has error and dysfunction, largely in the form of
out-of-control-occupants or cruel users, resulting in excess noise, heat,
radiation and waste (often experienced as evil or inefficiency).5. An environment has some areas that are well known and others that are
totally unknown to the occupants and users.6. The occupants consume and replace part of the environment, a change
process which enables them to exist in (and which modifies) the environ ment
marginally.7. Users and occupants are symbiotic and inseparable. Every user has at
least one occupant to worry over. The users are responsible for the behavior
of the occupants.8. The users and the occupants are inseparable from the environment: the
environment ceases to exist the moment all users and occupants cease to be
there.9. Users may operate in more than one environment. An occupant exists in
only one environment.10. An environment does not have a life-span. Instead it has continual
change, and eventually becomes quite something else.11. The way the users and occupants behave with respect to the environment
is perceived as the economy.IN SUMMARY: an environment has
Limits, as extent, form, function, characteristics;
it has Constraints as culture, languages, spectra(ums);
it has Symbiotic users and occupants;
it has Error, dysfunction, inefficiency;
it has Waste, noise, heat, radiation;
it has Change.
