<i8>n the course of that, you're mentioned a couple of things about SI that are
both distinctive and significant.
I do think the 3D/SI dichotomy has legs, but have agreed to drop that side of the argument. Just so you know I'm not agreeing with you, just agreeing not to disagree further.
But on the other points you raise, which are valid, I think one aspect you underemphasize is the effect of the anonymity. If you go into a downtown bar seeking anonymity, there's still a danger that someone will recognize you, or that you use your credit card or a check and reveal who you are. You are still there as a person. They can see what car you drive, what you look like, etc. So yes, there is some anonymity, but not perfect.
But on SI, anonymity can be perfect and absolute. Absent a subpoena in a court case, nobody here can know anything at all about you except what you say. In a bar, as soon as you walk into the door, you make some sort of impression, right or wrong. Before you open you mouth, people are concluding whether you look nice or nasty, intelligent or stupid, attractive or ugly, old or young, bold or meek, wealthy or poor, etc.. Those judgments may be wrong, but often they aren't, and they can be and are made. And except in weird cases, they know what gender you are, and what race you are.
But when a new alias shows up here and just says "Hi" on a thread, there really is total anonymity. Nobody has any idea how old you are, whether are a guy or a gal, whether you are black, white, native American, or even Martian. You are competely free, in a way you never can be with somebody looking at you as you speak, to try to create any character you want to be. It is voyuerism in the extreme. On the Internet, you have the chance to be a totally different personality, indeed to try out totally different personalities. And it does happen -- I go back to Beltane where some of the most staid people you could imagine flung off their virtual clothing and disported in a way they would never have THOUGHT of doing in real life, even with people they didn't know.
I think you underestimate that dimension of SI. |
