The Age of Information

[Li-Shun]

This isn't really a story, it's more a body of thoughts. The first line alone could drive away about 98% of the users on the Internet, as they aren't interested in taking the time to gather any information that involves anything other than glancing at a screen or listening to a jingle for about 10 seconds.
The Worldwide Web is an amazing tool, but I often wonder if it works against humanity far more than it ushers it into a more enlightened future.
It seems that people on millions of machines, all over the globe wire themselves into another world where they only need a keyboard and a screen. I have witnessed so many beings, convince themselves that their online self-representations are a higher version than the flesh and blood bodies they were born into.
Online there is a culture of cruelty forming as somehow, the detachment of the mind from the body gives one the sense of being untouchable. They are faster, stronger, more wicked with their thinking and will do and say things to others that they would never dream of doing if they actually had to see these souls face to face. Our monitors have become like shields where we can fire things from behind them, and try and hold them up as hard as we can when things are fired back.
These bodiless minds take pride in themselves for holding fierce against every attack and the more brutal their retaliation, the more superior they feel they become. They can even convince others that such behaviour elevates status. For the stronger your shield, the more shockingly cruel your words, the more your virtual self is raised up on a pedestal.
However, I have a sneaking suspicion that the majority of minds that plug into this world of information are doing so for reasons other than the ones they've steadfastly convinced themselves of.
I'm sure a slight majority signs into whatever forums, websites and mailboxes they are a part of and are able to function with an even grasp on both realities; the real world, and the virtual world. However, more and more it seems like a great amount of people are depending on the internet as a social structure. A social structure they feel is superior to the tangible one, and where they may have a better chance at climbing a skewed, pixelated social totem pole.
They claim emotions are nothing but weakness in this world. The very notion of possessing emotions is frowned upon as they are isolated and extracted to be ripped apart by whoever feels they are higher on the social food chain that stares at them through a glowing screen. But isn't it ironic that in a world where dominance is defined as the ability to be as brutally bullet proof as possible, all these minds from all these places still tend to try and gather into smaller groups just as they would in the inferior third dimension?
And why do they wish to huddle in groups? We've all witnessed thousands of beings on various websites of varying natures grasp at acceptance. Acceptance is essential. Even online, they struggle to fit into pre-existing groups where somehow, some of these voices that speak through posts have established a hierarchy of importance. So many lost souls desperately seek approval even on the most outer edges of the Internet, which can almost feel like the outer edges of an infinite universe.
I believe that people let the internet affect them far more than they feel comfortable with. Many of them fight it, deny it, and will submit to E-death rather than accept the fact that something, someone that they have never seen, heard or been on the same continent with has hurt them in some way. Fortunately or unfortunately, humans are emotional creatures. From the most burly 50 year old man, to the tinest little french school girl; we all feel.
And I highly doubt there's one person out there in the sea of bodiless thoughts that hasn't walked away from their little comfortable chair feeling irritated, angry, confused, upset, hurt, depressed, anxious or even the opposite side of the spectrum into elation, excitement, and a variety of positive emotions. More optimistically, a small few may actually find another mind out there in this abyss of chaotic thought that they feel they can connect with and possibly understand. This has nothing to do with fleeting e-romance although that isn't ruled out as being valid.
I find more and more people are choosing their virtual selves over their true form. Is it easier to exist in this manner than it is to deal with reality? Is the real world becoming so difficult and so frightening to function in that we most recoil into some pre-designed snow-globe of a world to feel a bit more secure about where we are in the craziness of existence?
Has society bombarded the youth culture with so many expectations, promises, images of what we should be like, look like, act like, dress like that we simply just give up because the bar has been raised so high we can't possibly see ourselves measuring up?
But then waiting there, humming in our bedrooms is a machine. More and more minds are preferring it over any other place. And as the tangible world, humans will most likely warp and gnarl their virtual worlds into a tiny microcosm of exactly what it is they're escaping from. The only thing missing is that they are not required to take as much responsibility for their behaviour as they would be outside of their little worlds.
Perhaps in the end, both worlds lack something that is desperately needed, but should never be taken for granted; compassion. 'Compassion' being a word that most would scoff at as being silly or "too intelligent". Deep down I believe everyone has a respect for compassion since it has become so rare that when we encounter it, we are distrustful and question it as if it's a hoax. But how can we despise the rare compassionate individual? Most of us don't. In fact a great many people cling to a mind that has proven to be true in this quality because finally, something is just a little bit safe. Perhaps to this individual, they can say something about how they truly think or fell that they have been too timid to share. After all, they've been taught that cruelty and lack of emotion is the way of this world. Dare they show any weakness?
So now, intelligence, understanding and education have been replaced by poorly constructed, thoughtless messages because of the desire to be just like everyone else floating around in a sea of gnarled thoughts and words, and in a lot of cases the fear of not being accepted.
One day, I predict most of the population of first world nations will live their flesh and blood life to support their online life. I think it's happening right now.
The saddest part about it all, is that I think this all could be happening out of a mass error in the system of the real world; loneliness. So many lost souls floating around the worldwide web are just lonely. They want to be connected with others that understand them desperately. And if this act is not one of emotion, then what is it?
So perhaps one day, humans will use this tool in front of them in a different way. Hopefully there will be a rebirth in the ideas of how we treat each other, regardless of whether we can see them or will ever see them. If we can't see a person, does it mean we can't hurt them and they don't exist? Do they all stop existing once we log out?
We all know they don't. Maybe one day there will be a renewed interest in compassion regardless of how we encounter others, and if that happens, maybe the Internet will be more beneficial and start uniting like-minded people from all over the earth, rather than keeping them isolated and clawing for a speck of what humanity used to mean.

