“information does not want to be free. it wants to be folded, spindled, mutilated, and made into children’s party hats.”
Came across this, yesterday, without a source. I know I’ve seen it/heard it before, but I cannot for the life of me come up with where. So . . . anyone interested in preserving my sanity?
Well, if you like that quote and it turns you on, then I said that.
If you think it’s stupid and one of the most asinine things you’ve ever heard than I think it was Coldfire who uttered that line years ago.
[sub]Sorry I can’t help. I’m just sooo bored at work today![/sub]
I like “Information really wants to be tied up and spanked”
as well as
“Information wants to be anthropomorphized”
Erika,
I don’t know where your quote comes from.
(cries of “what use are you, then!”)
I do remember a science fiction story called something like “Do not fold, bend, spindle or mutilate’.” Perhaps that was the inspiration behing your saying.
(The story concerned a man in a highly computerised society, who had an argument with a library about an overdue book - Treasure Island. A series of misunderstandings meant he was accused of the murder of the author R.L. Stevenson, who died centuries ago)
I am not at all sure if I want to keep contemplating the implications of being turned on by information being “folded, spindled, mutilated, and made into children’s party hats.” But, Crunchy Frog, I do indeed like it. And so you’re welcome to claim it, at least until someone else can do better . . .
I have no idea if it was the slogan for punch cards, but I am reasonably certain that I wouldn’t know it from that context.
Sounds like an interesting story, glee, . . . I may need to acquire it at some point.
The saying “Information Wants To Be Free” is a motto of certain facets of the hacker comunity. I’d place it in the mid to late eighties in origin. Your phrase is just a twisting of that, much akin to “Information doesn’t want to be free - it wants to me divided into parcels and made very expensive.” (Netrunner)