On April 3rd, that is last night, Okan Bayülgen’s program Muhabbet Kralı (King of Conversation) was held. In general, internet, the effect of the internet on youth, and the effect of the internet on the new media order were discussed. I must state that although I watch the KingoDisco program from time to time, I prefer Muhabbet Kralı at the cost of losing sleep. People who have made a place for themselves on the internet took part in the program. As usual, there were academic personalities too. I believe that topics of interest to Turkey were discussed in an unusual way in conventional media. In fact, while watching, I realized I had taken notes on the notebook under my hand without realizing it.

Some headlines of the topics discussed:

  • Justin Bieber (?)
  • The new generation of information society
  • Evaluation of internet and television in terms of broadcasting
  • The fact that trends can change at any moment and everyone has the chance to determine these trends thanks to the internet.
  • Sharing personal information and experience is now more acceptable and reliable.
  • The clumsiness of television, the functionality of the internet
  • Internet addiction and its effects
  • Simulatability of life in the virtual world and its social effects
  • How we can use the internet usefully now and in the future.

As seen, the agenda was very busy. While it is difficult to fit each topic into one program, Clunky Conventional Media tried to cover all topics. I, on the other hand, invite you to think about today’s information society using an old method, by telling a story.

You Wasted Your Life!

Once upon a time,

One day, the world’s most famous philosophers and scientists decided to gather on an island. One of the famous scholars of the time who was going to this island hired a boatman, and they set off. While on the way, the wise man thought of showing off to the boatman with his hard-earned knowledge and started asking.

  • Wise man: Do you know what mathematics is?
  • Boatman: I don’t know, my lord.
  • Wise man: Do you know what astronomy is?
  • Boatman: I don’t know, my lord.
  • Wise man: Do you know what chemistry is?
  • Boatman: I don’t know, my lord.

The wise man could not stand it in front of this ignorant man and said, “Then half of your life is wasted! Oh, foolish man.” Facing this situation, the boatman bowed his head and continued on his way.

After a while, seeing the storm approaching, the boatman asked excitedly, “Do you know how to swim, my lord?” The panicked man replied, “No.” The boatman immediately shot the answer in the face of this opportunity:

“THEN THE WHOLE OF YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN WASTED!”