Giselle
The Meez program is really quite entertaining. I was quite impressed regarding how many options one can choose from, it gives the user a sense of being able to customize the Meez to a fair extent. Anyway, this is Giselle; she is 23 and a model. She enjoys the Euro style look, hanging out, having a good time, and making money. It is funny to think that I could make a false myspace page, find an image somewhat similar to Giselle, post my Meez character, and start acting on it.
After reading the Tinysex and Gender Trouble, I realized that having another gender online might have more strings attached than I ever thought possible. I found it quite interesting when Turkle talks about the online affairs people have; whether or not the person is physically a male or female, it does not matter when one can make a cyber MUD the same sex, opposite sex, or of a different species. One of the interviewers said he broke off a relationship because of the gender swapping his girlfriend did online. He said “We are not ready for the psychological confusion this technology can bring.� (Turkle, 225). A lot of the online role playing games really can be more powerful that initially thought. One of my friends decided to start playing World of Warcraft, it came with a 3 month free trail, and now, 7 months later, he is still hooked on it. I believe an online persona can become part of you, for better or for worse, but it can happen.
In many senses it can be good for people to communicate and experiment socially, sexually, etc. But when I read about the shy 14 year old Rob, in Turkle’s article, explaining about how he feels much more comfortable flirting and talking to girls on-line rather than in person, I feel sorry for him and that generation because of the lack of intimacy involved, compared to when speaking to someone face-to-face. Anyway, I realize that this is something that will definitely shape our future generation’s social communication strategy. Peace.
Comments
I thought you brought up an interesting point in the quote
�We are not ready for the psychological confusion this technology can bring.�
This brings complexed intimate relationships to a whole new level. I can't imagine what my deceased grandmother would have to say if I told her I was gender swapping online and meeting both sexes.
I also feel sorry for Rob and the next generations.
If they are unable to learn social skills and have to 'put themsevles out there', they will live in a world of insecure attachments and quite possibly, unhealthy relationships with others.
Good Post.
Julie
Posted by: Julie Swenson | February 11, 2007 07:18 PM
Online intimacy is an interesting issue. On one hand, the people you reach out and connect to in these online relationships are real people, even if they aren't necessarily who they're making themselves out to be online, but on the other, there's no way to truly get close to them. I think it's fine if there are people out there you chat with every so often online, but it's psychologically healthier to have real people to connect with too.
Posted by: Carl Cassel | February 11, 2007 09:32 PM
I also enjoyed the section where you talked about how people can get attached to their "chatting" buddies or even people calling off relationships because of on-line gender changes. Looking deeper into each situation, I feel as though it would be a big step to actually play a different gender role, but many people do it
Posted by: Kelly | February 11, 2007 10:02 PM