Chapter 20

1972
Raymond Williams

• one of the first to critically approach the medium of television
• discussed the importance of "flow" in the experience of TV watching
• TV remains a touchstone for the discussions of the relationship between technology and society
• once a technology is in place it operates as a life factor
• discusses the importance of collectivity in decision making over technology (specifically the Internet, whose standards are set by anyone with the time and interest to be involved)
• the problem today is that the government wants to privatize the Internet, and it has created a select few to monopolize
• the Internet was not created by one man, it was and is being created by everyone who participates because of the social processes interacting with scientific.technical processes

I worry that the Goverment will succeed in permanently privatizing the Internet and the whole beauty of its public-ness and democracy will be ruined. Hopefully we can get enough users to speak out against it and retain public control.