Raynal & Ullman

Ullman and I often feel isolated from those we feel most connected to. She expresses the need for a visual cue to keep her asleep. Her computers help her sleep at night when she wakes up with insomnia to check her email. She enjoys spending time on her computers, having a sense of belonging. Yet, what she is looking for is 'not there.' She thinks of her childhood neighbor, contacting CQ, and occasionally finding someone out there. I feel the same way at times. I know what I am looking for, however it is often hard to find, and only occasionally is found. Finding that one person to have contact with gives me a sense of belonging and purpose.

Another commonality that we have is the use of email to develop relationships. She 'fell in love by email.' I have not found a love, but have developed friendships based on limited online interactions, especially through Facebook. A person I meet on any given Friday night may request to be my friend, and then a message begins. After going back and forth multiple times, we may meet in the Diag, but avoid each other because of our limited online interactions. Ullman comments on her limited contact with her email-lover, realizing that her and her lover are nothing but 'programmers,' that 'send mail.' She sees no potential in pretending to be more than that in the real world, and their intimacy comes in the form of online communication. I can also relate to that, but not to the same degree. I see people that I have developed friendships with online, and when we pass in person, we choose not to recognize each other. The intricacies of personal contact are extremely developed, and the digital world acts as a social lubricant, enabling interactions that would not otherwise be present.