During my short time in Vegas I listened to and partook, in many formal, informal, academic and recreational conversations about technology and social media. This often resulted in debates over the digital/actual split (or lack thereof). Those who espoused the digital/actual split did so with a clear privileging of the “actual” (i.e. physical). This debate is in line with much of the work done on this blog, and in particular with a few recent comment threads (especially here, but also here). In response to this, I’ve devised a list of reasons why this split is so vehemently maintained by some, and why the digital is de-valued.
This de-valuing is rooted, I believe, in a series of fears. These fears include:
- Social isolation
- Loss of communication and interpersonal skills
- Loss of attention span
- Loss of emotional connection
- A contrived sense of self
- Loss of authenticity
- Narcissism
- Voyeurism
- Loss of privacy
- Loss of intimacy
- Decreased tactile stimulation
- Dishonesty
- Delusion
- Uncertainty
I point out these fears not necessarily to dispel them, but to better understand the meanings and implications of a particular cultural moment characterized by vast technological growth and mediated forms of interaction. To fully understand a cultural moment, we have to understand the resistance to it. We can look at the cultural values from which these fears stem. We can look at the conditions under which these fears are valid, and the conditions under which these fears are overstated.
Finally, I should point out that this list is no way exhaustive. I would therefore like to ask the Cyborgology readers: What other fears drive digital dualism and a privileging of the physical?
Comments 2
Replqwtil — August 25, 2011
It's funny, because these seem similar to fears that have followed every major move in media throughout history. Going back to the origin of writing, right up to widespread literacy, the printing press, the telegraph, radio, television, and which continue today. It reminds me of an article that showed how every generation in British history for the past two and half centuries has experienced a panic about the moral degradation of the next generation youths, all with the same causes, effects, and dystopian future posited. Every generation seems to harbor a feeling of particularness, of feeling like what they are experiencing is new and unfounded. And this is difficult, because it Is new every time. It is always different than previous changes, but it still seems to follow the same pattern. However we seem to find that, no matter what change happens in society, people continue to be people. Humans are still humans, and they seem to come out of it retaining their essential characteristics into the new world (New Flesh?).
All of this is to say, these seem to mr to be the same conservative fears that have dogged every major change in media. I think the only way they will dissipate is through time, when they are concretely shown to be hollow.
Jenny Davis — August 25, 2011
So true!! Ice cream shops used to be feared because they were spaces in which girls and boys could meet and mingle--leading of course to wild sexual exploits.