Anonymity and Self-Actualization Potentials

As you say in your response, anonymity "cuts both ways". Rather then a paradigm that would suggest a behavior as 'good' or 'bad', it seems much more interesting that this phenomenona allows a fuller spectrum of relatedness. For the self-reflective individual, one could ponder the awakening of more creative and explansive expressions that this anonymity might afford. It seems to me that the lowering of self-conscious barriers is the very thing that enables online individuals to 'connect' so deeply and powerfully with each other. This 'ego-permeability' allows for a similarity of relatedness that reveals our 'human-ness" to one another, devoid of the sensory impressions that give rise to habitual judgements and maintain our 'sepratedness' from each other. That one may adopt an avatar to hide behind, is a revelation of that individual unto themselves and the world as well. Regardless the personna, the utterances of any individual still convey a wealth of insights for all. The anonymity factor brings with it many lessons as we see ourselves unfurl more fully, and one begins to recognize that acceptance for the many aspects of our 'humanness' reconciles this notion of a 'good and bad'; hence, bringing one closer to "being", rather then "doing". Is this not the ultimate goal of all psychotherapuetic forms?

Replies:

re: self-actualization, by John Suler, 3/9/98 Anonymity and Self-Actualization, by MysticWarrior, 3/17/98 re: anonymity and soul, by John Suler, 3/17/98 An agreement, as case in point..., by skarlt@yahoo.com, 7/24/98 re: case in point, by John Suler, 7/25/98

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