Re: Virtual or reality
Doug W · 10/9/99 at 8:40 pm ET
This is an interesting idea about using these internet communications as perhaps a way of practicing certain kinds of behavior or experimenting with self-disclosure. Certainly it is true that I communicate with more provocativeness and bravado on a number of professional web sites then I might ever do face-to-face. I know that on the internet I'm less concerned about 'being liked' then I typically feel in face to face interactions. The internet for me is also a place to try out new ideas and see what responses I get. This has been surprisingly rewarding for me. I could understand that if one were looking for romantic involvements on the internet, that 'practicing' (I am not referring to something malicious or negative when I say this. I am referring to some honest self-experimentation that causes no harm to others, but can be helpful to a person who may really discover a different type of personal freedom in these types of communications) new 'relatedness' skills really could be helpful. This sounds a bit formal, but I hope my meaning is clear! And as I've said before--For me there was a great feeling of excitment in discovering this new mode of communicating. Call a novelty effect!! I'm hardly surprised that so many different people have found so many different ways to use this medium. That much of it deteriorates into hostile, aggressive expression or becomes deeply embroiled in sexual issues is no surprise. Human beings have always victimized one another over these very issues. Changing communication modalities doesn't change fundamental problems of human culture and behavior. Hi John! Nice to be back!!
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