New urban figure: the man standing on the street corner, mobile phone in hand, or wheeling around like some limp beast, still talking away to no one, A living insult to the passer-by. Only madmen and alcoholics can flout public space in the way, talking to themselves. But at least they are connected up to their inner madness. Whereas mobile-phone-man imposes on everyone--who has no interest in it whatsoever--the virtual presence of the network, which is public enemy number one.
Only something which has a purpose comes to an end, since once that purpose is achieved, all that remains is for it to disappear. The human species has survived only because it had no final purpose. Those who have tried to give it one have generally sent it hurtling to its destruction. And it is perhaps out of some survival instinct that groups and individuals are gradually abandoning any precise purpose, abandoning meaning, reason and the Enlightenment to retain only the untutored, intuitive understanding of an impercise situation.--JB, Cool Memories IV
