We were assigned to read a few blog posts/ articles on loneliness. "Being 'fully human' online" is an article by Ezra Klein that we read. He discusses what being 'fully human' means. Some people think that you can't be 'fully human' online. Klein argues that you can. I agree. Ezra Klein mentions meeting someone on the internet and having a relationship with them over the internet because you can't see them in person all the time. Some people can't just strike up a conversation (or a meaningful one, anyway) with just anyone. To people like that, they feel human when they can express themselves over the internet whether it's blogging or chatting with a stranger. For Jason Rowe, the only place he can feel normal is online. He doesn't have any physical disabilities when he plays Star Wars Galaxies. I think Klein put a new spin on the internet for many. It doesn't make us less human all the time. Sometimes, it's the only place where some of us can feel human.
Roger Ebert wrote two blog posts that we read. The first one we read was"All the Lonely People". Ebert talks about lonely people being attracted to the internet. The idea is that the internet allows people to be heard. They want their opinions to matter to someone at least. People want to feel useful. I cannot agree more! The worst feeling I have ever felt is feeling like I'm not needed. I need to know that someone, somewhere needs and wants me. If I can't do anything for someone, no one needs me. If no one needs me, why bother being. Ebert says that the most useful purpose of education is to prepare you to keep yourself entertained. Clearly, education hasn't done anything for me because I'm always bored. Always.
The second piece by Roger Ebert is "A Meeting of Solitudes". Roger Ebert points out that the internet isn't the cause. These people would be lonely if the internet hadn't existed. Maybe even more people would be lonely! Ebert brings up statistics about child abuse. He doesn't want us to get stuck on the numbers, but simply wants us to acknowledge the fact that so many lives are ruined from the beginning. Kids are told how worthless they are. Kids grow up learning not to trust. Lack of trust causes isolation. Also, he tries to apply the functioning of Alcoholics Anonymous to a Lonely People type group. Would less people be lonely if they could go somewhere and share their thoughts with strangers for an hour? I agree with Roger Ebert. It may not help a lot, but they might feel a little better knowing that they had some sort of impact on someone somewhere.
I have felt lonely in my life. I don't really know what I do to "cure" it though. Sometimes I write or blog... Doesn't really do much. I talk to people, but it doesn't help really. Sometimes, I really just need to be physically close to someone. Or just in their presence. The internet is something that helps me round out who I am as a person. I blog to spread my ideas through the internet. I keep in touch with both of my best friends with use of the internet. I learn new stuff every day because of the internet. Overall, I don't think the internet isolates us. I think that if people have the ability to go out and physically socialize with others, they should, but the internet helps bring us together mentally.
Ebert says, "What do lonely people desire? Companionship. Love. Recognition. Entertainment. Camaraderie. Distraction. Encouragement. Change. Feedback. Someone once said the fundamental reason we get married is because have a universal human need for a witness. All of these are possibilities. But what all lonely people share is a desire not to be -- or at least not to feel -- alone." I agree completely. I agree especially with the marriage part. I am completely obsessed with weddings, but I really value the marriage that comes after too. My friend asked me the other day why I don't want to sit on the swings. I told her it was because I hate the feeling of physically being alone almost as much as being mentally alone. Knowing my obsession with the zodiac, she asked me if all Scorpios were like that. In fact, most aren't. They need time to themselves. However, Scorpios generally have a want to come home to someone at the end of the day and feel needed and loved. That's what marriage would provide for me. Someone would be a witness to my thoughts, my ideas, my feelings, my life. They would be their to encourage me or distract me depending on what I needed. Having that person would make me feel not alone.
I definitely think Ezra Klein and Roger Ebert are on to something here... Well, until next time!
