I think that Dreyfus’ view on the internet is a bit drastic. He believes that the internet limits interpersonal communication and has a online disinheriting effect which leads to nihilism, or annihilation of the self and the individual consciousness. He believes that this leads to isolation and depression in people. I do believe that there are some people out there that spend too much time on the internet, making it their only communication with the world. This does lead to isolation, but I think that without the internet they would be even more isolated than with it. Obviously if somebody is using the internet as their main means of communication, then they probably don’t feel comfortable communication with people in reality and they would most likely be more isolated without it. I think the internet is actually a good way for people like this to be able to communicate ideas, thoughts, and feelings that they otherwise would not feel comfortable sharing and would just keep bottled up. So yes, it does isolate people, but who is too say they wouldn’t be isolated otherwise? I definitely disagree with Dreyfus’ idea that it leads to nihilism and disembodiment though. I do not think that it causes people to lose a sense of themselves and to be separated from their body. I think that it only takes down the barrier of the “physical body” and allows them to open up. Take this class, for example. Although I don’t think most of us are an example of the people who isolate themselves on the internet (because we are attending a university where we interact with hundreds of people everyday), many of us still do not feel comfortable stating our ideas in class. I know this is the case for myself, and by having the opportunity to express our ideas on the class website I can still get a chance to interact and share my opinions.
4.30.07
Amanda Bleatman | 24-Apr-07 at 10:11 am | Permalink
The problem that I have with the Internet is that it discourages people from becoming acquainted with others. If they have friends that they talk to constantly on AIM, why would they ever be so encouraged to find people that they could personally talk to? While this class website is good for sharing ideas, it doesn’t motivate us to speak in class more often. If we had no blog or were responsible for participating in class, we would have to participate in class because it’s our responsibility to do so. This is just an escape means for people’s fears of looking like an idiot. Which is somewhat good (especially Dan’s approach for this class), but we can’t always run from our problems
Ashley Swarts | 24-Apr-07 at 11:26 am | Permalink
I disagree that it discourages people from becoming aquainted with others. Like I said before, if it does have this affect it is most likely because that person is shy or unsociable and would not becoming aquainted with people otherwise. I think there are many people like this who have severe anxiety in social situations so this provides an alternative outlet for them. However, I don’t think it replaces personal contact and interactiion, it is just a different means. As for the class website, I know from personal experience that even when required to participate in class, I often still don’t because for some reason I am too nervous, even if I know it will effect my grade. And yes, it is because I’m afraid that I might look like an idiot, but I dont think that it is “running from my problems,” but it is a legit fear that many people have. So by having the blog I can participate and express my ideas without this fear. I can express my ideas more honestly.
Kimberly Koch | 24-Apr-07 at 7:35 pm | Permalink
I agree with both sides. Yes, the internet and AIM do allow people to avoid the risk that comes with personal communication so they will be more inclined to speak their mind, but on the other hand, the only way to get over the fear of risk that comes with personal face to face interaction is to repeatedly experience it. I think internet communication must be used in moderation and in addition to face to face communication.
Andrea Fish | 25-Apr-07 at 4:57 pm | Permalink
I see where you are coming from and I wanted to make another parallel. The school shootings remind me of the terrible things that can happen when people become too isolated from society and too involved in videogames or an alter online life. Because the Internet is so easily accessible it is hard for parents or friends to recognize when there might be a potential problem. With all the good we claim the Internet does for us, we can’t forget about the bad.
Ashley Swarts | 25-Apr-07 at 6:19 pm | Permalink
I agree with you, Amanda, that there are many bad consequences of the internet, but I still think that the good outweighs the bad. In the various school shootings, the shooters obviously had other mental problems that were not soley caused from isolation by the internet. I think it is the other way around: they isolate themselves on the internet because they have other problems that keep them from interacting personally. But I can’t disagree with you that it does cause some other problems, such as making the situation worse. However, again I think the good outweighs the bad: consider Virginia Tech and the mass email sent out and all the students warning and contacting their friends via AIM on the internet.
Annie Werly | 25-Apr-07 at 9:30 pm | Permalink
As far as the internet goes, the positive certainly is much greater than the negatives. The fact that some isolate themselves from others because they opt for computer related interaction is unfortunate, but these people are likely to isolate themselves with video games or any other forms of avoiding social interaction, if not for the internet. It’s not as though the internet was the creation of the anti-social human, they were there long before, this just gives them an outlet.
Ryan Marshall | 26-Apr-07 at 5:49 pm | Permalink
I agree with Kimberly that internet communication must be used in moderation. I completely agree that it is convenient and even helpful to use instead of calling people or going to see them. However, if this internet communication gets out of hand then consequences will ensue. I could lead to and extremely introverted behavior which could cause problems for the persons interaction with society.
John Rooney | 26-Apr-07 at 8:04 pm | Permalink
I could not live without human interaction. My happiness comes from interacting with other people and learning from and with them. However, I don’t think that this is the case with all people. If I stayed in all the time and spent my whole life on the internet, I would go crazy in just a few days, but I know that people get their happiness in different ways. While I wouldn’t like to spend all of my time online, I do not doubt that someone else could be just as happy, if not happier, as I am by living out their life over the internet.
Jeffery Villalobos | 26-Apr-07 at 9:33 pm | Permalink
I am a very social person. i absolutely love human interaction. i spend most of my free time hanging out with friends and going out. i think the internet is good because it does allow people to communicate when they are away from each other, ie friends studying abroad, etc. the internet, in my opinion, it great at connecting people, but in certain cases people can become disconnected from other people. i am all for the internet by all means, it is an amazing invention, but i can see dreyfus’ point about some people becoming disconnected from others.
Jaren Gaddi | 26-Apr-07 at 10:18 pm | Permalink
That may be true - internet may not directly cause people to become isolated. Look at the TV - people were blaming TV and video games for children’s lack of outside play and socializing outside the classroom. But I think that the internet is a greater tool in facilitating this isolation. The TV doesn’t allow us for direct interaction between two people, but the internet does. And that’s great for communication, but as far as social interaction, it does lead to a sense of disconnection - being in the presence of another person is not the same has communicating with them online.