The Program ❀

[EvaLane]

In a sea of exhilarating discussions, I remain steadily searching for a thread that’s just right for my brand of intellectual nonsense. I have very serious thoughts on Project Pan, the meme-ificafion of sexism, and is a kink really still a kink if it’s alone in the woods with no one around to hear it?

and about a million-ga’jillion other things.

So! Welcome to The Program! Nothing is scheduled, everything is breaking news, and discussion is not only welcome, but required!

I’ll pop in with my own questions, answers, and mini-dissertations. The floor is always open for my fellow wackjob intellectuals to ask related questions, comments, and responses

Please refrain from senseless pandering and complimentary fluff - save that for the DMs! It’s strict around these parts, partners!

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
The Program Podcast​

Ep 1: The Most Intimate Book Ever Published

 

[EvaLane]

So, what exactly is so interesting about a phone book?


It turns out, quite a lot. What started as a single page in 1878 became this odd little snippet of ordinary life - addresses, names, business advertisements, and of course, phone numbers.

We dive right into the stacked up history - all of the stalking and harassment, the psychic hotlines and escort services, and a few stranger-than-strange stories hiding behind those not-so-innocent pages.

The Most Intimate Book Ever Published (26:18)

Let’s talk about it!

When and why did being findable stop being normal and start feeling a little scary?

Have we become more connected or are we simply easier to reach?

And when you can search for almost anything, anyone, at any time… what happens to the fun of not knowing?

sources are available upon request

 

[F3x0r]

This could well be my Freedom Walk listen!! If not I will listen later tonight

 

[SalaciousMonkey22]

So, what exactly is so interesting about a phone book?
View attachment 2671059

It turns out, quite a lot. What started as a single page in 1878 became this odd little snippet of ordinary life - addresses, names, business advertisements, and of course, phone numbers.

We dive right into the stacked up history - all of the stalking and harassment, the psychic hotlines and escort services, and a few stranger-than-strange stories hiding behind those not-so-innocent pages.

The Most Intimate Book Ever Published (26:18)

The psychic friends network was awesome. I never called. But the advertisements alone were brilliant.

And the LA Xxxpress was the most fascinating phone book of the 80’s
https://soundgasm.net/u/EvaLane/The-Most-Intimate-Book-Ever-Published

Let’s talk about it!

When and why did being findable stop being normal and start feeling a little scary?

I think being discoverable was always a little scary. But the scale of it has magnified it danger. Being found by the one creepy old man in your small town is bad. Being found by all the creepy men in the entire world? Way way scarier!.

And that’s before we add in targeted advertising!

Have we become more connected or are we simply easier to reach?

Connection take time . And focus. And attention. Things the internet is built to drain from us. Which is connected to below.

And when you can search for almost anything, anyone, at any time… what happens to the fun of not knowing?

it’s not just fun not knowing, it’s important to do the work required to learn something. It builds a framework for context and understanding that is what leads to wisdom.

I dread the idiocracy future of AI where people just parrot back what AI tells them with no ability to contextualize it and even sniff test it.

But more directly relevant to your post. I have a very clear memory of the first time my future wife gave me her phone number. What a gift that was. There’s definitely all kinds of different value in not knowing and learning.

 

[*Twisted*]

I do have to admit I miss having that Rolodex of phone numbers in my head.

 

[Lord Pmann]

Well done. I used to amuse myself with the phone book when I was younger.

I would look up all the names that might be fun to laugh at. There was a lady in my city whose last name was Dickgrabber. I used to imagine how people had last names that represented occupations- Baker, Smith, Taylor, etc. I liked to think that she came from a long line of hardworking dick grabbers.

My friend and I used to call the escort services to ask questions. Fun fact… the guy answering was just a pimp.

 

[EvaLane]

My friend and I used to call the escort services to ask questions. Fun fact… the guy answering was just a pimp.

See, I didn’t want to glamorize anything, but also didn’t want to talk over the reported incidents that stated work was work - which to some, sure, but to others, oof.

I’ve never talked to a pimp normally, nowadays it’s all 22 year old top percenters on OF that barely show bare-nip that recruit the newbies into the “lifestyle” AKA “you’d-be-lucky-to-make-$150-per-month-after-Alisyias-Snow-Hunnies-Incorperated-management-fee”.

So maybe I have talked to a pimp, just new age?

 

[Lord Pmann]

See, I didn’t want to glamorize anything, but also didn’t want to talk over the reported incidents that stated work was work - which to some, sure, but to others, oof.

I’ve never talked to a pimp normally, nowadays it’s all 22 year old top percenters on OF that barely show bare-nip that recruit the newbies into the “lifestyle” AKA “you’d-be-lucky-to-make-$150-per-month-after-Alisyias-Snow-Hunnies-Incorperated-management-fee”.

So maybe I have talked to a pimp, just new age?
View attachment 2671198

This guy was a pimp, for sure. I remember him saying, “What do you want? I’ve got a blonde, an Asian, big boobs, big ass… whatever you want, I’ve got.”

I was only like 15 or 16 and obviously had no intention of following through. I mean, I had no money. But I remember being so uncomfortable with the discussion.

 

[ScarletDaisy]

Well done. I used to amuse myself with the phone book when I was younger.

I would look up all the names that might be fun to laugh at. There was a lady in my city whose last name was Dickgrabber. I used to imagine how people had last names that represented occupations- Baker, Smith, Taylor, etc. I liked to think that she came from a long line of hardworking dick grabbers.

My friend and I used to call the escort services to ask questions. Fun fact… the guy answering was just a pimp.

I miss prank calling. As a kid, that was so much fun. Caller ID ruined it.

The phone book was like the keys to the castle. Who are we going to call today? Flip the pages and see who wins...

My last prank call was made at a red light 25ish years ago. He'd been driving like a jerk, cut me off... We're stopped at a light, his phone number was on his truck. I picked up my phone, dialed it, watched him pick up his phone and he said hello. I snapped my startac phone shut with satisfaction. #GenX

 

[Lord Pmann]

I miss prank calling. As a kid, that was so much fun. Caller ID ruined it.

The phone book was like the keys to the castle. Who are we going to call today? Flip the pages and see who wins...

My last prank call was made at a red light 25ish years ago. He'd been driving like a jerk, cut me off... We're stopped at a light, his phone number was on his truck. I picked up my phone, dialed it, watched him pick up his phone and he said hello. I snapped my startac phone shut with satisfaction. #GenX

And that call cost you $3.50.

 

[ScarletDaisy]

And that call cost you $3.50.

It was before 7pm.

 

[Qky75]

I miss prank calling. As a kid, that was so much fun. Caller ID ruined it.

The phone book was like the keys to the castle. Who are we going to call today? Flip the pages and see who wins...

My last prank call was made at a red light 25ish years ago. He'd been driving like a jerk, cut me off... We're stopped at a light, his phone number was on his truck. I picked up my phone, dialed it, watched him pick up his phone and he said hello. I snapped my startac phone shut with satisfaction. #GenX

I called the operator and asked for Buckingham Palace. I still remember the really nice English lady who answered and politely told me when I asked to speak with the queen that Her Majesty was unfortunately occupied with important business but she would pass along my well wishes. It was so awesome at age 10..... until my dad opened the phone bill.