Re: WWW representation of Real World? (I hope not)

From: Robert Owen (rowen@technologist.com)
Date: Fri Feb 04 2000 - 17:50:00 MST


Amara Graps wrote:

> Dear Extropes,
>
> I am wondering how representative is the World Wide Web of what
> exists in the Real World? Do you think that the way that people
> behave in that medium is representative of their behavior in real
> life?

Yes, if you confine the real world domain to "mediated relationships"
which limit us to largely symbolic interaction and to those specific
symbols provided by a given medium.

Please excuse the personal reference, but my net experience has
suggested to me that it is not a good place to seek emotional
satisfaction or to fulfill the affective aspects of interpersonal
expectations. On the contrary, I find it an excellent medium by
means of which to gratify my need for intellectual recreation and
informal education.

In other words, for me the net is like a precocious child -- very
advanced cerebrally but emotionally still a five year old after all.

Best wishes,

Bob

=======================
Robert M. Owen
Director
The Orion Institute
57 W. Morgan Street
Brevard, NC 28712-3659 USA
=======================



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