Sally, Poster Essay : Postmodern Virtualities

The statement that traditional communities have disintegrated and it's the individual's "hunger for such a community" (543) that has given rise to the popularity of virtual reality explains, in part, the trend found in our society to commune with others electronically. Poster quotes Rheingold who predicts "huge cultural changes as the internet's effect is felt on individuals" (542): "We reduce and encode our identities as words on a screen, decode and unpack the identities of others." While it is true the individual may be less inhibited when "connecting with strangers without the social baggage that divides and alienates" (542) via the internet, a price is being paid. Simply put, the binary opposition to that "connection" is the absence of substantive attraction to another which can only occur in person. (I'm not speaking of romantic attraction, but attraction in general.) Otherwise, the "community" that an individual belongs to is founded on thought only, shared opinions, and mutual back-scratching/feel good moments. Yes, I agree with Rheingold - huge cultural changes are coming....in fact, in large part, we're seeing some of them now. Many of us may have personally witnessed individuals who lack social skills, who are unable to communicate face-to-face, and who have shielded themselves from the world; the tragedy is that they often have so much to share, but we never hear it if we're not in their "community." Our society suffers as a result of that reclusivity.

A benefit of online communities is that a person can be "liked" for his thought and expression. There are no visual cues about "gender, age, ethnicity and social status"(542) so conversations take place regarding topics that might be avoided if the individual is face-to-face. That's a positive aspect of internet communication. However, expressing one's opinion becomes too easy in that environment; without warning, the individual starts seeking the anonymity and depersonalization the internet offers. (Heck, why work at communication or friendship in person - I'll sit safely at the keyboard and will just feel all the global energy and love in MY community(s).)

So what happened to the communities that have disintegrated, according to Poster? I believe they are still out there waiting for our participation. Perhaps they are frayed and are only a hint of what they used to be, but I strongly believe that with nurture and committment, real communities with living, breathing individuals could flourish again. It seems we all have gotten so busy in our lives that we have neglected those communities that have long contributed to the strength of our society (family, neighborhood, civic, leisure, etc.) I have family members and friends who have supplanted family and other friends with their internet communities. It's such a shame because they have reduced their identities to words on a screen. In person, they are somewhat "blank" and have nothing to say. They are losing their personalities and are resistant to socializing anymore. They are decoded and unpacked by others (strangers) who project themselves as "family." Everyone likes to be heard and "read" - when they open that email or get a response in a chat room, they're the center of attention. Just as quickly, that attention morphs to another and they are alone again. It strikes me, at times, as a big cosmic joke that's being played on us human beings. "Oh! I'm so important"....and just as quickly, "Oh! not anymore!" Family and true friends in a REAL community are there for the long haul....

I'm for balance and moderation. I'm not saying that virtual reality on the internet is evil; I am saying it can be dangerous, if not used in a balanced way, for the individual's psyche. Everyone needs a REAL live hug! We each need the connection that occurs when 2 people look each other in the eye and acknowledge: YOU are my community.