~Li

[sidespin]

Originally Posted by Li-Shun

This isn't really a story, it's more a body of thoughts. The first line alone could drive away about 98% of the users on the Internet, as they aren't interested in taking the time to gather any information that involves anything other than glancing at a screen or listening to a jingle for about 10 seconds.
The Worldwide Web is an amazing tool, but I often wonder if it works against humanity far more than it ushers it into a more enlightened future.
It seems that people on millions of machines, all over the globe wire themselves into another world where they only need a keyboard and a screen. I have witnessed so many beings, convince themselves that their online self-representations are a higher version than the flesh and blood bodies they were born into.
Online there is a culture of cruelty forming as somehow, the detachment of the mind from the body gives one the sense of being untouchable. They are faster, stronger, more wicked with their thinking and will do and say things to others that they would never dream of doing if they actually had to see these souls face to face. Our monitors have become like shields where we can fire things from behind them, and try and hold them up as hard as we can when things are fired back.
These bodiless minds take pride in themselves for holding fierce against every attack and the more brutal their retaliation, the more superior they feel they become. They can even convince others that such behaviour elevates status. For the stronger your shield, the more shockingly cruel your words, the more your virtual self is raised up on a pedestal.
However, I have a sneaking suspicion that the majority of minds that plug into this world of information are doing so for reasons other than the ones they've steadfastly convinced themselves of.
I'm sure a slight majority signs into whatever forums, websites and mailboxes they are a part of and are able to function with an even grasp on both realities; the real world, and the virtual world. However, more and more it seems like a great amount of people are depending on the internet as a social structure. A social structure they feel is superior to the tangible one, and where they may have a better chance at climbing a skewed, pixelated social totem pole.
They claim emotions are nothing but weakness in this world. The very notion of possessing emotions is frowned upon as they are isolated and extracted to be ripped apart by whoever feels they are higher on the social food chain that stares at them through a glowing screen. But isn't it ironic that in a world where dominance is defined as the ability to be as brutally bullet proof as possible, all these minds from all these places still tend to try and gather into smaller groups just as they would in the inferior third dimension?
And why do they wish to huddle in groups? We've all witnessed thousands of beings on various websites of varying natures grasp at acceptance. Acceptance is essential. Even online, they struggle to fit into pre-existing groups where somehow, some of these voices that speak through posts have established a hierarchy of importance. So many lost souls desperately seek approval even on the most outer edges of the Internet, which can almost feel like the outer edges of an infinite universe.
I believe that people let the internet affect them far more than they feel comfortable with. Many of them fight it, deny it, and will submit to E-death rather than accept the fact that something, someone that they have never seen, heard or been on the same continent with has hurt them in some way. Fortunately or unfortunately, humans are emotional creatures. From the most burly 50 year old man, to the tinest little french school girl; we all feel.
And I highly doubt there's one person out there in the sea of bodiless thoughts that hasn't walked away from their little comfortable chair feeling irritated, angry, confused, upset, hurt, depressed, anxious or even the opposite side of the spectrum into elation, excitement, and a variety of positive emotions. More optimistically, a small few may actually find another mind out there in this abyss of chaotic thought that they feel they can connect with and possibly understand. This has nothing to do with fleeting e-romance although that isn't ruled out as being valid.
I find more and more people are choosing their virtual selves over their true form. Is it easier to exist in this manner than it is to deal with reality? Is the real world becoming so difficult and so frightening to function in that we most recoil into some pre-designed snow-globe of a world to feel a bit more secure about where we are in the craziness of existence?
Has society bombarded the youth culture with so many expectations, promises, images of what we should be like, look like, act like, dress like that we simply just give up because the bar has been raised so high we can't possibly see ourselves measuring up?
But then waiting there, humming in our bedrooms is a machine. More and more minds are preferring it over any other place. And as the tangible world, humans will most likely warp and gnarl their virtual worlds into a tiny microcosm of exactly what it is they're escaping from. The only thing missing is that they are not required to take as much responsibility for their behaviour as they would be outside of their little worlds.
Perhaps in the end, both worlds lack something that is desperately needed, but should never be taken for granted; compassion. 'Compassion' being a word that most would scoff at as being silly or "too intelligent". Deep down I believe everyone has a respect for compassion since it has become so rare that when we encounter it, we are distrustful and question it as if it's a hoax. But how can we despise the rare compassionate individual? Most of us don't. In fact a great many people cling to a mind that has proven to be true in this quality because finally, something is just a little bit safe. Perhaps to this individual, they can say something about how they truly think or fell that they have been too timid to share. After all, they've been taught that cruelty and lack of emotion is the way of this world. Dare they show any weakness?
So now, intelligence, understanding and education have been replaced by poorly constructed, thoughtless messages because of the desire to be just like everyone else floating around in a sea of gnarled thoughts and words, and in a lot of cases the fear of not being accepted.
One day, I predict most of the population of first world nations will live their flesh and blood life to support their online life. I think it's happening right now.
The saddest part about it all, is that I think this all could be happening out of a mass error in the system of the real world; loneliness. So many lost souls floating around the worldwide web are just lonely. They want to be connected with others that understand them desperately. And if this act is not one of emotion, then what is it?
So perhaps one day, humans will use this tool in front of them in a different way. Hopefully there will be a rebirth in the ideas of how we treat each other, regardless of whether we can see them or will ever see them. If we can't see a person, does it mean we can't hurt them and they don't exist? Do they all stop existing once we log out?
We all know they don't. Maybe one day there will be a renewed interest in compassion regardless of how we encounter others, and if that happens, maybe the Internet will be more beneficial and start uniting like-minded people from all over the earth, rather than keeping them isolated and clawing for a speck of what humanity used to mean.

