Throughout this course, the internet is repeatedly shown to facilitate the autonomy of the individual. The effects the net has in relation one’s social life can be seen as no exception to this rule as well. In “Wealth of Networks”, Benkler explains how the net can be used to strengthen pre-existing relationships (particularly the weaker ones), and break down hierarchies of interaction, allowing for a greater diversity within one’s social network. However, whether it ends up enabling our social lives, once again, is up to its user to decide. In my own experience, the internet has been both useful and problematic.
Although I had friends in highschool, blogging communities allowed me to diversify my social pool beyond the school grounds. I got to know people in different parts of the city, who I still have strong relationships with even now. Back then, despite socializing with these friends being limited to the weekends, this was not an issue. What we missed out on face to face, we made up for online. However, over the years, as we moved into neighborhoods closer to one another, the internet often did not work in favor of us socializing.
“In the daily humdrum of their lives, individuals do more of what is easier to do than what requires great exertion” (Benkler, 372.) This statement rings true for what came of our interactions. In the beginning, we met up at the house that was most central to everyone. However, as people began to all live within equal distance of one another, getting folks to leave their homes became difficult. It seemed everyone was always eager to have someone over, but unwilling to leave the house themselves. No one could agree on (nor was interested in) going to one place, which meant more often than not, everyone would opt to stay home.
The benefits of going out to socialize appeared lesser or equal to the benefits of staying home and “hanging out” online. The internet brought us together, but also allowed us to stay apart through easily facilitating our relationships to be maintained digitally. However, this story is not to be taken as emblematic of all online interaction. Rather, it exemplifies how the net can bring together people based on shared interests, which (in the case of my social circle) included an aversion to expending too much energy.
Tags: lazy, socs socs300 sosc sosc300 300 autonomy socializing blogging livejournal social networking interactions internet benkler
November 21, 2008 at 3:46 am |
I enjoyed reading about your personal experience here. I laughed even.
You posted the other day to my blog and I was wondering if you could unravel, ‘Its interesting, because a lot of the arguments against the (pomo) practice of plurality being “universal” comes down eastern cultures which definitely aren’t into multiple perspectives. Multiple culture (which renders transparency) is distinctly western.’…because I don’t think I have studied this before.
November 22, 2008 at 8:20 am |
Ah, thanks! And as for the plurality whaty-whaty… Apologies for not responding- i haven’t quite figured out how to be notified of responses to comments.
Boo, but in any case: I’ll post the response in your original blog post
http://toiletpaperstucktomyshoe.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/transparent-culture/#comments
November 25, 2008 at 4:05 am |
I too enjoyed your reading response. I think that Benkler meant that the net can be used to strengthen the pre-existing ‘thick’ relationships. The deep ones. I stay connected to my mom by email and phone. I relied on facebook while my girls were travelling together in Europe. It’s a trivial point, I know. Loved your post, seems like it was written effortlessly.
November 27, 2008 at 7:57 am |
Ahah, thanks! It was super easy to write too actually… Boo, maybe i should go with whatever feels natural more often. Less time revising, more time… watching the 24hr puppy channel?
Mm, either way, i thought strong relationships couldn’t be made stronger, but their strength was maintainable online, where weaker ones could be fortified?
December 13, 2008 at 11:56 pm |
I like your post, Im finding that conversing online has taken over speaking on the phone, email is used, instead of messenger, like we are giving each other time to think of answers, or we all really have not much to say, but are slowing down the conversation, so we can feel connected.
Hmmm or its to tiring even to type .