In designing a nice chatchke (translation: gimmicky thing to give away) for upcoming Com.Vention being organized by TheMarker (and co-sponsored by yours truly, Jerusalem Capital), we decided on a key chain Hamsa , with our logo and URL engraved on it. Turns out that www.jerusalemcapital.net does not fit so well on the size Hamsa we chose, so designer suggested we drop the "www" and just print "jerusalemcapital.net." This started a dialog as to whether the "www" is really necessary anymore. Obviously, from a practical level, most browsers (hedging myself with the "most") know what to do with URL typed without the "www." Type jerusalemcapital.net into the address bar and you will get to our website. So why do we still use www all the time?
One, it's difficult to break a habit...just think back to when we were still using DOS and needed to "multi-task," how we moved between programs...oh, yeah, that's what the Alt button was for, in conjunction with the Ctrl button (now see how many still shift between programs like that). And let's not forget the good old Fn button. Because of space issues, all these commands [Esc] were shortened and new wrds were created...And remember the file name limitations we used to have, until suddenly, Emperor Gates, reacting to Sir Steve, released us from bondage and we had somewhat unlimited file names.
What's the connection between all of this? Well, it's that traditions get created very quickly. If you typed "www" 15 years ago it meant your "w" key was sticking...yet today it is one of the most recognizable, even if already obsolete. Very soon here in Jerusalem (and around the world) the holiday of Pesach/Passover will be celebrated. Cultural "icons" were created thousands of years ago, Matza, Marror, Haroset, and more, all placed on the "desktop" of the Seder table on the first night of the holiday. Is Matza still today just as representative as it was almost 3000 years ago...no. Today we have 50 different kinds of Matza, whole wheat, egg, honey, etc., but we will still hold on to the Matza...and for the Seder night we usually try to be as "authentic" as possible.
WWW represents so much for so many...a modern day liberation story of content, communications, and globalization (the good and the not-so-good elements). Where there is room, we definitely should continue to use it. World Wide Web has come to mean so much more than simply a header of a technical string of characters. On the other hand, where this pressure to save space, which in the physical world remains very much an issue, we can leave it out sometimes...and the community still knows that the World Wide Web keeps us all connected.
Ah, you ask, why not just shorten Jerusalem to Jlem...well, my friends, some things do not change. Ever.
I loved this piece!
The idea of preserving something that is rather functionless, at least in its original function, for the sake of a new function, one that reminds us of what once was and what is today, or, what we used to not have, and what now have, is what should always be happening in religion, culture and society. It's not just a matter of wisely using resources, recycling (words are also natural resources) whenever possible, but equally, if not more importantly, understanding and reworking the actual essence of an object, word, idea or concept. Your example of the Seder table is excellent and I'm pretty sure you agree with me that the same process or procedure could and should be done constantly on all planes.
Posted by: David Lazar | March 18, 2007 at 12:58 PM