Saturday, September 17, 2011
Blog #3
While reading Culture Jam and watching Second Skin you can quickly realize how swept up into technology one can truely be. Second Skin demonstrates how you can truely be yourself, or the person you wish you were, inside the virtual world. Culture Jam goes to show how many people actually like being able to hide behind the facade that they put up when online. Many people who are gamers choose to let who they really are shine, as opposed to being afraid they are being judged by who they really are. In the film many of the people were quoted saying something along the lines ".. that we can be who we really are in the virtual world and make lasting friendships.." I think that this is true because the gamers that become friends online know that they have common interests with the other gamers. I do not believe that the online world is real, however the friendships made can be real. Gamers do take a chance when they become friends with people that they haven't met, but they are willing to take the chance because they believe it is worth the risk to find someone, whether for love or friendship, that has the same interests as they have. Although it is a common stererotype, gamers are not the only ones who are obsessed with technology. Culture Jam goes on to say that everyone is obsessed with technology, and I believe this to be true. If we would all just take a second to step back and re-evaluate our lives, we will see that technology rules our lives, no matter who we are. I think that cyberspace will always be a place for people to get away, but I also believe that it can sweep you up and never spit you back out. Dan from the film is an exception, he was able to escape cyberspace, but not all are that lucky.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I disagree. Whether you meet someone in the virtual world or the real world, for the most part you still want them to like you. People conform to the people they believe those around them will like. Moving to typing, instead of face to face is not going to change someones compulsion to lie in order to be accepted. I'm not saying that everyone lies, or that everyones number one desire is to be accepted by all. But lets face it, if no one liked us, it would be a lonely world.
ReplyDeleteI'm having trouble defining what makes the reality we know and love so much more real than the reality from cyberspace. As Rene Descartes put it, I think therefore I am. This meaning that our realities are only composite perspectives made up of our collection of experiences. Even though these 'virtual worlds are man made' I argue that our reality is man made as well. Every definition we have of reality has been experienced, thought up, or created by a human. That said, I think that the precautions that need to be taken when meeting people online and in the real world are rather similar. A person could withhold just as much information from you face to face as well. I agree that it is not as easy to express your personality through the facade of technology but in the end those who are going to be true will be true online and offline and those who will be deceptive will be deceptive in both realms likewise.
ReplyDeleteI definitley think that both the real and synthetic worlds have their risks. There are plenty of things that people become addicted to. Our society's technological addiction is obviously escalating quicker than we think. I agree that it is not just gaming that people are having issues with, but I do think that it was necessary to address. When it comes to the whole risky business though I think online is much worse. People can have outstanding information about themselves that they never reveal in person to others but let's face it, you can at least tell that they are the description that they could've lied about online.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI like how you said that "...people who are gamers choose to let who they really are shine." I agree with that. I think they either go on the games and let their true personality shine or to be who they really wanna be. . .if that makes sense. I also think if society weren't so quick to judge other people based on how they look, act, or even talk there would probably not be that many people who are addicted to the games. To me making friends in the virtual world is the same as making friends in the real world. People can either lie to you or tell the truth. Only difference is one is to your face and one is through the computer. As far as technology goes I agree I think it does rule our lives. I would like to meet the people who actually say technology doesn't run their lives.
ReplyDeleteI love Brian's philosophical response! It may be, in fact, that some of these people are "more real" in virtual spaces. They are not as hindered by social norms and expectations, and as a result, feel liberated to be who they truly are.
ReplyDelete