Comments on: Alone http://www.thinktoomuch.net/2007/06/26/alone/ Pondering the South African Memesphere - Looking for the Good in Everything Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:44:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Hugo http://www.thinktoomuch.net/2007/06/26/alone/#comment-751 Hugo Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:32:30 +0000 http://thinktoomuch.net/2007/06/26/alone/#comment-751 Yes, a lot of what we see in "other people" is in fact some form of projection. Anyway, online communities are tricky. They are a tool, that can indeed be used to connect, but at the same time they all too often lead to <em>lack</em> of real connection. All too often many people were better off <em>before</em> all these new tools existed. See the wikipedia article on loneliness (the link above), the section on "First-hand contact"...: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness#First-hand_contact Basically, if the new tools are causing less first-hand contact, they are likely a negative influence. (On the other hand, if they supplement first-hand contact, it might allow the developing of deeper connections and greater understanding.) Yes, a lot of what we see in “other people” is in fact some form of projection.

Anyway, online communities are tricky. They are a tool, that can indeed be used to connect, but at the same time they all too often lead to lack of real connection. All too often many people were better off before all these new tools existed. See the wikipedia article on loneliness (the link above), the section on “First-hand contact”…:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness#First-hand_contact

Basically, if the new tools are causing less first-hand contact, they are likely a negative influence. (On the other hand, if they supplement first-hand contact, it might allow the developing of deeper connections and greater understanding.)

]]> By: scribbles http://www.thinktoomuch.net/2007/06/26/alone/#comment-750 scribbles Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:17:01 +0000 http://thinktoomuch.net/2007/06/26/alone/#comment-750 A friend introduced me to the concept of Othering the other day. Quite interesting reading, maybe relevant to this conversation. E.g: http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/rww03/othering.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other I find it extremely intrigueing how the links talk about the perception we have of others - but that this is just linked to an egotistical drive within ourselves (not others). Good post btw. I think online communities can reduce this loneliness for some people who can't connect with similar people in their immediate physical environment - but I would assume it depends on the person involved as online interaction probably can't be a true substitute for real-life interaction with similar people. A friend introduced me to the concept of Othering the other day. Quite interesting reading, maybe relevant to this conversation. E.g:

http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/rww03/othering.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other

I find it extremely intrigueing how the links talk about the perception we have of others – but that this is just linked to an egotistical drive within ourselves (not others).

Good post btw. I think online communities can reduce this loneliness for some people who can’t connect with similar people in their immediate physical environment – but I would assume it depends on the person involved as online interaction probably can’t be a true substitute for real-life interaction with similar people.

]]> By: Hugo http://www.thinktoomuch.net/2007/06/26/alone/#comment-737 Hugo Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:22:52 +0000 http://thinktoomuch.net/2007/06/26/alone/#comment-737 The wikipedia article I linked to seems to argue that it is indeed much worse in "modern times" than previously. The wikipedia article I linked to seems to argue that it is indeed much worse in “modern times” than previously.

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