[identity profile] crenshawseeds.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] davis_square
I'm Ashley Taylor, a reporter for the Somerville News writing a story about John Monsarrat's Wheel Questions installation currently at Davis Square in front of the 7-11.  

What do you think of it?  

Have you posted questions, and did you appreciate the answers?  Or do you just read it?  

Or have you never heard of it or seen it?

Particularly, as members of an on-line community, what do you think of the idea of having a community based around a physical structure, "the Wheel"?  

Please let me know  explicitly, when you reply, whether or not I can quote you in my article. 

Thank you.

 

Date: 2009-07-24 11:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mihmo.livejournal.com
I would like the installation a lot more if it only was a display of the questions people asked, not the answers. It could then be kind of documentation of the questions folks in the physical proximity of the thing had on their minds. Of course, then, I don't know there would be much incentive to leaving a question. But it reminds me maybe of how people throw nickels and dimes and pennies into water fountains for luck. Maybe they ask the questions more to get it out in the open anonymously rather than to actually get an answer. Grouphug.us is an online site that's been around for at least a couple of years that serves just that purpose, and can be at times humorous / entertaining / sobering / lose-your-faith-in-humanity-depressing to read.

I do question from what authority the answers come from. As many folks have pointed out, it's a bummer the community itself can't answer the questions - I've noticed since it's been in Davis Square people have tried to contribute answers and have been scolded.

It does remind me a bit of this feedback setup we had at the cafeteria at my university, RPI. The cafeteria had these cards where you could ask questions or provide feedback on the food and service. The manager of the cafeteria would answer every card and tack it up on this huge corkboard at the exit of the cafeteria. Usually the cards had mundane questions like: "Can we have sushi one day of the week?" or "The meatloaf was gross today." But sometimes people would ask questions like "Should I change my major?" or "Will I ever get a girlfriend?" and the cafeteria manager always answered them nicely. :) Those kinds of more personal cards were only occasional though.

The thing is...

Date: 2009-07-25 12:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nvidia99999.livejournal.com
If it's all anonymous then... Why not just do it online? The point of doing it in RL would be that you may get to know some people who live near you better. Perhaps see the problems they are having or what they are trying to achieve and feel a bit closer to them. If that is not possible, then there is no point at all in having a physical installation...

Re: The thing is...

Date: 2009-07-25 02:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mihmo.livejournal.com
There's still a difference between RL and online even if it's anonymous. It's that the person who submitted the question/thought once stood physically where you stand reading it, and that they were necessarily in the same area as you. You don't have that with online sites.

Re: The thing is...

Date: 2009-07-25 02:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] usernamenumber.livejournal.com
"if it's all anonymous then... Why not just do it online?"

Idunno, even with anonymity, meatspace still has a certain quaint charm, when taken in small doses. =;)

Profile

davis_square: (Default)
The Davis Square Community

August 2025

S M T W T F S
     12
3456789
10111213141516
171819 20212223
24252627282930
31      

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Aug. 22nd, 2025 11:54 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios