2 ms·

To wit, the internet has obviated the need for eclectic catalogs of knowledge, ideas, and products like this one. They were limited answers to the problem of di

To wit, the internet has obviated the need for eclectic catalogs of knowledge, ideas, and products like this one. They were limited answers to the problem of discovery, and the internet is an _unlimited_ answer. Almanacs are gone. Phonebooks barely exist, replaced by searchable maps, with reviews, live estimates of how busy they are, and directions for how to get there customized to where you are this moment and live traffic conditions. Humdrum mailer catalogs full of onesies, novelty dinner plates, custom checks, and other bric-a-brac are seldom seen. The model and scope for an encyclopedia has been upended, greatly expanded, and made free for all mankind. Need to tie a knot? Here are all of the ones known to exist, sorted by application or any other conceivable way, instantly, at no cost. Remember six to eight weeks from mailing a form to delivery of goods? Usually reduced to under a week. Yeah, a cataclysmic change. All of these are obvious observations but it still humbles me to think of how ridiculous a revelation it has been, and it happened suddenly in my lifetime, and I take it all for granted.

roughly 3y ago
I think some of why this stuff gets overlooked is because in many cases, it's reducing the friction to do a particular thing, not necessarily enabling a new thing - we want to know what the weather is like in Peru, suddenly we know, and there wasn't any tangible process involved in getting it. It's not surprising, because we expected to know about Peruvian weather, and now we do, and that's what we'd expect, so it doesn't get noticed. We want to know what restaurants are over there, and we do. We want to know what's on their menu, and we do. We want a new spatula, and we've got one. It doesn't feel magical, it feels frictionless, which feels like the way things should be, so we don't notice it.

roughly 3y ago

I think some of why this stuff gets overlooked is because in many cases, it's reducing the friction to do a particular thing, not necessarily enabling a new thing - we want to know what the weather is like in Peru, suddenly we know, and there wasn't any tangible process involved in getting it. It's not surprising, because we expected to know about Peruvian weather, and now we do, and that's what we'd expect, so it doesn't get noticed. We want to know what restaurants are over there, and we do. We want to know what's on their menu, and we do. We want a new spatula, and we've got one. It doesn't feel magical, it feels frictionless, which feels like the way things should be, so we don't notice it.