My Dadamacadamy learner's diary–Part 3
On Thursday I attended a lecture - Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less From Each Other. One of the statements that stuck most firmly and chillingly in my mind was "I share therefore i am". It summarised Professor Sherry Turkle's observations about the way that some people need to keep sharing a stream of information about their actions and feelings. It was as if they needed the reassurance of "an audience" in order to make themselves "feel real".
Her lecture covered many depressing and somewhat distressing obsevations about human relationships in a society where people carry the Intenet with them at all times. Her statements were not mere opinions or impressions - they were conclusions based on many years of observations and interviews. She made many observations about human frailties and vulnerabilites, and the need for connectedness.
Friends and identity
Regarding connectedness and relationships I've written elsewhere about differences between the friends who are near enough to offer practical help, and the online, at-a-distance "friends" who can only offer words and pictures.
I'm encouraged by the way that online groups can play a part in creating, developing or supporting genuine face-to-face connections between people.. Evidence for this comes from successful meet-up groups. The online meet-up system enables people to meet others with similar interests in a relaxed social way- people who usually live within reasonable travelling distance of each other. These meetings can happen over a long period of time, in a non-threatening social way, and friendships can easily form as a result. These can be real face-to-face friendships,
- Meetup home page - http://www.meetup.com/
- Meetup - wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meetup
Community and identity
I'm intrigued by the potential of the internet to "reinvent community" on a local basis, especially in places where people tend not to know their neighbours or other local people. Sies like meetup enable people with shared interests to find others, and if they choose to do so they can collaborate with those who happen to live in the same locality. I'm also interested in the work that Steven Clift is doing to strengthen communities (or community groups) by giving them an onine presence for increased effectiveness
- Slides - http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/1215
- Webinar version now linked from: http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/1215
Maybe another Internet enabled identity will be "I'm involved locally therefore I am"