Must we BE Internet savvy??
Why do people insist that other people must become Internet savvy? That everything done must be done online, or even on a computer? Why can't they understand that not everyone is on a computer, or even owns a computer, let alone uses the Internet, especially on a frequent/daily basis??!!
I have some friends who are merchants. They excel in the fine art of personal communications. That is part of what keeps them successful in a difficult field. They spend most of their time working in their store, or their shop making the items they sell. They don't have a lot of time to spend online, like I do, so when they heard rumors that a ren-faire that I suggested they attend had become very strict, as in no wearing modern glasses because they are not period strict (that was the rumor, not fact), they shied away from possibly attending as a merchant.
Well, since I knew the faire board people, I just posted a query on what requirements really were needed by the board for the vendors, so my friends, who are willing to update their older stuff, both costume and pavilion, can become informed. I get my ass chewed because my friends didn't go look it up online themselves. (Thankfully, the ass chewer did later apologize for his comments).
Well, considering the faire in question now requires that all applications be done online, and hides away their vendor requirements somewhere after the vendor has registered on a different web site, with no info given anywhere on their main site (at least not under the Vendors heading), its no wonder that rumors are flying, as those not in the know, or on a certain mailing list, have no place online within easy access to find out what exactly the rules now are.
And knowing my friends, if you have to register online before you can even find out the rules of the faire board, they won't register, and will simply not attend, for all the hoops they would have to jump.
And yeah, this bothers and upsets me. Big time upsets me. We are not all electronic beings, even tho it does in some ways makes life easier. To require people to become a part of the 21st Internet century in order to vend or play at a renaissance faire really doesn't make much sense to me. I see that as a barrier to entry, and maybe that's the whole idea.
And part of why I feel this way is my Dad. My father will not use a computer. Hell, he barely uses the phone anymore, or the TV. The most electronic he gets is an electronic typewriter, or a tape player. While I would love to chat online with him, that will never happen. Old fashioned hand written letters will have to suffice.
And a part of me mourns the loss of people to people skills, in favor of the Internet age. And yes, I am saying this knowing full well that this household is very tech oriented, and that our friends bring their computers over to use our home network/Internet connections, and that my new computer comes with a video camera. This makes me rethink a few things...
I have some friends who are merchants. They excel in the fine art of personal communications. That is part of what keeps them successful in a difficult field. They spend most of their time working in their store, or their shop making the items they sell. They don't have a lot of time to spend online, like I do, so when they heard rumors that a ren-faire that I suggested they attend had become very strict, as in no wearing modern glasses because they are not period strict (that was the rumor, not fact), they shied away from possibly attending as a merchant.
Well, since I knew the faire board people, I just posted a query on what requirements really were needed by the board for the vendors, so my friends, who are willing to update their older stuff, both costume and pavilion, can become informed. I get my ass chewed because my friends didn't go look it up online themselves. (Thankfully, the ass chewer did later apologize for his comments).
Well, considering the faire in question now requires that all applications be done online, and hides away their vendor requirements somewhere after the vendor has registered on a different web site, with no info given anywhere on their main site (at least not under the Vendors heading), its no wonder that rumors are flying, as those not in the know, or on a certain mailing list, have no place online within easy access to find out what exactly the rules now are.
And knowing my friends, if you have to register online before you can even find out the rules of the faire board, they won't register, and will simply not attend, for all the hoops they would have to jump.
And yeah, this bothers and upsets me. Big time upsets me. We are not all electronic beings, even tho it does in some ways makes life easier. To require people to become a part of the 21st Internet century in order to vend or play at a renaissance faire really doesn't make much sense to me. I see that as a barrier to entry, and maybe that's the whole idea.
And part of why I feel this way is my Dad. My father will not use a computer. Hell, he barely uses the phone anymore, or the TV. The most electronic he gets is an electronic typewriter, or a tape player. While I would love to chat online with him, that will never happen. Old fashioned hand written letters will have to suffice.
And a part of me mourns the loss of people to people skills, in favor of the Internet age. And yes, I am saying this knowing full well that this household is very tech oriented, and that our friends bring their computers over to use our home network/Internet connections, and that my new computer comes with a video camera. This makes me rethink a few things...