The epoch of the generalist has arrived

[Justin Morrison]

"Technical skills are less important than creative thinking," lectures Netochka in an e-mail. "The epoch of the generalist has arrived -- again. Any fool can program and most do. Software engineers are emotionally inept. In today's unstable + dynamic environment they do not stand a chance."

Attributed to Netochka Nezvanova

[Georg Hobmeier]

well, that comment ("they do not stand a chance") is just rubbish and one of her occasional insults. i can't say anything more thoughtful then that.

[Julie N. Cruse]

I wish I'd been on the scene when netochka was so active. I think its brilliant as well. The above quote is more interesting coming from her. I've visited this page several times and sat in fascination at her statement - given what she is and does. I'm just stunned at how brilliant and creative her self-invention and "performances" are. I wonder how they "do not stand a chance." in what way?

[Georg Hobmeier]

no nato no more:
NETWORK SOLUTIONS
m9ndfukc.org expired on 10/29/2007 and is pending renewal or deletion.

[Georg Hobmeier]

ah...netochka, those were the days. funny, that so little people go the joke in all of this and took her artful hatred so serious. as for nato... rest in peace. i wanted to make a general remark about the generalist. as with all generalisation, it is of course full of generalness and claiming the arrival of an age is... well... maybe we should take a closer look at the people who constantly claim the arrival of something. excuse me for being so NLP at this point.

[Josephine Dorado]

but to bring it back to the quote: "...In today's unstable + dynamic environment they do not stand a chance." -- I think it's that aspect of instability that is so interesting and juicy for those of us generalists. Instability = dynamic environment = opportunity. In the face of change and shifting paradigms, generalists stretch their arms / are more resilient. R U RZLi3NT?

[Josephine Dorado]

The last time I saw Nato in action was when Kurt Ralske performed with some dancers at the Merce Cunningham studio...back in 2001 or so...I remember the distinct Nato "imprint" -- and the imprint of Netochka might far outlive Nato... ;-)

[Justin Morrison]

The quote is from this Salon (2002) article:
http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/feature/2002/03/01/netochka

Even better is the response:
http://amsterdam.nettime.org/Lists-Archives/nettime-bold-0203/msg00078.html

[Marlon Barrios Solano]

hello Justin,
where did you get that quote from? I would like to see more of that email...
she is a riot...
So snob and...who is using Nato these days anyway...?
some Nato users in the network...?