Virtual Self?

 Virtual Self?

In today's world, it seems like the online world is becoming the real world. More people spend time on technology and devices then living and enjoying the real world.  Sherry Turkle, Ketzel Levine, Janet kornblum, and Mary Beth Marklein are a few people who have recognized this take over and have spoken out against it.  Others may think these women are delusional or may not agree with their sights about the online community. However I agree with these women thoroughly.  Due to personal experiences and witnessing the influence of social media within the larger community population.  


  As human beings today the online world is a major influence and part of our lives. In addition with technology advancing and helping us do things or assisting us we have become more dependent on technology which make us more connected with the online world then our own world. We use the online world as an easy way out of the difficulties in the real world because the easy way is better, safer, less tiring, and easier.  For example , say a child has a hard time making friends or needs someone to talk too.  The hard way for the child would be to keep looking or trying to make friends.  The easy way out would be to just use a computer, phone,etc as a substitute for a companion.  Most kids will choose this easy alternative.  In Sherry Turkles "who am we?", she talks about the internet changing our communities and ability to interact with one another Ms.Turkle states in the text that "we are using life on computer screens to become comfortable with new ways of thinking about evolution relationships, sexuality, politics, and identity . 

  The online world has in many cases created alter egos for us to escape to wherever we want. For example if a child is bullied or abused inside of telling someone or trying to fix their problem they may use the internet as a place to find peace but yet they are still not solving their problem.In Ketzel Levine"s article "Alter Egos in a Virtual World she states that "Long ago the word "avatar" meant " earthly manifestation of god," but starting from the 1980's the earliest day of internet the word "avatar" is now known as "ones digital self."  In her article she gives examples of people who themselves have digital alter egos and the reason behind them.  For example, Jason Rowe, a man who was born with, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a condition that affects all the muscles in your bones and causes them to stop functioning. Despite Rowe's condition he made an avatar for the online game "star Wars Galaxies". Jason stated " my character in the game is alot different from what you see here in real life referring to his condition.  " It pretty much gave me a window to the real world" he also stated. Jason explains" the online community and sense of belonging within the digital real not disabled."

    We are becoming so indulged and caught up in the virtual world that we don't really pay attention to our real world.  Parents these days don't even mention or realize what their children are posting or doing online.  This behavior leads to consequences for both the child and parent.  In Janet Kornblum and Mary Beth Marklein's text " What you say online can haunt you: Schools, Employers, scrutinize social websites such as Myspace and Facebook" they give encounters of people who faced consequences due to their attachment to the online world.  One example was a 16 year old boy in Jefferson, Colorado was arrested after police say he showed pictures of himself on his Myspace page holding handguns.The police found the same weapons at his house and he was charged with three misdemeanors for being a Juvenile in possession of handguns.  Further more, the question i ask my self is, " Where were his parents?"  This child isn't even being watched or monitored for he's doing online.

   I myself cannot deny that i haven't gotten caught up with the online world.  I use the internet about more times a day then i do to study or do homework.  I also have "avatars" from multiple games and websites.  I remember when i first started high school i was so shy.  I wasn't a very good conversation starter and making friends was a hassle for me. To fill that void of loneliness i would always be online on my phone.  Every chance i got i would use my phone completely forgetting or attempting to make any friends.  Many people wouldn't even attempt to talk to me because i was so anti-social.  but one day that changed when i made my first friend their, suddenly i was on my phone and the online world less and less.  I was always occupied or to busy to use it or get on.  Looking back on it today i understand the seriousness of it.  The world is to caught up in this online world that were missing the importance of our own.

    The online world for many people gives the illusion of equality, dream reaching and reality defying, but in all light of it all its just an illusion.  We are becoming more of an avatar then and less of a human being.  We are using the online world as a place to find companionship, make money, defying reality and etc not even attempting to try it in the real world.  The online world is becoming the real world and the "real world" is becoming a hassle or distraction to us, because who wants to be Peter a worker at Jack in the Box who gets paid minimum wage when in another world you can be "the Destroyer" a knight in medieval times that fights evil, collects gold coins and has three wives.  The choice is obvious just because it seems like the easy way out.