What We Are Becoming: Dehumanization in Cyberspace
One tragic suicide and one ridiculous story in the last week illustrate the impact that cyberspace is having on our interconnectedness and mutual concern. The first is the horrible case of a college student who committed suicide in front of his webcam so it could be witnessed by the multitudes. From the story:
A college student committed suicide by taking a drug overdose in front of a live webcam as some computer users egged him on, others tried to talk him out of it, and another messaged OMG in horror when it became clear it was no joke. Some watchers contacted the Web site to notify police, but by the time officers entered Abraham Biggs' home a scene also captured on the Internet.What a horror for the young man and his folks. Beyond the personal tragedy, it seems that for increased millions, life has become profoundly voyeuristic, with hours and hours of one's life that can never be regained watching others live their lives (and die their deaths) through the proverbial uncurtained window, people who usually know they are being watched and are happy to put on a show.
Then there is the sad story of the couple who are divorcing because the husband cheated on the wife in a "Second Life" fantasy. From the story:A woman in Cornwall, England, has filed papers to divorce her husband on the grounds of "unreasonable behavior" after she discovered that his character in the online role-playing game Second Life had been having an affair.So many of us are now apparently so dissatisfied with real life that we prefer to live in two-dimensional fantasy worlds, which eventually catches up with--and harms--the people who seek to escape reality in cyberspace.
Amy Taylor, 28, whose online alter ego is named Laura Skye, said that her husband's virtual infidelity exacted a pain that cut as deep as any extramarital liaison. "It may have started online, but it existed entirely in the real world and it hurts just as much," she said. "His was the ultimate betrayal. He had been lying to me."
I think this also explains the appeal of entertainment depicting average people who become extraordinary by taking a magic pill or being injected with an elixir, such as brilliantly warned against in the science fiction program The 4400. Fantasy Land used to be a fun section aimed at younger children in Disneyland. Now, it is the way many people live their lives.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 2:46 PM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
I heard the discussion on the radio concerning this post. I think it should be noted that the internet is a vast improvement over watching TV. I'd rather have a country of bloggers than couch potatoes. Additionally, the internet makes the entertainment field open to everyone. Before people were conditioned to accept entertainment only from one source (hollywood), and were not happy with buying the drawings of crazy old joe from down the street. Now anyone can join in the entertainment industry via blogging. One of the great things about the people in this country is our creativity, but the supply of jobs in this area is terribly low. Blogs and reality type TV lower the level of sophistication needed to enter these fields and make these sources more palatable to the general public.
generalmarkov: Thanks for stopping by and for your interesting comment. I think that the potential benefits of the Internet are indeed greater than passive television. But it has also unleashed some of us from internal censors that maintain civility and decency in society.
Technology is neutral. We are responsible for how it is used.
Thanks again.
You know, Wesley, even before the Internet was a rage, the Society for Creative Anachronisms had been holding jousting matches and practicing their fencing with swords made from cardboard and duct tape.
You should've seen the rapier I made for myself one year....
Anyway!
And don't forget Dungeons and Dragons, and other RPGs played out on table tops once a week in your best friend's basement. Or in my case, in the comic book shop.
And getting together to write up comic strips to plaster inside a blank diary and pass around the school as part of the on-going story line that everyone had to contribute a little bit to.
Fantasy has its place. The thing is, like everything else, it's best in moderation.
I can't get into MMORPGs for the simple reason that, when I'm online playing one, I want to be in character, playing a character. That's part of writing a story. The *real* you is detached, and knows that this is a fantasy. Everybody else online is trying to hook up, getting all mad about losing levels, trying to pay *real money* for fake gold online, all kinds of weird stuff. What about just playing a good game for the fun of it?
I used to run around outside playing pretend. I can't do that as often now because I don't have many days off, but I do like to play games, and all games write a good story. That's the important part - we're a bunch of literary critters.
When you stop realizing that the game is just a game, you really need to go for a jog. Seriously.
Tabs: I believe in fantasy too. But it needs to be the frosting on the cake, rather than the cake, a fun diversion, not a way of life.
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I think Wesley is right. The internet is like guns, prescription drugs, fire, and even food. All of these things have useful and necessary purposes, but if they are misused, they can all have deadly consequences, ranging from dead people to heart disease.
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