Close Encounters - Part 12
It was approximately nine weeks ago that I wrote a piece
entitled Close Encounters, Part 2. In that piece a premise
was made, a postulate presented, and a conclusion drawn,
an inference based upon what we know of human kind, and our
interaction with one another. Now, some nine weeks later,
and through trials and tribulations, the answer to whether
there is Reality on the internet is further questioned.
As we move into the void of cyberspace, we hope that this
new genre for communication and enlightenment will allow
our individual, as well as collective consciousness to
move forward and attain levels of achievement only dreamed
about. We step forward on the threshold of this new adventure,
laptop still in hand, and yet, are those that we communicate
with, as open to this adventure as us? The premise is that
we will come out from the sphere that we protect ourselves
with, by a screen name or handle, and somehow allow the true
individual to emerge, flaws and all.
Or, perchance, is the flaw in our perception that through
the instantaneous communication of the internet and the
cyber paper we use, that a full understanding and appreciation
of the other, those nuances which make us inherently different,
and unique, will be totally accepted. Or are we only spheres
floating in this cyber void, absent of feeling and the ability
to interact fully with another? And in doing so, do we become
whoever we wish to become, totally independent and thus
absent of any real feeling, other than that we create within
the persona of a screen name, and qualities that we wish
this persona to possess? And in the process, we lose a little
bit of ourselves, and in turn become less than we are capable
of becoming.
Has our ability to feel for another, and have true human
empathy been lost somehow by the 1s and 0s that now
dominate our ability to communicate? A Vulcan approach,
one void of emotions has taken over, where we can only approach
things in a logical state, and should the hint of emotion
come into play, we question and somehow avoid, as it does
not appear logical or even warranted.
And somehow, through this new medium of communication,
do we lose a part of ourselves in this process, becoming
void of feelings, and emotions? Our communication becomes
lacking, absent of feelings, and even understanding perhaps,
void of emotions and empathy, as the persona that we create
takes over and we gradually lose a part of ourselves in the
process. We gradually become what we perceive ourselves
to be, the qualities of the online persona.
It is easier to criticize, as the miles now separate the
parties, and whereas communication may be instantaneous,
similar to the spoken word, it lacks warmth and understanding.
We can criticize easier, hurt more deeply and efficiently
and simply avoid contact, even when one wishes to communicate
further. So, as spheres floating in this cyber void, we
become those islands unto ourselves, bumping into other
islands in the process, similar to molecules floating
in space, absent of rhyme or reason, and only meeting by
happenchance.
We allow misunderstandings to never be resolved, as simply
fleeing and avoiding is the easier path, the one of least
resistance, and the potential of things that could be are
simply lost forever, as we become simply ships in the night,
passing for a time, and then ultimately setting course
for whatever destination has been designed. And, in doing
so, our sense of Reality changes, as what could have been,
now becomes what was, and is lost forever.
And the Reality that we had now changes as well, and we question
whether our perception was even correct to begin with.
It becomes too easy to detach, resurrect barriers and walls,
protecting ourselves from future hurts, as conflicts
never get resolved, but simply exist, prohibiting communication
and understanding to be sought. And in the process, we lose,
individually as well as collectively.
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