My previous blog was a string of ideas and rather than try to condense them, I decided to repost on here to see what response it gets but also what you think.

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Hi guys,

 

I've been following the online blog but it has taken me a few days to shake off the rust attached to my brain and catch up with your trains of thought. So, my blog is more of collective response with few of my random thoughts mixed in. I apologise if it's babble.

 

Anjna.

 

First of all, I think it's quite revealing to read into the city's shape and form. Many a time the streetscape can determine the physical movement of people in a city as well have a social impact. The streets can create direction as well as boundaries.

 

I refer to Spiro Kostof's book "The City Shaped: urban patterns and their meanings through history." Kostof comments that the streetscapes of many cities were designed purposely to restrict or allow foot flow but also to create a language to the streets. The movement of people was directed towards certain areas, eg the agora, to regulate the use of the streets and also how people moved.

 

I think it's a good idea to consider the opposite to mobility? To be immobile or static sounds like a form of torture. Imagine not being able to be travel. Our life experiences would be extremely stunted or nonexistent.  Our ability to travel either through public transport or in the comfort of our own cars creates the urban realm and produces our social networks. I use the number 46 to go to my temple. If I didn't have the transport my religious social network may not exist. Many of our social networks are a product of being able to move and many wouldn't not exist if the ability was taken away. Our life is an amalgamation of our social networks coexisting together. How would our life impact if these social networks were not physically accessible?

 

It was interesting to hear a prior comment about the Hindu caste system. Although fundamentally the Hindu religion believes that all people are equal, the caste system divides people according to their job role and sets social boundaries.  Many modern day Hindus believe that the caste system does not apply to current age, mostly because the old jobs do not apply now. There is no movement up or down the Hindu caste system. You are simply born into it. There is no social mobility and it is limited by birth. It used to be and in some families it is frowned upon when people from different castes marry each other.  The social division also correlates to certain to cultural habits.

 

It seems like the possibilities of the virtual world are endless. Interaction without physical need creates all sorts of relationships whether work or personally related. However, is virtual contact ever deep enough? How much can you read into an email? You cannot see the personality behind a message, the mannerisms of the sender or even figure out if you can trust the person. Immediate contact may be convenient but is it ever deep enough? Imagine meeting a friend for coffee for a catch up, the experience of the coffee shop etc make the meeting so much more than the chat facilities available on social networking sites.

 

Sorry it's all random!

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