Will Self: My view of the internet has not changed

As English National Opera prepare to stage a new opera by Nico Muhly, we've asked writer Will Self to reflect on some of the issues that arise from the work.
And he's worried. In fact, Will Self is very worried.
The Opera: Two Boys
Loosely inspired by actual events that occurred in an English industrial city, Nico Muhly's new opera is a cautionary tale of the dark side of the internet.
www.twoboysopera.com
www.eno.org

[@brianahern3636]

Like the late great Chris Hitchens, I could listen to this man's words for hours. Eloquent and provocative.

[@TheFjerstad]

I regular read and listen to both

[@CPLains]

I can't get over the analogy to language. The medium that reduces incredibly diverse, concrete, personal experiences to shared, abstract units of information. And language is just the start. With logic, information theory and mathematics to supplement physics and the other sciences, the world of ideas quickly become monsterous for anyone involved.

[@WitsEnds]

it's like he can read my mind. ive never really listed to Will Self much before but after just watching this I find him extremely relatable.

[@tinnturps]

i could listen to Will for days

[@matchbox555]

avoid annoying intro by clicking here >>> 0:31

[@CPLains]

@CPLains (cont 2 ..) That humans manage to infuse a seemingly monsterous new realm with emotion is what i'm most opimistic about, whether that realm consists of strange contortions, alien sounds, incomplete math or new scientific discoveries.

[@smulkeysmulver]

I've noticed that the early eighties trope of future-dystopia is back in fashion again, in vogue - de rigeur, as it were. Though it would seem that we are somewhat living within the meme this time round the track. Morrissey no longer needs to ask: how soon is now?

[@ArtySparkzzzzz]

ironic that we're watching it and discussing it ON THE INTERNET

[@mrbigkmurray]

TV is a quite a waste of time. It sort of undermines how much you can learn from a book, without the obvious added drawback of being sold something in between programmes

[@stevechristie2569]

mrbigkmurray Sir Terry Wogan said you can't get people to think on TV but you can on radio

[@FightTheElite]

@Libervurto Good suggestion, I'll have a look at some of those.

[@Otto4th]

W.S. makes some great points. Use the internet - but stay awake etc.

[@darmok072]

Very interesting. Although the text coming up is annoying.

[@allison01ful]

This guys great!

[@IndependentGeorge76]

good points, skin-crawlingly irritating music bookending them

[@CPLains]

@CPLains (cont 3 ..) theoretician* ... Also, ignore all other spelling errors. And notice that the link to Žižek* has "hug" in it! ;)

[@zorgzarg9849]

He may be talking about some kind of post-apocalyptic situation in which our technological infrastructure is wiped out. Then you can be sure there'll be no Internet. And will all these people, post-Internet, be made of the sort of stuff on which a society can be built.

[@jasonpalmer4344]

He means 'everyone should spend more time buying and reading my books'.

[@koosiecrackers]

As a certain writer that ol' Selfie himself recently slagged off wrote: OLDTHINKERS UNBELLYFEEL INGSOC!

[@1292liam]

im hooked on the internet. i hate it

[@herefordmsv]

It will be like The Matrix. Except worse because their clothes were cool.

[@pow1983]

I think you miss the point, the same could be said for working life

[@peanutpeanut123]

*new word 'recherche', dont fink anyone could describe twitter as such though...

[@dannysmith785]

1. Not a new word - learn more French. 2. Listen. He is talking about chat forums in the mid 90's

[@romeosdistress]

If you like people, you go out and see people, not poke them on Facebook. He's a psychogeographer, I'd state he goes out and sees places and people more than anyone commenting on this video does.

[@TheFjerstad]

I wonder what business he was running?

[@CPLains]

@CPLains (cont 1..) Try this link l-gK-CzCHug where Zizek claims that he's not a human, but a monster. Whatever else he is, he says this because he's "a theoratician" steeped in the world of ideas. The idea that intellectuals can be beasts or monsters makes perfect sense. Another area that uses this simile is dance, and why not? Look at t6OeNwrU5_8 or 10ikjfkClQE.

[@sJ6m]

Interesting that this video is getting so heavily trolled - probably unleashed a load of insecurities in some socially damaged people.

[@vivalastan67]

Feed.

[@1thousandways]

A lot of pompous comments on here; accusing people of being trolls, of being 'socially damaged', 'intellectually mediocre', etc. I wonder who the truly insecure people are here ... hhmmmm?

[@manthasagittarius1]

What a simple-minded and foreclosed assumption. You're overdoing the Occam's Razor a little.

[@hcontunes]

miskIu