Cyborgs

Technology has become a major part of daily life for most humans. If one goes back and accounts for their daily activities, they would clearly see the impact that certain innovations have on their routines and how they may find it difficult to function without them. For instance, once one has woken up, they have already used technology. Since we now have blinds and curtains to block out the sun, and since most college students have allowed their internal body clocks to go away, almost everyone I know requires an alarm clock in order to get up on time, or at all. Aside from that, we dress ourselves with the appropriate armor that helps us get through the day. Unless I want the world to appear as if it is underwater, I put in my contact lenses. Without these valuable plastic contraptions, I would not be able to drive or even walk without bumping into someone/something. The next necessary tool is a watch. Without this, how would you know it was time for class, to eat, or what’s on T.V.? I tremble at the thought of not knowing with time it is. Most people would agree that they would be totally lost without a timepiece. Sunglasses have become another extension of my face while outside, and while inside I usually have them perched on top of my head so once outside I can immediately shield my eyes as soon as possible.
Remember the days when cell phones were used only in case of emergency? It is quite clear that these days, emergencies are getting more and more common. Situations such as walking to class, driving, or being bored all call for the use of cell phones. We have become walking beepers. Anyone can get in touch with us at anytime of the day. For some this is convenient, but for others excuses such as “I wasn’t at home,” and other classics must be discarded in order to make way for more creative, complex reasons of avoidance.

"Approaching the Radical Other"

In the article, “Approaching the Radical Other; The Discursive Culture of Cyberhate” (1997), Susan Zickmund explores the world of online hate and shows how they categorize some groups as an evil “other.” The author begins the article by identifying different hate groups around the world, then goes on to explain their impact on the internet. Zickmund’s purpose is to show the reader how these hate group use the internet as another vehicle for their propaganda that displays certain races and other groups as evil conspirators in order to bring to light how these cyberhaters are a subset of the community of the internet. Zickmund’s audience consists of people who are knowledgeable about the internet, yet may not be the kind who use it to find hate-related material.
Hate is a disease that spreads throughout the world, so it is no surprise that it would overflow onto the internet. In the article, “Dropping the Bomb on Google,” John Brandon documents the case of a Jewish who is outraged when a hate oriented website appears at the top of a list of results when he typed the word “Jew” into the search engine. The article states that “he argued that Google should be able to filter its search results, categorize offensive content and reorder the results accordingly.” Yet this idea would go against the principle of the search engine when its goal is the find the most popular sites visited for a given word. This also brings up the issue of censorship on the web. Should Google, or any other search engine posses the ability to filter out eligible results for a query? Would that mean withholding information?
Zickmund does not question the effort of web providers to extinguish hateful websites. Instead she focuses on the people who believe in the hate. She acknowledges the fact that haters see minorities as’ what she calls’ the “other.” She sees this behavior as something that has been around for ages and will most likely, unfortunately, never go away.

"Web Cliques to Cool for School"

In the article, “Web Cliques to Cool For School” (2003), Daniel Terdiman examines the concept of web cliques, virtual groups that abide by a strict set of rules, as another aspect of virtual communities. Terdiman begins the article with an example of someone who was a founder of an online clique, and goes on to explain how they mirror real life, especially within the halls of a high school. The author’s purpose is to show web cliques as an extension of virtual communities in order to expose the way these online groups imitate real life. Terdiman is speaking to an audience of internet users who may or may not have encountered web cliques.
Most internet users are accustomed to membership based websites that allow any user to join based on a vague, common denominator. Web cliques are a different story. In order to be a member, one must meet many complicated guidelines and once accepted, obey the many rules of the site. Some may say that this process goes the against the idea of virtual communities, but web cliques may better replicate them. Within all communities, you will find more than one close-knit groups of friends who are civil to others, but are impossible to break away from their group.

Foucalt

In his cultural theories, Foucalt discusses the use of label names that are used everyday by the human race in order to categorize people. Even things as abstract as emotions have their own specific nomenclature in order for us to better understand what is going on within ourselves and others. I have experienced many times complex feelings that would be difficult to describe, but in order to avoid confusion, if asked I would simply say I was sad.
The same goes for individuals. One person may be a doctor (or any other occupation) so they would be referred to as the doctor by people who do not know much about them. Sexuality, gender, social roles, etc. can also define a person, yet most are to complex to be summed up into one word. We encounter this problem on the internet. Someone who is homosexual may reach out to other homosexuals over cyberspace, which is great, but if they only talk about being homosexual, only one dimension of their character is displayed. Most sites and chat rooms are not specific enough to attract people on different levels, usually it is only one common link that brings them together.
This is why virtual communities are different and more limited than real life communities. Schools, churches, and many other gathering locations bring unique people together who may have more than one thing in common or nothing at all, so the relationships that develop are much stronger. Often websites are labeled to attract people who are labeled the same way, reinforcing the convenience and need of human categories.

