utopias
one thing that has always interested me is the concept of a utopia. in most cases, utopias are pipe dreams, ideologies that cannot take shape in the fabric of a real-life social structure. but i believe that for a brief period, a small, modest utopian society did exist. it was developed during the infancy of the internet.
when the internet first took shape, it was self-limiting. not everyone had the necessary programming knowledge or the equipment to be part of it. those who did were likely tech geeks, mathematicians, and early programmers. they were the first people to use the internet as a social environment. some people joke that the all the initial simple text-based webpages were about star trek and d & d. to some extent this was true. the creators and users of these spaces, maybe for the first time in their lives, were able to discuss these interests openly and without fear of harassment. imagine how liberating this must have been. it was the first safespace for geeks. they controlled the environment, the content, and the access. by playing in text-based multi-user dungeons, they were able to exist as characters more powerful, confident, and interesting than they could ever experience outside of this safespace.
not only would this have been liberating for bill gates types, but for people on the autism/aspergers spectrum. this environment would have offered them the predictability and logic necessary to thrive in a social situation. the computer was always in the office or bedroom. the screen was always green text on a black background. commands were always the same. communication always took place in a linear fashion with a beginning, middle, and end. their were no confusing interfaces with eye contact, facial expressions, and body language. in short, this was an autistic utopia.
it must have been sad when the internet expanded to multiple users. when simple text gave way to animation, webcams, and image-based navigation systems. when advertisements, viruses, and spam began to flood into the predictable interface. now we live in an age where forums are used to harass and intimidate users. “cyber-bullying” is now a common threat to all users from 13 to 35. like a quaint coffee shop that was bought out by a starbucks, the familiarity and safety has been chased away. good for typical users: more information, more potential, and a more “real life” way of interacting with others. but real life can be threatening, confusing, callous, and unwelcoming. a refuge for the atypical has been slashed and burned to make room for digital skyscrapers.
if anyone from this elder generation of users happens to read this post, let me know what your experience was like. did i get it right? what am i as of yet unclear on? how do you make do with the present state of the online community? i would be grateful to hear your story.
when the internet first took shape, it was self-limiting. not everyone had the necessary programming knowledge or the equipment to be part of it. those who did were likely tech geeks, mathematicians, and early programmers. they were the first people to use the internet as a social environment. some people joke that the all the initial simple text-based webpages were about star trek and d & d. to some extent this was true. the creators and users of these spaces, maybe for the first time in their lives, were able to discuss these interests openly and without fear of harassment. imagine how liberating this must have been. it was the first safespace for geeks. they controlled the environment, the content, and the access. by playing in text-based multi-user dungeons, they were able to exist as characters more powerful, confident, and interesting than they could ever experience outside of this safespace.
not only would this have been liberating for bill gates types, but for people on the autism/aspergers spectrum. this environment would have offered them the predictability and logic necessary to thrive in a social situation. the computer was always in the office or bedroom. the screen was always green text on a black background. commands were always the same. communication always took place in a linear fashion with a beginning, middle, and end. their were no confusing interfaces with eye contact, facial expressions, and body language. in short, this was an autistic utopia.
it must have been sad when the internet expanded to multiple users. when simple text gave way to animation, webcams, and image-based navigation systems. when advertisements, viruses, and spam began to flood into the predictable interface. now we live in an age where forums are used to harass and intimidate users. “cyber-bullying” is now a common threat to all users from 13 to 35. like a quaint coffee shop that was bought out by a starbucks, the familiarity and safety has been chased away. good for typical users: more information, more potential, and a more “real life” way of interacting with others. but real life can be threatening, confusing, callous, and unwelcoming. a refuge for the atypical has been slashed and burned to make room for digital skyscrapers.
if anyone from this elder generation of users happens to read this post, let me know what your experience was like. did i get it right? what am i as of yet unclear on? how do you make do with the present state of the online community? i would be grateful to hear your story.