Missing Links

By

If you've somehow become sucked into this 'blog through a Linked In post that came through this morning, my apologies. My erstwhile frenemy, Phil Jeng Kane, hit the wrong tickbox and somehow an invitation became a post.

Modern Life, eh? Did the Cro Mags or Paleolithics have this problem? Did Neanderthals ever front at some kind of ritual gathering only to discover that the burning message tree in the valley below was not, in fact, meant for their inbox? Then lots of awkward standing around with one tribe wondering if it should offer these interlopers a haunch of their roast mastadon (pre-history fans send your haughty emails now).

During the Middle Ages, did The Pope ever receive a hastily scrawled vellum saying something like:
"Look, if you get a parchment from me and the rest of the monks at the Order of St Benedict referring to you in less than glowing terms Your Holiness, then it wasn't actually meant for you - we were having a laugh with the Heironymites of the Observance. It was just a bit of fun between us lads." 
Catholic scholars please send your dismissive emails now.

In the First World War did anyone ever send a carrier pigeon with the message: "LUNCH THWARTED OSLO!" only to follow it minutes later with another pigeon and another message: "We meant - LAUNCH THE ATTACK 0500!  Damn Autocorrect - LOL!" (World War I historians–you know the drill).

We are in the process of devising many different and dazzling methods of communications every day. And by "we" I mean geeks who are pulling down huge salaries. Me, I'm just some guy who bitches about the lameness of Google Plus and makes jokes about Twitter.

All I'm saying is - think before you tick that box on a site or application that you are only partially savvy with. Particularly if that site or app has permission to access your information. You may end up accidentally contacting your entire email address book.

See you in The Matrix, kids.

Mr Trivia

Comments

acatinatree said…
Since I recently spammed everyone who has ever sent me an email (amazing utility, Gmail, thanks for automatically turning everyone into a 'Contact') with a LinkedIn invitation, this is a sharply salty seasoning of my wounds. Thanks Mr Trivia.
Amazing how easy it is to undo all those years of effort effacing myself from the lives of former lovers, loan sharks, my family...one foolish tick in the wrong box and they now know precisely in which building I can be found during business hours. A hit is surely in the post....
And I make my living from attempting savviness in such things.
Easily done, impossible to undo. I'm sure there's a valuable lesson in life in there somewhere...
10:11 am
Mr Trivia said…
I have fielded a number of "What the hell is this?" emails this morning. "Sorry, I'm an idiot and Linked In usability leaves a lot to be desired" is the only possible reply.

Good to know I'm not the only one to have taken this wrong turning, acatinatree.
12:24 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What's with George Eads' Hair?

By
Image
DailyCeleb.com & David Edwards Hey Zeitgeisters, Bet you thought this blog would never top “ What’s with Bradley Whitford’s Hair? ” For those of you who weren’t part of that historical blog entry, it was the glittering moment where I wondered what’s with West Wing star Bradley Whitford’s hair. Good times. However, tonight, while watching the current series (in Australia) of CSI :Original Recipe , I was forced to witness the unpleasantness of George Eads’ new(ish) 'do and I felt compelled to blog on’t. George plays the part of Nick Stokes and has spent some 5 or 6 seasons with a haircut “you could set your watch to,” as Grandpa Simpson might say. It was always short; it always had that US Marine Corps vibe; it was always as dependable as the ebbing and flowing of the tides. Now in something of an El Nino effect, I note that someone in Jerry Bruckheimer’s organization has decided to mess with the length of George’s crowning glory. Although I chiefly watch CSI wa...
Read more

What’s with Bradley Whitford’s Hair?

By
Image
Okay, Zeitgeisters, that’s as shallow an attention-grabbing start as one could ever want, but I really want to know. And sure, I’m really talking about Josh Lyman’s hair. (I’m like one of those people who insist on calling an actor by their character’s name – only in reverse. e.g. “Go Knight Boat!”) Whitford plays Deputy Chief of Staff, Josh Lyman, in the Aaron Sorkin -created, NBC television series The West Wing . He plays this part to a tee and now he’s set to do great things in the new Sorkin drama, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip . I know this last bit because the Angriest Ex-Video Store Clerk in the world told me. Oh, and Whitford ’s married to the awesome Jane Kaczmarek who plays mom, Lois, in the series Malcolm in the Middle. So Mr Whitford’s your regular pop-cultural icon and yardstick for excellence. We’re here in this, frankly, puzzling cultural landscape, because I’ve just finished watching season four of The West Wing on DVD. And Josh Lyman’s hair has bothered me througho...
Read more

My Dream Job #1

By
Image
Lamas, Dando and Gugino prepare for PSYCHIC LAW I was watching MEDIUM this evening (which is basically a more intelligent GHOST WHISPERER ) and I discovered my dream job. The boyfriend/husband role in a television series about a female psychic investigator. TITLE : Psychic Law GENRE : Supernatural Police-Legal Comedy-Drama PREMISE : Lacey Del Fuego (Carla Gugino of Spy Kids, Spin City & Sin City ) can see dead people. Unfortunately she sees them while working at her job as a high powered realtor in Los Angeles. After freaking out herself and potential clients at a number of homes open (lots of hilarious opportunities for dead movie star cameos in old Hollywood mansions) Lacey decides to stop fighting her abilities and to use them. Lacey persuades her de facto husband Merrick Fong (Mr Trivia) that their family (their adorable 6 year old Eloise) should up-stakes and move to Austin, Texas where Lacey’s family originally hail from. At first, Merrick is reluctant because ...
Read more