http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-10-20/am-i-a-crofter-now-are-you/ Informal learning, Internet technology and Action Research Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:20:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-10-20/am-i-a-crofter-now-are-you/#comment-3391 Am I a crofter? - at Acting to Improve | Pyjamanating Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:56:57 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-10-20/am-i-a-crofter-now-are-you/#comment-3391 [...] to depict the new style of worker, aiming for self sufficiency working from home on the internet. Am I a crofter now? Are you? at Acting to Improve I agree we need to find a better term for this mixed way of working but for me crofting isn’t [...] [...] to depict the new style of worker, aiming for self sufficiency working from home on the internet. Am I a crofter now? Are you? at Acting to Improve I agree we need to find a better term for this mixed way of working but for me crofting isn’t [...]

]]> http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-10-20/am-i-a-crofter-now-are-you/#comment-3372 John Sutton Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:15:32 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-10-20/am-i-a-crofter-now-are-you/#comment-3372 My knowledge of scottish history didn't quite stretch far enough, I'm afraid. I'm not sure what the term is for an Irish smallholder, but I'm sure the scottish crofters would recognise them as being of their kin. My knowledge of scottish history didn’t quite stretch far enough, I’m afraid. I’m not sure what the term is for an Irish smallholder, but I’m sure the scottish crofters would recognise them as being of their kin.

]]> http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-10-20/am-i-a-crofter-now-are-you/#comment-3370 Linda Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:34:05 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-10-20/am-i-a-crofter-now-are-you/#comment-3370 Hi John Good point about the global nature of our community. The crofters were quite isolated yet they had global ties too. Many of their sons and daughters dispersed all over the world and letters came that made New York and Montreal more real to some of them than London. Just to nit pick the potato famine didn't hit the Scots really. Most of them didn't grow spuds, too high up :-) I do agree about the precarious nature of our position but I'm sort of inclined to believe it is simply that our insecurity is more visible. I hope we are more adaptable and flexible so we can survive better than those who still believe in the myth of the secure job. Hi John
Good point about the global nature of our community. The crofters were quite isolated yet they had global ties too. Many of their sons and daughters dispersed all over the world and letters came that made New York and Montreal more real to some of them than London.
Just to nit pick the potato famine didn’t hit the Scots really. Most of them didn’t grow spuds, too high up I do agree about the precarious nature of our position but I’m sort of inclined to believe it is simply that our insecurity is more visible. I hope we are more adaptable and flexible so we can survive better than those who still believe in the myth of the secure job.

]]> http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-10-20/am-i-a-crofter-now-are-you/#comment-3369 John Sutton Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:03:15 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/Linda/2008-10-20/am-i-a-crofter-now-are-you/#comment-3369 Crofting is quite a neat analogy to describe what those of us that have abandoned full time employment for a more precarious existence as an "ICT consultant" (delete and add whatever you call yourself). However there are a few problems with it - I think many crofters worked in a pretty isolated existence, quite different to the global community that we now communicate with, even if we don't actually meet physically very often. I just hope for the sake of all of us "crofters" out there that, in view of the current climate, another potato famine is not on its way. Crofting is quite a neat analogy to describe what those of us that have abandoned full time employment for a more precarious existence as an “ICT consultant” (delete and add whatever you call yourself). However there are a few problems with it – I think many crofters worked in a pretty isolated existence, quite different to the global community that we now communicate with, even if we don’t actually meet physically very often. I just hope for the sake of all of us “crofters” out there that, in view of the current climate, another potato famine is not on its way.

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