I capitalize the Internet because, as I learned years ago, it is ONE particular network defined by the TCP/IP protocol. It is not a generic name, it is the name of a particular entity. This fact is even more significant now that it truly spans the world. We watch different televisions, but we are all connected to the Internet. I hope the experts on the list will correct my lay technical interpretation if need be. Maria -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Bonnie Nardi Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 10:17 AM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-l] Origin of the term "Internet" ? I capitalize the Internet because it seems like the Force ("the Force be with you") or God or Satori -- cultural constructs that fundamentally, ineffably change human life. All are conventionally capitalized. It just happens that technology is at play here -- but our becoming a global species is possible, in my opinion, because of the Internet. Maybe it's not Satori, but it's something worth capitalizing. On Mar 30, 2007, at 6:58 AM, Jeremy Hunsinger wrote:
On Mar 30, 2007, at 10:51 AM, James Whyte wrote:
This discussion clearly exposes the power of ontological commitment which leads to sanctioned inferences. A process that is benign in casual conversation but dangerous in scholarly discourse.
the capitalization issue of no import, nor is it dangerous to scholarly discourse.
I assume that OII did so in the interest of scholarship and is (more) correct in so doing.
I assume OII did it because at the time it was founded that was the fashion, and that it is still the fashion in some institutions, which is fine, however that something is the mode of operation does not imply any normative frame.
Parallel to this (small I) issue, is the definitional problem that allows the term itself to be used outside the formal definition.
there is no specified formal definition, there are just a series of scholarly, popular, and dictionary definitions
In the end, for the purpose of scholarship, the Internet is a network of networks with a cap I. Everything else is sociologically bound and is not the Internet.
in the end there is no internet without the sociologically bound.
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Bonnie A. Nardi School of Information and Computer Sciences University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-3440 (949) 824-6534 www.artifex.org/~bonnie/ _______________________________________________ The air-l@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/