I think a lot of things we find online need to be taken with a grain of salt. Anyone can create a website, claim to be a professional on the topic and publish it. As easily as someone can create a totally bogus website, they can create a totally false identity on a social networking site. You can be whoever you want to be when you're behind a computer screen, and no one will know who the real you is. When people participate in this type of behavior it makes me wonder if they even know who they really are. This reminds of a country song called "I'm So Much Cooler Online". The fake identities that can be created online have no meaning once you walk away from the computer. Once you leave the keyboard behind you're back to being the real you, which is probably the better version. It is sad that some individuals today think that they have to act a certain way or have a particular look to be considered "cool". I think that the media has a major impact on these thoughts. A quote from Culture Jam that stood out to me was on page 76, it says "She understands that the sum of her worth, at that moment, to these people, lies in the image she presents." Perhaps this plays a role into why people want to create fake virutal identities. However, I think these identities are different than those created on games.
When people are playing these games it seems like they actually take the role of the character, they create the character and can control everything the character does. Extreme gamers spend their entire day as this character - their identity is who they have created on the game. The character is fictional, but in a sense it is not fake. This identity is maintained through the duration of the game, and it is a reflection of who the gamer really is. Unfortunately this character's identity has little significance in the real world. On a job application you can't list the qualities of your character in World of War Craft, you need to list who you are and your capabilities. The only positive thing I saw in the video was when the handicapped man was able to let his guard down and be himself during the game. No one thought less of him because he was handicapped, he was just another player in the game. It is sad that people have come to value such a fake thing, what happens during the game can not be applied to what is going on in your real world surroundings. Maybe if people spent the time they put into gaming improving their lives, they would not need to go into this virtual world to escape the real one around them.
Overall, I think the virtual world started as a wonderful thing. Networking sites made it easy to meet people with similar hobbies, find a date, and just to talk. It seems like some people took advantage of this, and started using it in a negative way. Which is why there are issues like the Craig's List Killer. Yikes. Meeting people online is almost like ordering clothes offline ... you don't really know what you are going to get until you open the box (or meet them in person). Getting involved in a virtual world is a risk you need to be willing to take. Too much of a good thing is usually bad. People are getting sucked into this virtual world and they can't get out. Who are they? Can they interact in a social environment?
I agree with you about the only positive part of the movie was that the handicapped guy gets to not be judged since he is just another character in the game. I liked the point that you made about the job applications. You're right, it's like in real life your world of Warcraft qualities don't get you a job.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the quote you mentioned, "She understands that the sum of her worth, at that moment, to these people, lies in the image she presents." It's so sad isn't it? There's so much pressure to be someone you aren't. Also, you're right about the job applications. You can't put that down or talk about it in an interview because it really won't help you in your workplace. I've really enjoyed reading your blog responses so far, you make really good points for discussion!
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely cool to see the handicapped man being open since no one could judge him from the start. Some people take the role of their online selves a little too seriously. When people take the role of their online character it starts to get ridiculous. Some of these gamers need to remember it isn't another world. It's just a video game.
ReplyDeleteYeah I think these kinds of worlds are very interesting because they give people with disabilities or who don't feel comfortable by themselves in their own "skin" the chance to "shed" that skin and become a better person.
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