 Das Leben der Anderen, "The Lives of Others" |
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| gomi |
 Thu 29th March 2007, 6:31am
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#1
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Member  Group: Members Posts: 3,022 Joined: Fri 17th Nov 2006, 6:38pm Member No.: 565  |
Has anyone else seen this recent film? I saw it the other night, and could not stop thinking (I know, sick!) about Wikipedia. The movie depicts the East German secret police before the fall of the Berlin wall, and their surveillance of a German intellectual/playwrite. A senior minister takes a fancy to his girlfriend, and a capable underling is dispatched to spy on the playwrite and, in effect, to find an offense where there is none.
Now, I do know how horrid East Germany was, and no one at Wikipedia is thrown in prison or shot. So spare me the histrionics. But the depiction of the way in which the Stasi went about controlling everyone was such a perfect analogy to the wikipedia admin's control of things, it was astonishing. The depiction of the fundamental corruption of unchecked power and the creation of a climate of fear was subtle but devastating. Forgetting Wikipedia, see the film -- it is sad but very worthwhile. |
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Replies(1 - 5)
| Somey |
Thu 29th March 2007, 7:08am
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#2
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 Can't actually moderate Group: Moderators Posts: 11,814 Joined: Sat 17th Jun 2006, 7:47pm From: Dreamland Member No.: 275 |
Dang, I could've gone this past weekend, but we decided to go see "300" instead.
Oddly enough, that movie sort of reminded me of Wikipedia too... |
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| Jonny Cache |
Thu 29th March 2007, 2:12pm
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#3
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 τα δε μοι παθήματα μαθήματα γέγονε Group: Contributors Posts: 5,100 Joined: Sat 9th Sep 2006, 1:52am Member No.: 398 WP user page - talk check - contribs |
I finally picked up a disc of Stranger Than Fiction — which we had missed getting out to see when it came and went over the holidays last year — and I was rolling on the romper room carpet the whole time.
Needless to say ... Jonny  This post has been edited by Jonny Cache: Thu 29th March 2007, 4:18pm |
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| Jonny Cache |
Thu 29th March 2007, 4:32pm
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#4
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τα δε μοι παθήματα μαθήματα γέγονε Group: Contributors Posts: 5,100 Joined: Sat 9th Sep 2006, 1:52am Member No.: 398 WP user page - talk check - contribs |
QUOTE(gomi @ Thu 29th March 2007, 2:31am)  Has anyone else seen this recent film? I saw it the other night, and could not stop thinking (I know, sick!) about Wikipedia. The movie depicts the East German secret police before the fall of the Berlin wall, and their surveillance of a German intellectual/playwright. A senior minister takes a fancy to his girlfriend, and a capable underling is dispatched to spy on the playwright and, in effect, to find an offense where there is none. Now, I do know how horrid East Germany was, and no one at Wikipedia is thrown in prison or shot. So spare me the histrionics. But the depiction of the way in which the Stasi went about controlling everyone was such a perfect analogy to the wikipedia admin's control of things, it was astonishing. The depiction of the fundamental corruption of unchecked power and the creation of a climate of fear was subtle but devastating. Forgetting Wikipedia, see the film — it is sad but very worthwhile. Back to the less diverting aspects of the theme in question. I've been trying to understand the dynamics of fascism for quite some time now, long before I found myself morosely marooned on the mega-moronic shores of Wikipedia — sorry, DT, the alliteration made me do it. What strikes me now in reading the plot recap that you give above is the theme of using "polite" excuses as a cover for acting on personal motives. Something to muse on ... Jonny |
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| Herschelkrustofsky |
Thu 29th March 2007, 9:21pm
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 5,199 Joined: Tue 18th Apr 2006, 12:05pm From: Kalifornia Member No.: 130 WP user page - talk check - contribs |
I think that there are certain universal characteristics of oligarchic rule, that crop up in a wide variety of contexts. After all, from what we know of human history, the oligarchy has been the dominant model for most of it. Plato said that there was a cycle of anarchy to tyranny back to anarchy, if no one intervenes to set up a republic. I think that Jimbo thought he would impose order on the anarchy of the USENET model, but it doesn't seem to be working.
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| JohnA |
Thu 29th March 2007, 10:20pm
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#6
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Looking over Winston Smith's shoulder Group: Regulars Posts: 1,171 Joined: Sun 30th Jul 2006, 9:56pm Member No.: 313 |
QUOTE(Herschelkrustofsky @ Thu 29th March 2007, 10:21pm) I think that there are certain universal characteristics of oligarchic rule, that crop up in a wide variety of contexts. After all, from what we know of human history, the oligarchy has been the dominant model for most of it. Plato said that there was a cycle of anarchy to tyranny back to anarchy, if no one intervenes to set up a republic. I think that Jimbo thought he would impose order on the anarchy of the USENET model, but it doesn't seem to be working. It's impossible to rein in an anarchy, but its possible to loosen the reins on a dictatorship. If Wikipedia had started with very tight rules, which were gradually relaxed then it would work. Wikipedia is the worst of both worlds: an anarchy and a dictatorship - without the advantages of either, only the disadvantages. |
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