~Li

Wow Li, that was amazing. You have some really good points/thoughts.

The sentences that I underlined are some thoughts that I think are very good points and that I agree with. When are some people going to learn that being nasty to another person through the internet is pretty much the same as if you were mean to them in real life, only you have a shield and don't have to take as much responsibility like you stated (Also you don't have to see their reaction). The internet is becoming like the real world that some people are here to escape (people ganging up on them, making them feel worthless). While others hide behind veils of no emotion and being mean to mask themselves so that they won't fall victim like many others.

It's like a bully dynamic, the bully has many flaws and wants to make themselves feel better by picking on others. Then the bully gathers "friends" because those "friends" don't want to be picked on.

Ok I'm done for now , I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and as you can see it sparked up some of my own.

[Li-Shun]

Originally Posted by sidespin

Wow Li, that was amazing. You have some really good points/thoughts.

The sentences that I underlined are some thoughts that I think are very good points and that I agree with. When are some people going to learn that being nasty to another person through the internet is pretty much the same as if you were mean to them in real life, only you have a shield and don't have to take as much responsibility like you stated (Also you don't have to see their reaction). The internet is becoming like the real world that some people are here to escape (people ganging up on them, making them feel worthless). While others hide behind veils of no emotion and being mean to mask themselves so that they won't fall victim like many others.

It's like a bully dynamic, the bully has many flaws and wants to make themselves feel better by picking on others. Then the bully gathers "friends" because those "friends" don't want to be picked on.

Ok I'm done for now , I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and as you can see it sparked up some of my own.

