Connected in Secret - Blog 04

The Internet and computers have given us many things that are beneficial; to name a few: the Internet can help us with research or keeping in touch with family and friends. A computer is of great value to us because we can easily keep track of our documents, print important things off, look at photos and listen to music. In the evolution of the age of computers we have gained a lot, but have we lost anything?

In a way we could say no, we have gained ways to represent and express ourselves through apps like Facebook, Twitter, and blog sites. We have found ways to connect with people who are similar to us and can connect ourselves to new communities through these same connections.  There has always been the fact that since we don’t know who people are, what their values are, or their race or gender we are able to calibrate with them on a level of only common interest.

In another point of view we have lost a lot, people can now view you in a way that is deceiving to the truth. You can hide behind your computer to bully, and we can feel excluded based on what we are able to view on the Internet and through our “connections” mentioned above. People may now be able to calibrate without being discriminated through race, gender, ethnicity, or religion, on the flip side though people can express their harsh words and opinions through being anonymous. Many believing they will never get caught for saying things that are inappropriate. Are you really hiding? How easy would it be for someone to catch a piece of information revealing your real identity?

A TV show on MTV called Cat Fish really comes to my mind when I think about this anonymity online. This show is basically about people who online date without actually ever meeting the other person. The host of the show then proceeds by introducing the two “daters”. This show comes to my mind because I have watched many episodes where people completely lie about their identity. Not just to the point of who they are or what they look like but even going as far as being the opposite gender or pretending to be a real life person they have never met. Being anonymous in this case can be very heartbreaking and hurtful to a party who believes that one is telling the truth, when in reality they are not.

Revealing who you are online is sometimes embarrassing to some people, they want to express themselves as something “better” for their followers. I believe this is why a lot of people find themselves hiding from the truth while on the internet. Your race and gender can highly influence the group you want to follow even if the intention is not to single out certain groups.

In many ways the Internet has supplied us with new knowledge and resources, but it is important to notice who you talk to, and always take into consideration that people are anonymous on the computer. You must indulge in the information in a careful way, and keep your guard up for people pretending to be something they’re not.