4 ms·

I don’t judge people by lack of bookshelves, but I actually LOVE looking at folks’ bookshelves. It basically tells you what their interests & philosophical hist

I don’t judge people by lack of bookshelves, but I actually LOVE looking at folks’ bookshelves. It basically tells you what their interests & philosophical history were from age 18 to 30 (and mostly in the college years) in a concise way. People change a lot over time; I don’t judge people on what they have on their bookshelf, but it definitely provides fast context for their worldview, providing background for who they are today and how their opinions developed. It provides an immediate jumping off point to discuss common interests and ideas. There’s nothing better for this purpose.

vmception 6y ago
It's over its not happening anymore. You have to follow people's "stories" to see what they signal or post about, which is currently common for people that are currently 18 to 30. There is missing metadata in that approach just like there is missing metadata in the bookshelf approach. What we need is a way to make filter bubbles and echo chambers fungible. Like, we should be able to alter our user session to that of our contact's, with their consent. Transmit their whole data-broker profile to our computer and look at it. Or browse the internet and social networks as if you had their session, just to see how search results are different, how news headlines are different, which articles are shared to them, what their stories are reinforcing. That will be even more insightful than what your world used to be like.
oivaksef 6y ago
I got a visit when I was young (planned, agreed to in advance) from an officer from my countries national intelligence service. I was a reference for someone going to work for the equivalent of the NSA. He spent a lot of time looking at my mum's (questionable) books and making notes. I've thought about that a lot over the last 20 years. How much insight you can gain from someones bookshelf. I'm now addicted to it, where ever I go. Feels rude and invasive though, so I try not to be too obvious
- wink 6y ago
  Yes, that's the other thing. If the bookshelf didn't have doors you'd only see 100% of my wife's books behind me with a cam on, my bookshelf is next to the desk...

vmception 6y ago

It's over its not happening anymore. You have to follow people's "stories" to see what they signal or post about, which is currently common for people that are currently 18 to 30. There is missing metadata in that approach just like there is missing metadata in the bookshelf approach. What we need is a way to make filter bubbles and echo chambers fungible. Like, we should be able to alter our user session to that of our contact's, with their consent. Transmit their whole data-broker profile to our computer and look at it. Or browse the internet and social networks as if you had their session, just to see how search results are different, how news headlines are different, which articles are shared to them, what their stories are reinforcing. That will be even more insightful than what your world used to be like.

oivaksef 6y ago

I got a visit when I was young (planned, agreed to in advance) from an officer from my countries national intelligence service. I was a reference for someone going to work for the equivalent of the NSA. He spent a lot of time looking at my mum's (questionable) books and making notes. I've thought about that a lot over the last 20 years. How much insight you can gain from someones bookshelf. I'm now addicted to it, where ever I go. Feels rude and invasive though, so I try not to be too obvious

wink 6y ago
Yes, that's the other thing. If the bookshelf didn't have doors you'd only see 100% of my wife's books behind me with a cam on, my bookshelf is next to the desk...