Thanks for taking the time reading it! Good point with not having to witness the reactions of other people. They're nothing but online screen nicknames, with seemingly no faces. It's like a human is the body of their words, but I don't think humans connect emotionally as easily as they would looking someone in the eye. When an individual witnesses silent pain, that look on the face when someone has been emotionally stabbed, it can possibly trigger empathy in a much stronger capacity than reading it on a screen ever could.
It is very much like the bully dynamic. I just find it ironic that the very things people are trying to escape or dislike about the real world, they pull into the virtual world and magnify it to a higher power.

[Pandox]

Originally Posted by Li-Shun

Has society bombarded the youth culture with so many expectations, promises, images of what we should be like, look like, act like, dress like that we simply just give up because the bar has been raised so high we can't possibly see ourselves measuring up?

I suppose I belong to that other 2%,
neh?

Your thought process amazes me.
What you've written amazes me.

This area, The Writer's Haven, could desperately use you.
(Not that I don't mind reading a few poems every now and then,
but something like this is what gets the mind to rolling.)

I could spew out a bunch of useless feed back on this,
but instead I'm just going to tell you that I loved it, read it word for word, and ask that you post things like this more often.

It's actually made me think it's -alright- to post something other than a story or a poem in this area.

...and well...
I don't write stories
and what poetry I do write,
stays in it's lovely little spiral notebook.

[sidespin]

Originally Posted by Li-Shun

Thanks for taking the time reading it! Good point with not having to witness the reactions of other people. They're nothing but online screen nicknames, with seemingly no faces. It's like a human is the body of their words, but I don't think humans connect emotionally as easily as they would looking someone in the eye. When an individual witnesses silent pain, that look on the face when someone has been emotionally stabbed, it can possibly trigger empathy in a much stronger capacity than reading it on a screen ever could.
It is very much like the bully dynamic. I just find it ironic that the very things people are trying to escape or dislike about the real world, they pull into the virtual world and magnify it to a higher power.

No problem, it was really interesting!

Yes it's very true that some people might act differently if they actually had to see the pain in person.

And yes it is very ironic, but the reason it may happen is because in real life the person could be on the "other side" of the bully dynamic. This person might take the chance to finally become the "bully" instead of the victim.

[Hodizzle]

Wow, that was amazing Li. If you developed this more, maybe went into some theories, it could be published. Very nice.

[Li-Shun]

Wow, I'm so amazed people read all that lol. I don't think writing should just have to be stories or poems. Writing can be about the art of observation. I guess it's Non-fiction in a way. People writing about their world and how they perceive things.
And I bet many people have different takes on so many things, which can challenge people's pre-conceived thoughts, or validate and expand on something they were already questioning.
So if it made people feel like it opened a new door about what writing can be, than I'm glad I posted it (still think it's cool you like it :B ).

So, Pandox: thanks very much for the compliments. I'm not great at poetry either. But I;m not bad at putting my thoughts on things into words. I think if you like this kind of writing, you should try it.

Hodizzle: My professor at school is trying to get me to write a book xD;; (where would I get the time? It's be like "The Book of Rants"..by Li..o_@ ) I don't know how popular that's be, but who knows xD;;

[Hodizzle]

Lol, well many people have books of rants out there that sell really well, so who knows? I'm sure it'd be great if all your rants are this good.

[Axed]

Li, that was extremely insightful and true.

So many people now waste away hours upon hours on the computer, and more namely, the internet. In doing so their internet persona grows and grows, feeding on the attention it gets. Eventually these people might ward off friends in real life, instead choosing to sit in front of the monitor, try to making friends with or impress or even insult unknown faces.

I'll stop now, before I go on an entire rant.

But I agree with Pandox, this is great stuff that definitely counts as writing for the Haven. Instead of just creative poetry and stories, this is something that gets the mind working.
The Haven should have debates or something. :'D

[Pandox]

Originally Posted by Li-Shun

So, Pandox: thanks very much for the compliments. I'm not great at poetry either. But I;m not bad at putting my thoughts on things into words. I think if you like this kind of writing, you should try it.

I do practice writing like this,
I just keep it to myself.
I do a lot of blogging on Xanga
(yeah, like I still use that)
... and the majority of my writings are basic essays that have been put together.

Most are just the ramblings of a scatterbrained intellectual.

I might post one or two here,
but I don't really see them getting much feed back..
because well...
I just don't.
-.o