Real 1.0
Recently I saw a Redditor express the same concern that I've had for a long time. The feeling of not being able to fully be yourself on the internet. The most dangerous thing to be online is true to who you are in front of others, potentially millions.
If you say what you truly believe, there is surely someone that will be there to show displeasure, the architects of online social interactions have made sure of that. They don't even have to vocalize their displeasure or type out an explanation as to why they think the other person is not right. Simply click on the down button and they're done.
Even if your content, ideas, or expressions are accepted you face the barrage of having an influx of responses to deal with. Defending yourself, your ideas, and your beliefs in a manner that you probably have never had to do before. All in front of the watchful eyes of the internet. They are watching, you can guarantee that. Hi, United Airlines!
Peering around the veil of anonymity is likened to ruining Christmas morning. Carefully unfastening the ends of paper wrappings to find out what the present is before you fully get to enjoy whatever is covered and packaged within. Some kids do this all the time because it is the way they get the most enjoyment out of the secret, by spoiling the element of surprise, and some kids would never do this because they find it unwise to break the rules as they get the most enjoyment out of taking part in the secret and surprise with others.
Neither one is wrong or bad, just different. Looking back at this Holiday concept as an adult I've realized that there isn't any real punishment to be levied either way you approach the situation. No way are your parents going to take away or destroy the presents that you secretly opened before Christmas morning, they spent a lot of money to buy them. There is no real losing condition that is attached to spoiling this tradition, not one.
That is the way to approach the internet. Do whatever you want. Be whomever you want. Remembering the whole time that the veil of anonymity is merely a paper wrapping that is going to be removed someday.
If you say what you truly believe, there is surely someone that will be there to show displeasure, the architects of online social interactions have made sure of that. They don't even have to vocalize their displeasure or type out an explanation as to why they think the other person is not right. Simply click on the down button and they're done.
Even if your content, ideas, or expressions are accepted you face the barrage of having an influx of responses to deal with. Defending yourself, your ideas, and your beliefs in a manner that you probably have never had to do before. All in front of the watchful eyes of the internet. They are watching, you can guarantee that. Hi, United Airlines!
Peering around the veil of anonymity is likened to ruining Christmas morning. Carefully unfastening the ends of paper wrappings to find out what the present is before you fully get to enjoy whatever is covered and packaged within. Some kids do this all the time because it is the way they get the most enjoyment out of the secret, by spoiling the element of surprise, and some kids would never do this because they find it unwise to break the rules as they get the most enjoyment out of taking part in the secret and surprise with others.
Neither one is wrong or bad, just different. Looking back at this Holiday concept as an adult I've realized that there isn't any real punishment to be levied either way you approach the situation. No way are your parents going to take away or destroy the presents that you secretly opened before Christmas morning, they spent a lot of money to buy them. There is no real losing condition that is attached to spoiling this tradition, not one.
That is the way to approach the internet. Do whatever you want. Be whomever you want. Remembering the whole time that the veil of anonymity is merely a paper wrapping that is going to be removed someday.
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