L/Lamb - I was saying that the Internet makes real life poorer. I enjoy the Internet, but I get concerned at the way real-life sometimes gets neglected.
real life is equally internet life - it's a beautiful extension of our capacity - actually, more like additional evidence of our ability and actuality of connecting, visioning, feeling and the like.
I think its evidence is an escape into artificiality, which is a mechanism for coping with the current difficulties of societies. It further refines human behaviour and therefore devalues human qualities, leaving reality to further restrict our lives.
It is an attempt to make the artificial nature of Western culture (signs and representations) a tangible reality, and in so doing, to neglect the realities and actualities of real life.
You make an excellent point, Simon. I see fit to adjust the word "equally" in my earlier post. You bring up the reality of tangible experience, and I would have to agree. I think the extension aspect is something I hold to, but that must not be empty.
TheInternet is great for writers and artists to by-pass publishers and find a ready audience - an audience sometimes far more interesting than those in real life. The experiments of poets/writers and artists on the Internet have been fascinating - but the Interent is a "double-edged sword" giving "virtual" opportunities, that don't necessarily translate into the real world of publishers, sales and commissions.
From an artistic point of view, I always believe On-line art should walk hand in hand with offline art - rather than at the expense of each other.
I guess, ultimately it's all about balance. But the Internet is driven by commerce (although some people flatly disagree with me!) so the expansion and development of technology is there to make profits. Issues such as, the increasing lonliness of people (certainly in the UK) that is exacerbated by technology, are of no importance, compared to money!!
Hyper reality, the physical and mental health of people and other similar concerns, that are related to advances in technology (though not invariably so) are not business considerations. Hyper reality is a rather quirky intellectual theory and peoples' health doesn't make money.
Oh! And I'll make one more point. What amazes me (from a UK perspective) is that communities are breaking down. Not completely breaking down, but the sense of community has been lost and replaced by government control and legislation. This leaves a very bureacratic system in the UK, that tends to cancel its self out rather than have any positive effect. Online communications and other technological developments don't strengthen communities, in fact they tend to further isolate individuals. People seem to become further concentrated on their own survival and that of their immediates.
The Internet doesn't solve the credit crunch, unaffordable mortgages, a major lack of employement (particularly long term employment) or anything else! But it does provide a temporary distraction, and a way of sharing ideas. If only these ideas don't fade away after people start to become disinterested in the Internet - if only they could be applied to real life.
8 comments:
The very thing that (most) people don't like about life is condensed on the Internet. The Internet helps to make real life a poorer experience.
I predict that the Internet will go on forever!
I think you're right.
The internet is more exciting. I still like my life though. I like the internet too.
And Simon you said you'd get a chat box. Where is it?
L/Lamb - I was saying that the Internet makes real life poorer. I enjoy the Internet, but I get concerned at the way real-life sometimes gets neglected.
Er! I forgot about the chatbox - sorry!
Simon
real life is equally internet life - it's a beautiful extension of our capacity - actually, more like additional evidence of our ability and actuality of connecting, visioning, feeling and the like.
I can't agree Sheila
I think its evidence is an escape into artificiality, which is a mechanism for coping with the current difficulties of societies. It further refines human behaviour and therefore devalues human qualities, leaving reality to further restrict our lives.
It is an attempt to make the artificial nature of Western culture (signs and representations) a tangible reality, and in so doing, to neglect the realities and actualities of real life.
A journey, still further, into hyper reality....
Simon
You make an excellent point, Simon. I see fit to adjust the word "equally" in my earlier post. You bring up the reality of tangible experience, and I would have to agree. I think the extension aspect is something I hold to, but that must not be empty.
Thank you Sheila - that's very good of you.
TheInternet is great for writers and artists to by-pass publishers and find a ready audience - an audience sometimes far more interesting than those in real life.
The experiments of poets/writers and artists on the Internet have been fascinating - but the Interent is a "double-edged sword" giving "virtual" opportunities, that don't necessarily translate into the real world of publishers, sales and commissions.
From an artistic point of view, I always believe On-line art should walk hand in hand with offline art - rather than at the expense of each other.
I guess, ultimately it's all about balance. But the Internet is driven by commerce (although some people flatly disagree with me!) so the expansion and development of technology is there to make profits. Issues such as, the increasing lonliness of people (certainly in the UK) that is exacerbated by technology, are of no importance, compared to money!!
Hyper reality, the physical and mental health of people and other similar concerns, that are related to advances in technology (though not invariably so) are not business considerations. Hyper reality is a rather quirky intellectual theory and peoples' health doesn't make money.
Any way... that's life :-)
Simon
Oh! And I'll make one more point. What amazes me (from a UK perspective) is that communities are breaking down. Not completely breaking down, but the sense of community has been lost and replaced by government control and legislation. This leaves a very bureacratic system in the UK, that tends to cancel its self out rather than have any positive effect. Online communications and other technological developments don't strengthen communities, in fact they tend to further isolate individuals. People seem to become further concentrated on their own survival and that of their immediates.
The Internet doesn't solve the credit crunch, unaffordable mortgages, a major lack of employement (particularly long term employment) or anything else! But it does provide a temporary distraction, and a way of sharing ideas. If only these ideas don't fade away after people start to become disinterested in the Internet - if only they could be applied to real life.
Time for dinner!
Simon
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