In Culture Jam the author talked about two people. A guy who was addicted to surfing the web and a woman who was addicted to chat rooms. Her curiosity in this chat group made her addicted. She slept and ate less and nothing seemed important but the chat group. This story is just like those who are addicted to the virtual worlds. It's dangerous. To think you can lose out on life just because of a game that gives you a sense of security and comfort. When you lose site of what's real and what's virtual that's when you should consider yourself an addict.
As far as relationships go like Heather and Kevin's I'm not sure what to really think of it. I've heard some people who have gotten in relationship through the virtual world before. Honestly I would never travel to meet someone I don't know. They could be psycho or some kind of a serial killer you just never know in this world today. I wouldn't care who they are its just crazy to me. On the other hand I don't think it's totally weird. People do it all the time. On dating websites you don't know the person you're chatting with. They could be a guy pretending to be a girl or the other way around you just never know. Same with facebook. People who don't know the person they're adding and they end up having a conversation with a complete stranger who says that picture is them when it probably isn't. So what's the big difference between that and people who date in the virtual world? I don't see a big difference. At the end of the day you're still talking to someone you don't know.
I think it's refreshing to be able to hear an opinion from someone who has actual taken part in one of the virtual world games. So far I have only heard opinions from people who have not participated, and I have never participated so I do not know what it is like. I think that it would be easy to get swept up in the virtual world, like you stated. But then again it is easy to get swept up into anything. I feel as though real relationships can be made, you just have to censor yourself with the real risks that are out there. You stated that people you don't know could be "pyscho and/or a serial killer" which is completely true, but it is also an extreme worst case. However, I do believe that people hid things about themselves online, because you can. As long as people realize the risks that are associated with being online they should be able to do what they want.
ReplyDelete*hide things about themselves online
ReplyDeleteI agree with you to an extent. For the most part if people keep their wits about them much of the negative can be avoided. And just to touch on missy's comment: I don't think anyone is telling them they cant 'do what they want', its seems more that were discussing what is socially acceptable. Many things that happen now aren't socially acceptable, but they still happen anyway. So i don't see it so much as them being oppressed, just that many people don't condone their actions.
ReplyDeleteShakaily your last sentence really stuck out to me. You are right whether you meet a stranger in a "virtual" space or a real space, they are still a stranger. I don't think its a great idea to meet strangers in either spaces but if I had to choose a place to meet one, I would choose the real world, because I can physically see them. Appearance whether we want to admit it or not, is a big part of our personalities and if you don't physically see them I feel you are not seeing their whole personality. To Missy's comment, yes we can get swept up into anything but just because we can get swept up into other things, doesn't mean we should let ourselves just get swept up into this.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts follow yours fairly closely. However, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see a lot of people bringing up the whole 'online murderer/rapist' argument. I don't to be redundant but I think this whole mess is overblown. Not false, just inflated. Instead is anybody concerned with rates of success concerning relationships started online versus in the real world? How would the percentages of happy couples having lasted for one year compare to that of real life? I think these are more important determinants of whether meeting people online is a good idea or not.
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