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What Defines a True Connection?
Cyberspace is a wonderful place to communicate with anyone you want around the world; the only problem is that true identity remains a mystery to the person on the other end. This can be seen as a positive aspect of the internet because no judgment can be made on your physical appearance, a dream come true for kids around the world. The price you pay for this luxury, however, is that you miss out on truly connecting with that other person. I guess it all depends on your view of what is required to make a connection with someone. Some would argue that your mind is the only thing that is actually required to connect with someone on a deep level. Your mind is, in fact, unique from every other person’s mind on the planet. You may share some of the same physical traits with another person, but no two minds are identical. So, isn’t this enough reasoning to say that the mind is the only requirement for a true connection? Not quite. The feeling one gets while in the actual presence of another is irreplaceable. Logically, it would make sense to say that, by putting the very most important part of you (your thoughts, feelings, opinions, etc.) on the internet, that you are truly demonstrating, to others, the real you. That indescribable experience, however, of being in another’s company may make others beg to differ on the matter. Quite possibly, it’s our incredible senses that make moments face-to-face difficult to replicate over the internet. That pleasant cologne you smelled from that guy on the train this morning, or that disruptive nudge that woman gave you as she ran past you on her way to a meeting. Impressions such as these are hard for your senses to ignore and impossible for the internet to produce. The ability to create our own identity can get very dangerous very quickly. The simple fact that people |
tend to stretch the truth about the qualities they possess and what makes them unique from others poses a problem; this is especially true with respect to dating sites. The second you enter the world of online dating, sorting out hidden identities from the real ones is all part of the game. The only thing people on the internet have to go off of is the information you provide to them. Whether correct or incorrect, this information is then used in the formation of their opinion on you. Giving information out can get tricky, though, as putting vital information in the hands of the wrong person can be risky business.
As for women, creating an identity on the internet can be a daunting task because gender identities on the internet are already set for us. Fear of demeaning comments and sexual assault via the internet is common amongst the majority of women on the internet today. Also common on the internet is the assumption that women, in general, are less tech-savvy than men and, therefore, may not know all the ins and outs of the internet. Some might even argue that women have no place on the internet at all. These, and a number of other qualities, make up the assumed identity of women on the internet. This makes it difficult for a woman to venture out of this pre-set outline created by society and actually have her points and opinions be considered valid. For instance, if a female created a website to blog about her experiences in engineering and to give advice to others who are considering careers in any type of engineering, the information provided may not be taken as seriously as it would be coming from a male’s website on the same matter. Breaking out of this mold and proving to others that a woman’s identity on the internet may be more than meets the eye is key in being able to create your very own identity. |