Theos-Talk Archives (June 1999 Message tt00002)

June 1st

Dear Doss:

I think you are quite right in this evaluation.

Perhaps this will become one of the best mediums for the
diffusion of great ideas -- and one that cannot be strangled
by those who may have "special interests."

I however note that there appears to be some government and
business interests that desire to place fresh taxes or fees
on Internet usage.   I think this matter ought to be made
clear to those who use this, so that its freedom will not
become financially or otherwise restricted.

Apparently the increasing usage at very low cost of this
franchise is now attracting the hungry glance of those who
might derive special profits from its existence.  I believe
that any evidence of such encroachment ought to be
advertised so that the already formidable power of numbers
may be used wisely to counterbalance such restrictive
proposals.

Both government and private interests ought to be carefully
and persistently monitored.

Dallas


 Dallas TenBroeck
  dalval@nwc.net
----- Original Message -----
From: M K Ramadoss <ramadoss@eden.com>
To: <theos-talk@theosophy.com>
Sent: Monday, May 31, 1999 10:47 PM
Subject: Theos-World "Evernet"


> I saw a very fascinating TV program on Internet and the
emerging
> technology. Here are some of the bits of information that
interested me.
>
> Firstly, Internet technology, the speaker was reminding
everyone that it is
> just 5 years old and all of us are aware of its impact in
various fields.
> Just in a short time, even China now has 8 million users.
It is still in
> its infancy and is expected to grow for the next 20 years.
>
> The underlying key factor is networking world that is
being created. It is
> fundamentally moving the power from *institutions* -
business, government,
> non-profit, spiritual, scientific - to the *individual*.
Even here it is
> still in its infancy.
>
> What we can look for in the immediate future is
*Evernet* - an interactive
> *Internet* which is on-line all the time. Today a typical
users is online
> for one hour a day. (TV audience has shown a reducing
trend, possibly due
> to use of Internet.) The Evernet is also going to be using
broadband and
> wireless. Broadband will speed transmission which will
make it possible for
> bi-directional audio and video and other innovations to be
available to the
> common man/woman. A key characteristic of a network type
of medium is that
> as people use it, they tend to use more and more of it.
Just look at the
> telephone communication and how its use has exponentially
grown over the
> years.
>
> Looking at the last major leap in communication
technology - TV, it is
> still a one-way tool, much like the other tools such as
written material.
> On the other hand, network based tools - Internet, and
Evernet - are two
> way tools - coupled with the transfer of power from
institutions to
> individuals. So institutions which controlled
communication and transfer of
> information for whatever reason - scientific, spiritual,
political,
> national security etc. etc. is going to have a tough time
to adjust to the
> changing  global environment on which they will have no
control. It will be
> a lot of fun watching all the institutional leaders trying
to grapple with
> the new environment, especially when many of them having
grown up in
> pre-computer era.
>
> What has all this have to deal with Theosophy and TS.
Firstly,
> Internet/Evernet is going to make access to all the
written materials on
> Ancient Wisdom readily accessible to anyone interested.
And access will be
> uncontrolled by institutional vested interests and
gate-keepers, who may be
> under the illusion that they are the custodians of Ancient
Wisdom.
> Secondly, it is going to provide global immediate
person-to-person access
> to help on a one on one basis again without any
intermediary gate-keepers.
> The latter will provide unlimited opportunities for anyone
willing to spend
> time and able to help in providing information.
>
> TS has not seen growth either in the membership or
branches. It looks like,
> with the technology that was available in 1875, it was
essential to start
> branches where those interested in Ancient Wisdom can meet
and discuss etc.
> In today's and tomorrow's environment, it may be
unnecessary or even not
> helpful. So the structures as we know it may not be
appropriate for the
> fundamental function of helping to spread theosophy. So if
we seen
> theosophical organizations put on life support, may be
they have outlived
> their usefulness and we have to accept the facts and not
cry over the
> natural events.
>
> We are all going to witness monumental changes in the
world and I think it
> is incumbent upon each one of us to use our own creativity
and ingenuity to
> find out ways and means of using the emerging technology
to spread the
> gospel of theosophy. Network technology with its inherent
nature of
> increased use as use increases, may be one day we will
wake up to find some
> of the theosophical doctrines common knowledge around the
world.
>
> Mkr
>
> (C) M K Ramadoss
>
>
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>
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