On the other hand, Ullman makes some points that are more difficult to draw a comparison with. It seems odd that two people can make such an intimate connection online using only words. I cannot imagine falling in love with someone through the sole use of email communication. There are, of course, also problems that could arise from the online anonymity; because people can lead double lives the may not be themselves. In the worst case scenario, they could be potential felons or sexual predators. Although the situation may have been vastly different in 1997, I would feel extremely uncomfortable connecting with another individual solely online.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Ullman and I
The internet has provided a platform of communication that allows a diverse group of people to interact online. Ullman found love and I have found knowledge. Although the ultimate result of our web interactions are different, we have used similar tools to get there. Email and formal news articles, what I spend most of my time on, are not so different in that they are both constructed forms of communication meant to inform (in one way or another) the the other party. The human interaction over the internet may seem to be robotic at first, yet the subtleties of internet communication can make it intimate. Online communication requires the user to be extremely careful about the possible implications of every single word.
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Great job, Alex!
ReplyDeleteI agree that online communication forces us to overanalyze everything. When I write an e-mail, I often think about the possible interpretations of each word. The same goes for texting; it allows us time to think carefully about what we are going to say, and then we can carefully construct our responses.
I really likes how you pointed out the potential dangers of pursuing online relationships. Nowadays, I cannot fathom forming an intimate "connection" with a random stranger who could turn out to be a sexual predator. Relationships are best kept in the real world of face-to-face interaction.
I totally agree with you. I would not be comfortable meeting someone online solely and communicating with them about personal information. There are so many safety issues with meeting people online because it is easy to give false information about age, appearance, and even gender. It's a good thing you pointed out that in some cases, you could be meeting a predator and put yourself in danger.
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