The Internet is all about communication. It’s first great breakthroughs were eMail, Chats and Newsgroups - places and mechanism for people to talk to each other, share stories and moments. The Web - with it’s rich multimedia mix of text, images, animations videos and loads of interaction came later.
The first Internet years were pure ‘Text’ - no fancy graphics, no weird interfaces, no flash movies. It was a writers paradise - and boy did people work that keyboard. That is why all those handy acronyms were invented in the first place - because they were used a lot and people got sick and tired of typing it all out. It was intended to speed up the conversation and develop some simple forms of ‘communication blocks and codes’ to ritualize reoccurring situations like ‘ROFL’ or ‘ttyl’.
eMail and chats were already different from formal letters and meeting in the office. But people tried to keep grammar, expression and context intact. It was fascinating to exchange loads of text & context in real time or almost instantly. eMail was like a speed drug for communication and brainstorming. Communication processes that often took days and weeks could be shortened to seconds, minutes or just a few hours. Brains were on fire.
This trend was pushed even further with the cell phone revolution and the invention of the web - which brought texting and web surfing to the masses. Further down the road broadband and multimedia transformed the pure ‘text-only’ online cosmos into a ‘disney-compatible consumer experience’.
Happiness is more then just an emoticon …
Websurfers and companies alike tried to make it short and sweet. Online portals developed the art of content management and squeezing as much tiny headlines and articles on their homepages. Instant messaging and texting on cell phones was the next craze - conversations were chopped up into even smaller bits. The old text emoticons were immediately translated into graphical ones - and a flood of new acronyms and Internet ‘talk’ took over the world.
The use of acronyms and rituals become even deeper entrenched in Internet communication - and it swapped over into the mainstream. Suddenly you could see web URLs in advertising and Internet slang jumped into ‘meatspace’.
But it also ritualized the always on lifestyle and communication even further. Sending jokes, images, videos, URLs or short blurbs became a substitute for describing yourself, your emotions or what you had experienced in YOUR OWN WORDS. Instead of self expression we used ‘blocks of code’ or ‘canned emotions’ to reflect ourselves - but not EXPRESSING our own state of mind.
I love your pixelation!
Instead of encouraging someone with a personal note - we send a picture of a cute doggy. Instead of saying how we feel about a sad moment with some nuances we send a sad emoticon. Instead of describing our vacation to our friends we send them a link of our Flickr gallery of snaps without context.
In all these cases we get shorter and shorter in our self expression. By breaking up complex situations or moments into simple symbols or unrelated bits we loose the complexity. The complexity of what has happened. The complexity of what we think and feel about it. And the complexity of different layers of self expression. Instead of many colour we mix ourselves with words, sentences, long expression - we use static rubberstamps of self expression. Easy and simple to use - but limited in their emotional and mental range - and shallow compared what really might be inside of you.
When you are on MySpace Google will make sure you have no privacy …
Especially the new world of social networking is ’shrtr’. Instead of messages you send ‘funny’ games or emoticons. Instead of telling a person you like them or you ignore them you ‘rate’ them by giving them stars or declaring them your friend. Symbolism over true friendly dedication or exchange. Instead of socializing we extend our social networks by inviting the highest ranking and rated members of the database. Instead of getting to know someone and exchanging personal stories we explore their personal links, lists of favorite websites and online galleries - plus we Google their names and see if something nasty comes up.
It is no longer about what you have to say and what you are - it’s all about the right links, ranking and cool ’statement blocks’ others can recognize as greatness. You link the right political articles on your blog or stumble, you know the funniest videos, one big celebrity is your friend on MySpace.
I have friends - therefore I am!
The art and exploration of yourself through self expression and deep thoughts has been substituted by the cleverness of self linking and self promoting. The Google PageRank of your homepage, profile or profile has become a social indicator.
The art of making friends with your personality and what you have to say and stand for. Instead of exploring one’s own inner world and building it by thinking and expressing it - we only reflect only tiny aspects of our self via links, phrases and other people’s work like videos and images.
The modern phrase and lifestyle statement ‘express yourself’ - which can be seen in so many commercials and new age books - is a challenge. It is hard work and it is a personal and social effort to express yourself, to understand yourself, to think for yourself and define yourself.
A complex personality and emotional depth can only come from complex self expression. You are the builder of your self …
Dedicated to Judefa - who inspired me to write this.
