Well when you see around many online internet sites, forums and blogs where people from different parts of the world meet, unite and make friends doesn’t it all give a sense of déjà vu- I mean people try to use these online forms of communication as an escapist route from their troubles and worries in Real Life…Let me take you more into the analogy between the two.
Online sites like Orkut, etc –well they are nothing but a sort of virtual reality, a virtual simulation game where in the people we meet and make friends online are the virtual entities, the virtual characters playing their role…you have not met them in real life and there is no guarantee that you would meet them but why do people find solace in these so called online relationships? Why is it that even though the mind is separated from the physical being of the individual (in the sense that despite your physical absence you actually pen down your thoughts by writing down, scraps, blogging, posts etc) do people actually sense a kind of closeness to each of the other so called ‘online’ friends the virtual entities to be precise? This is one question that seemingly reclusive on its own might have some explanation…
Consider the virtual online world to be The Matrix- a metaphysical world where the physics of life don’t validate or govern an alternate dimension and time frame where despite the physical disparities in the location of the individuals- the characters of the game unite with their minds, their thoughts. However can we expect feelings to be transferred from one person to another- a feeling of closeness to the individual, maybe development of mutual admiration and affections despite the fact that all the individuals have not even once met in real life?
Well as I had earlier stated there might be an explanation to it-after all you cannot expect online relationships to blossom and flourish and get converted into some thing as marriage unless the twain don’t meet! Even then the cases where such have been established are rare…they have happened- like the 2 souls met each other through online first and then in real life and went ahead and married-for one thing this is not easy-you cannot vouch for all the credentials that the said individual is posting on his or her behalf and trust me putting a genuine pic also would not suffice-it can be morphed for all you know.
So how do the trust and friendship develop- is it only through words, the style of writing that one can figure out :- a) the gender of the person. b) that the person is not a poseur? Well partly yes and this also brings us to the 2nd level of communication- and that is voice chatting and telephone conversation-here despite the advances in voice modulation you cannot obscure the true nature of your voice no matter how you try and as you gradually speak along you get to gauge the person somewhat better as you would have say while chatting or orkutting.
People meet become friends virtually but to me it doesn’t make much practical sense – it is just that you are temporarily transferred to a make belief world where almost everything is perfect and going according to you-a place where you can share your thoughts and feelings with everyone, discuss about your interests and that’s all there is to it without going into any emotional attachment of any sorts. Friendship is something which cannot be solely established through the online world-no matter how much a smooth talker you might be and how much you portray yourself as the sane individual who is utmost in terms of character and morality. It goes beyond that-it transgresses the mind and conjugates with the physical being of the person-in short unless you meet ,you cant just call anyone your friend per se-at the most acquaintances.
This is because whatever happens in the alternate dimension-the virtual online world is shut off once you disconnect the internet and shut down your computer-whatever connection was their with the virtuosos it all goes off once everything is shut down- just like when you disconnect yourself from a virtual reality world. It is akin to coming back to the ground reality –if you stay alone then sinking once again into your couched hermit life or if you are among friends then once again digressing into the mirth and laughter with them.
So who does seek solace and comfort in the virtual world-people who are lonely and those who might have got bored and frustrated with life that they think spending 40% of their lifetime on the internet would help them find people and meet people and give him or her that much added sense of relief.
However life is so fast paced in the current world and it is so competitive that rarely do you find such categories of people but even then there are sections of them that do exist.
So which one do you prefer-online world or the real world-the question itself sounds inane but I just want to derive an opinion out of everyone out of this article I wrote and what do they make of it. For me I would obviously prefer the real world even though I am a self confessed net addict :P
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