On Public History

Public History is the practice of conveying history to an audience that is not specialized in the field of history being presented - generally this means a non-academic audience. Public history is history that both engages the public and invites the public to participate in the writing of history.

How appropriate that I use an internet definition, Wikipedia, to define what is commonly referred to as Public History. I will be honest by saying that prior to submitting my application for Graduate school I had not even heard of Public History. Although the term itself seems somewhat self explanatory I think there is much more to being a Public Historian than is recognized. Despite having chosen the coarse history stream I think it would have been both interesting and rewarding to have chosen the Public stream.

Public Historians have an important task ahead of them. As our readings show information is multiplying at a rate quicker than we can comprehend. With this influx of new information it will be essential to somehow relay this new information to the general public. A public that has also increased because of growing accessibility to resources and material thanks to the internet. It is however unfair to say that the responsibility to relay, sort and come to terms with this material is solely the responsibility of the public historian. It is all of our responsibility.

Through innovative methods and techniques it is our responsibility as proponents of the importance of studying history that the best and most accurate information be presented to our general public. This must be done in a way that is comprehensible, stimulating and yet resourceful. Whether a career is chosen in a government field, a library, a university or wherever your research may take us it becomes essential that we come to terms with the direction we as historians are headed. Perhaps most importantly though is the question of where the material we are studying is or will be headed in the future.

Digital mistake!

Well another week has passed and I am going to take this time to vent some of my frustration on my blog!! My blog this week is a way for me to release some of my bottled up anger towards Bell Home telephone.
So the story goes... I temporarily resided at an apartment in east London last year, 1 week to be exact, where I had agreed to activate a home telephone line through Bell. After 7 days I realized that this was clearly not the area of the city best suited for me, as many come to see, and moved out shortly thereafter. I phoned Bell where they conveniently made sure to "record our conversation for quality assurance and educational purposes". This honestly makes me laugh. I spoke with a representative who was kind enough to cancel my home telephone as well as my internet. I was advised to send in the modem and that a $30 cancellation fee would apply; which I paid shortly after. I moved out of the apartment into a different location and forgot about my brief, and clearly illusive, interaction with Bell and continued on my regular life.
So what's the big deal you ask?
Last week, as in the week of Sept. 8th/2008, I get a letter in the mail, magically to my new address, indicating that I have a delinquent past due balance remaining on my account in the amount of $180. Thinking to myself that it was probably a mere "Digital mistake" I phoned Bell only to be informed that I had 1 week to pay the balance otherwise my credit would become affected. Bell claims that my conversation with them had never occurred and they had no record of my phone conversation. All that they said was that I would need to provide them with my "telephone cancellation confirmation number" so that they may review the file. Well my question to them is WHO KEEPS THEIR CANCELLATION NUMBER FROM 1.5YRS AGO?????
Bell was extremely unhelpful with the matter and to make things worse they did not seem the slightest bit concerned to lose me as a potential future customer.
Where did the mistake occur? Where did everything go wrong? Should they not at least compromise with me considering not a single phone call, according to their current records, was made from then until now? This is ridiculous!
Well to make a long story short.... well actually a long story longer, I am no longer going to deal with Bell under any circumstance! I am disappointed with their service and most of all it baffles me how swiftly and punctually companies like Bell take your money but how slow they are to correct their mistakes.

- Thanks for hearing me out!!

My Alpha

My professional blogging career begins here. Having no previous experience or even interest in blogging I find myself almost at a loss for words. Being loud mouthed, vocal and border line unceremonious at times this is a quite an unusual place for me. I will however say this. Blogging is an innovative way for one to express his or her opinions through a medium that allows for the greatest amount of agency possible. One has to be aware however that this can be as dangerous as it can be beneficial.

The WWW. has ushered in an era of unprecedented change, to say the least. It can be compared in its effects to that of Gutenberg's work in the 15th century. The difference is however the Internets shock value upon its arrival. It would appear that we live in age of incessant change. Change that occurs so rapidly our minds fail to appreciate one innovation before another one is advertised. What can we expect to happen if technological advancements are made at such an incomprehensible pace? Will technology defile our ability to move forward? Perhaps I was too young when the internet came to the fore but I think many simply take it for granted. We all know what happens when people take things for granted.

What I am trying to say here is that the internet is an outward expression of technological advancement. When an ever changing medium as potent as the internet is either used in the wrong ways, for the wrong purposes, or disregarded for its powerful effects it can prove to be disastrous. One has to take into account how the internet can become beneficial for us and how we can organize this medium in a safe comprehensible way so that it will not self destruct.