The 'net is another world, another universe. A friend asked me last night why he needed to get online, he didn't see any reason to. The kind of personal and spiritual interaction would be impossible for me to explain to him, he'd have to experience it to appreciate it.
Maybe he would understand the larger numbers? Your circle may only include a few people who share your interests (or none at all, depending); imagine how different things would be if you could easily interact with dozens of people who share those interests?
I've met many people who became friends through mailing lists, here on LJ, and in other online venues. It's all part of the mix; I don't sort my world into "online" and "physical".
I agree. The only differentiation I make is privacy-based, between online handles and given names, and that's just my privacy/security paranoia.
The two worlds are definitely intertwined. I can IM a coworker or I can walk over and chat in person: makes little difference. And fabulous people can be met in either venue who would not have shown up on your radar in the other.
One can never be completely anonymous anyway. Just two days ago I found a reference to my name associated with a bridge bidding system, which I co-developed back in.. '86? Something like that.
I've been Merle for decades now. It counts as my name, and some people call me that in real life. I just don't let most family or coworkers know, and try not to cross-contaminate.
Our early give-and-take was an experience that I treasure. As a Jew who was "born to it" and rather indifferent in my observance and knowledge, being in a situation of trying to explain my understanding of my beliefs -- or what I understood the general beliefs of my religion to be -- was an incomparable learning experience. And I can't escape the notion that someday, if I ever do have to answer for myself to the Holy One, that I will be able to say, "Well, there was Monica..." And being able to do that, for whatever help I provided (and it seems to have worked [grin]) could not have happened without the technology employed. Would that have happened by phone or letter? Maybe, just maybe, but not nearly as well or easily.
Our early give-and-take was an experience that I treasure.
Me too! (Just in case there was any doubt. :-) )
Something I've learned in other contexts is that even when you think you know stuff, you learn more by trying to teach it to somebody else. So I'm not surprised by the effect this had on you. Cool, huh?
And I can't escape the notion that someday, if I ever do have to answer for myself to the Holy One, that I will be able to say, "Well, there was Monica..."
I'd testify for you.
And yeah, I think the technology was really critical here. Physical letters are slow; the phone is synchronous. I think fast, asynchronous conversation is what really made the difference.
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I agree. The only differentiation I make is privacy-based, between online handles and given names, and that's just my privacy/security paranoia.
The two worlds are definitely intertwined. I can IM a coworker or I can walk over and chat in person: makes little difference. And fabulous people can be met in either venue who would not have shown up on your radar in the other.
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I've been Merle for decades now. It counts as my name, and some people call me that in real life. I just don't let most family or coworkers know, and try not to cross-contaminate.
Reply
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Me too! (Just in case there was any doubt. :-) )
Something I've learned in other contexts is that even when you think you know stuff, you learn more by trying to teach it to somebody else. So I'm not surprised by the effect this had on you. Cool, huh?
And I can't escape the notion that someday, if I ever do have to answer for myself to the Holy One, that I will be able to say, "Well, there was Monica..."
I'd testify for you.
And yeah, I think the technology was really critical here. Physical letters are slow; the phone is synchronous. I think fast, asynchronous conversation is what really made the difference.
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