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goosedollaz's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable if fairly cursory overview of the relationship between sex and technology in the modern world. A useful primer and introduction to the field for the uninitiated.
talypollywaly's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
3.25
I really, really hated how the author chose to structure this book and cover the topics. That took off one star, then another for the fact that I didn't really learn anything new until the last 2/3 chapters (so it regained .25).
This would better suit someone that knows nothing about the topic and can stand very surface-level discussion about it in a disjointed order.
This would better suit someone that knows nothing about the topic and can stand very surface-level discussion about it in a disjointed order.
shewantsthediction's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
lilybear3's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
The title is everything you need to know about this book. I was highly interested in the topic and I wasn't disappointed. Samantha Cole takes us from pre-internet times to where we're at now. I loved the layout with a neon + muted color scheme. There's photographs and side anecdotes that break up the text. There are chapters and then subsections within those. If you are not internet/tech savvy, the Cole adds quick definitions of important terms and phrases, like BBS: Bulletin Board System. There's a lot of ground covered: how pre and early internet users were using what they had for sex, censorship, buying & selling, deepfakes, gaming, and crime, just to name some. It seems like a lot of time and effort went into researching this book and Cole interviews a number of experts and sex workers to share their insights. Backmatter includes sources, further reading, index, and photo credits.
My top chapters were Webmasters of Their Own Domain, Porn 2.0 and the CamGirl Revolution, and Fuck the System: Crime and Legislation.
I had some thoughts about anecdotes or topics else could've been added:
My top chapters were Webmasters of Their Own Domain, Porn 2.0 and the CamGirl Revolution, and Fuck the System: Crime and Legislation.
I had some thoughts about anecdotes or topics else could've been added:
-Using reddit for porn-specific subreddits were mentioned but not in a broad sense. Spicy audios, hentai, etc.
-Hentai in general
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Bullying, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Suicide
bibliotequeish's review against another edition
2.0
Not what I was expecting and just not for me.
This book was very technical and I found that boring. I was thinking that was going to be a look at the internet and society, it was not that.
This book was very technical and I found that boring. I was thinking that was going to be a look at the internet and society, it was not that.
rick2's review against another edition
4.0
To not account for the impact our motivation to replicate plays upon every part of our lives seems like a real oversight in modern culture.
This book is cool. Sticks to history and events rather than speculation and wild opining about the nature of sex or whatever. It's a good read as a result if youre interested in a history of the internet and looking to slightly contextualize our modern weirdness.
This book is cool. Sticks to history and events rather than speculation and wild opining about the nature of sex or whatever. It's a good read as a result if youre interested in a history of the internet and looking to slightly contextualize our modern weirdness.
hushed's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25
there's an entire world of writing about the history of the internet that in a few years will be considered its own genre. this book is an entry in this field and instead of the usual discussion about bbs (those are obviously here) and hacker groups, it considers the way that sex and sexual(ized) content has influenced the way technology has developed and in turn the way that media platforms, on and offline, have grown and changed alongside technology. there was a lot I didn't know in this book such as the COMDEX and AdultDEX split that has largely been ignored in the more popular depictions of internet history.
the only reason I didn't give this a 5 is that I really wanted it to go more in depth on some sections but this is an incredibly valuable resource for knowing where internet and technology has been and where it could or should go.
the only reason I didn't give this a 5 is that I really wanted it to go more in depth on some sections but this is an incredibly valuable resource for knowing where internet and technology has been and where it could or should go.