Technology and Me

As a kid I was fascinated by anything that could talk or light up or do any amount of fancy tricks. Unlike many of my peers, I found Barbie dolls to be boring, which ultimately resulted in the ones given to me by clueless relatives to end up with bald heads, where I hacked their hair off, and a few missing limbs, because like most children I was a hyperactive idiot. I liked dolls alright, but only if I could interact with them. I had one toy, I cannot recall the name, that was a doll hooked to a microphone and anything you said into it the doll would repeat back in a doll voice complete with moving lips. Creepy, I know, but also extremely annoying to my family and anyone around me because anything I said was said through the talking doll, my constant companion.
After my talking doll mysteriously disappeared, I graduated to more sophisticated toys such as a Nintendo. I spent many hours with my sisters staring at a screen where we discovered exciting shortcuts in the Mario games or tested the information we knew in our Jeopardy game. I got beat up quite a few times because while someone else was playing Jeopardy, I took it upon myself to yell out the answers resulting in angry sisters. For me, these games were like a whole new world where I controlled what happened to the characters involved. Late at night I would lie in bed and imagine different strategies to aid Mario along in rescuing the Princess from the evil lizard-type monster thing.
After a series of Nintendos, Super Nintendos, Super-Duper Nintendos and so on, I finally gained access to the internet while a freshman in high school and a whole new perplexity with a technological toy. I remember it well, a Hewlett Packard just waiting to unlock the mysteries of the world, yet I spent my time researching boy bands and joke websites. I soon discovered e-mail and instant messenger and suddenly the telephone and our family’s expensive collection of encyclopedias were of no use to me.
The computer and internet have stuck by me throughout the years. It has been a faithful research tool and something to occupy me and hold my hand through spells of boredom. It’s my way of keeping in touch with old friends, or people I do not want to waste the payment of long distance on. Is there life beyond the internet? I think not.

What 80's Toy I am

You're My Little Pony!! Sweet and innocent and
happy, you make people want to spew burrito
chunks. Even a Care Bear could kick your ass.


What childhood toy from the 80s are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

"U.S. Users Give it Up for the Net"

In the article, “U.S. Users Give It Up For The Net” (2004), Daniel Terdiman documents information that was collected to determine that a large number of people are contributing content on the web. Terdiman explains the statistics of the findings then goes on to apply them to the kinds of people who are involved with posting on the internet. The author’s purpose is to display the number of people who share their thoughts and opinions on the web in order to present the internet as a democracy that is run by the people. Daniel Terdiman’s audience vary in age, but are computer savvy enough to know and understand internet terms such as blog.
The internet has become so much more than a collection of information and knowledge that one simply reads and comprehends. This article shows that online users have become more involved and active with the net. Jakob Nielson explains that this concept is the “original vision of the Web, that it’s a two-way web.” This reinforces the idea of online communities. Clearly, average folks all over the world are communicating with each other whether it be through blogs, postings on sites, or if they own their own website. It seems like anyone with an opinion has the opportunity to share their thoughts on the web.
The internet has become more public-oriented because it is the only medium that permits easy access to displaying information. It is quite simple for one to acquire one’s own website then it is to obtain a show on television or radio. Programmers have dummy-proofed most of the net so that even someone with limited knowledge would have the ability to express themselves. When given an outlet such as the internet that reaches millions of people worldwide, many will take advantage of the chance to voice opinions to an audience when ordinarily they would not be heard.

Precis

Carol Gore
Dr. Banks
English 3810
05/24/04

Woodland, Randal. "Queer Spaces, Modem Boys, and Pagan Statues." The
Reader 1995: 417-431.

In the article, “Queer Spaces, Modem Boys, and Pagan Statues” (1995), Randal Woodland argues that the use of “metaphors” in cyber surfing; such as ones suggesting different geographical locations and identity, have a profound effect on virtual communities, particularly those consisting of a mostly homosexual population. The author begins the work by introducing the metaphors, then tells the reader how the article will be setup, and goes on to discuss four online communities, both homosexual and not specifically homosexual. Woodland’s purpose is to explain the idea of location, rules of etiquette and appropriateness, and other metaphors used in cyberspace in order to better define virtual communities. Randal Woodland develops a semi-formal relationship with gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and supportive straights who are online users.
Many young people who struggle with their sexual orientation have trouble connecting with others like them, especially if they live in small towns or isolated areas. It is important for them to interact with others in similar situations because it shows them that they are not alone, and could prove helpful in boosting there moral. Online communities are probably the best outlet to do just that. There they can converse with other gays or lesbians and share thoughts or ideas. People often are against the norm in their locations form very close knit communities online. Daniel Woodland explains in his article just how these communities mirror real life.
Unknowingly, everyone refers to cyberspace as if it is a place on a map. Although it is not a tangible thing, there are definitely places, rooms, addresses, and so on where one can go in order to find out what one is looking for. Of all of the communities discussed, the one that most parallels a real-life community is Modemboy. This site is modeled after something that surely all of it’s users are familiar with, high school. Ironically, many homosexual men, whom the site is geared after, often describe their high school years as a negative experience, yet in their adult years they find themselves talking with each other in an exact virtual replica of those educational institutions. Woodland addresses this in his article by stating, “On one level this textual play allows for an appropriation and redemption of negative high school experiences.”
Virtual communities contain the same written and unwritten laws of behavior that most real communities have, making them even more believable as a tangible thing. In order to determine if virtual communities exist, one must question what exactly a community is. Most would say that they are a group of like-minded people who treat each other in a particular way, based on what kind of group it is, in order to share ideas and feelings. Although the people involved cannot see or touch the individuals they are talking to, online groups embody the essence of this definition, and can be extremely helpful to those who feel isolated because they are not geographically linked with someone in the same situation as them.