However much new media and online is a major part of our culture in today’s society, I don’t think cyber-identities can constitute for an alternative ‘normal social reality.’ In saying this, as new media progresses I’m not saying that one day the ideology of ‘normal social reality’ won’t become that of an online ‘normal social reality’ but as it stands now, people in my opinion living as solely a cyber-identity aren’t living in reality. As formerly discussed users on cyber identities are often portraying different characteristics to what they would be doing in the real world. Although being online allows an escape and withdrawal from society, it can’t replace the real world. Cyberspace isn’t a “separate or distinct realm… (it’s) part of our already existing social reality.” (Lister page 168) This ‘second paradigm’ explained in Lister furthers my views as Cybersociety isn’t a separate world, therefore it can be retreated to but not lived in as such. XXXXX
When it comes to relationships online there is no question that they exist and are real, but they aren’t the same as offline relationships because there is no ‘meatspace.’ Online users can build relationships online, but a relationship online, and one offline are different. Obviously they can be combined, there is a great deal of evidence that relationships start off online, and then become offline. This section from ‘Who Am Me?’ I think distinguished why offline and online relationships differ (it’s a bit lengthy sorry!)
“It is as if they are seeking to underscore that although today's machines may be psychological in the cognitive sense, they are not psychological in a way that comprises our relationships with our bodies and with other people. Some computers might be considered intelligent and might even become conscious, but they are not born of mothers, raised in families, they do not know the pain of loss, or live with the certainty that they will die.”
Sorry if that’s a bit deep guys but I think it portrays that online relationships may involve a connection, but it doesn’t necessarily have the emotion from a real life offline relationship, consequently showing their disparity.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
RINCY
ReplyDeleteYes, it's interesting that Turkle is elsewhere such a strong advocate for the 'several selves' position isn't it?
ReplyDeleteMy take is that (as you say elsewhere) we all use different 'personas' in everyday life -and that's not the same as having several 'identities' or 'selves'. Online, it is personas we experiment with(albeit sometimes elabourately constructed personas). I think we may have several identities -without that implying we are bonkers; on its own that doesn't mean we will experiement with them online (though we might!).
Becoming a 'person' is a complex thing, which involves experiment and failure. That can happen in different areas of one's life (work, school, church, hobby group etc. Online may be easier -but perhaps it matters less?)
I agree that online matters less, in a way because there is no real life interaction it's not necessarily taken as seriously as it is in real-life because (as Becky mentioned) there is the online discourse of anonymity which we are all in some way aware of. However, how new media is progressing so rapidly, could being online start mattering more?
ReplyDelete