I Think About Thinking Thoughts
The Advantage of the Internet
Simply put the internet is a virtual world where attention and by association time is the new currency. Everything is vying together to get more of your attention and by association time. There is a nearly limitless availability of knowledge and fluff to wade through to fill the limited hours of every numbered day. We only have so much time.
But the internet is not reality. It has much information describing reality, it interacts with reality at times. But alas is not actually reality. Most of what goes on on the internet has no real impact on reality. The internet can be a virtual reality where we can live virtual lives with other real people that are completely separate from the tangible reality that we live in.
This is the advantage of the internet. We can recreate ourselves, re-imagine ourselves as whatever we want to be. It is a form of escape from my 9 to 5 grind to earn a living. It is a form of escape from real personal relationships face to face that get messy and complicated. It is a break from my flaws and imperfections. In this world I can re-imagine myself as a confident fashionable young many with a flawless completion and remarkable eyes, I can be 6'5'' if I want or change my gender if I want. I can be rich and adventurous when I am really a broke student and timid. I can be a successful lawyer or a world class brain surgeon. I can write a completely fictional character that really is a part of me. That might have been me if things were different. This is the advantage of the internet. But it comes with a cost.
The cost is that, on the internet, we never know who someone really is. We never know if they actually are a six foot guy or have the history we say, we never really know somebody. But should that matter? Does it matter? They might not be 23 in real life and in school and super hot, but for the purpose of this imaginary world we are creating it doesn't really matter. What matters is the imagination. We are truly getting to know a real part of that person. We are truly developing relationship. It is impossible to write a character without leaving a part of yourself in the character. This is at once disturbing, when I think about the dark evil characters I have written, and uplifting, when I think of the perfection I have written.
The last word of warning: yes, the internet and the virtual reality games it brings with it are filled with limitless possibilities of how you would like to re-imagine yourself. However, it is important to note that it is just a fantasy, it is not real. In the world we live in there are certain limitations on what you can or cannot change and you must live within those limitations. Enjoy the imagining, enjoy the journey through the other worlds. But then go back home, and realize the reality for what it is, and enjoy it as such.
Simply put the internet is a virtual world where attention and by association time is the new currency. Everything is vying together to get more of your attention and by association time. There is a nearly limitless availability of knowledge and fluff to wade through to fill the limited hours of every numbered day. We only have so much time.
But the internet is not reality. It has much information describing reality, it interacts with reality at times. But alas is not actually reality. Most of what goes on on the internet has no real impact on reality. The internet can be a virtual reality where we can live virtual lives with other real people that are completely separate from the tangible reality that we live in.
This is the advantage of the internet. We can recreate ourselves, re-imagine ourselves as whatever we want to be. It is a form of escape from my 9 to 5 grind to earn a living. It is a form of escape from real personal relationships face to face that get messy and complicated. It is a break from my flaws and imperfections. In this world I can re-imagine myself as a confident fashionable young many with a flawless completion and remarkable eyes, I can be 6'5'' if I want or change my gender if I want. I can be rich and adventurous when I am really a broke student and timid. I can be a successful lawyer or a world class brain surgeon. I can write a completely fictional character that really is a part of me. That might have been me if things were different. This is the advantage of the internet. But it comes with a cost.
The cost is that, on the internet, we never know who someone really is. We never know if they actually are a six foot guy or have the history we say, we never really know somebody. But should that matter? Does it matter? They might not be 23 in real life and in school and super hot, but for the purpose of this imaginary world we are creating it doesn't really matter. What matters is the imagination. We are truly getting to know a real part of that person. We are truly developing relationship. It is impossible to write a character without leaving a part of yourself in the character. This is at once disturbing, when I think about the dark evil characters I have written, and uplifting, when I think of the perfection I have written.
The last word of warning: yes, the internet and the virtual reality games it brings with it are filled with limitless possibilities of how you would like to re-imagine yourself. However, it is important to note that it is just a fantasy, it is not real. In the world we live in there are certain limitations on what you can or cannot change and you must live within those limitations. Enjoy the imagining, enjoy the journey through the other worlds. But then go back home, and realize the reality for what it is, and enjoy it as such.
