Society ~ Personal vs. Vitual

[Demetrius]

After the reply to my post in the 'Grinding Gears' thread, I started thinking about Social interactions and societies. As in this forum is in and of itself a society with written and unwritten laws, interactions and banninations. How does this stack up against actual personal interaction as far as satisfying your needs for interaction? This is something that I am acutely aware of due to the fact that my job acts as a means to ostracize me from most personal interactions; throughout the week the people I interact with the most and 'talk' the most with is you guys. I am finding that this is not the thing for me, as much as I like you guys this level of 'social interaction' isn't enough for me, I am for person to person interaction. Loki (former third shift guy with me), however enjoys the solitude of nights and the virtual interactions. Where do you guys sit on this? What is your preference?

[Phlegyas]

Hmmmm... I think I rather prefer real-life interaction. Certainly I have had more internet interaction as of late, but I also just moved to a whole new state so I don't know anyone. I know when I was back in California, I never really visited the forums or anything like that at all. As for you having a late shift, I used to work graveyard and it can be a bit tough, but what you will learn to get used to is just going to sleep right when you get home from work and wake up and fit your interaction there, then go to work. I mean, most of my dates then, I would be just waking up and going to a dinner or coming home from work and going to breakfast with my then girlfriend. Ultimately, I prefer graveyard, even with a preference towards social interaction. It just takes some work.

[Nique]

Wow. This almost belongs in disscussion.

Here's me: All you guys are to me is information. Text and sometimes images on a screen. That isn't to say that I don't enjoy posting here, or that I literally don't belive in your induvidual exsistance... But emotionally? Not as much attachment as you get with physical proximity.

It's interesting... To me, the way we interact is incredibly ceribrial. Simply put, we get to observe what the others here are expressing without actually observing them express it... at least, in the traditional sense. I mean, tone of voice, body langauge, bad smell etc... all these things can kind of turn you off to a person, or attract you to them. We get none of that here.

Here, all we have is thought only. Just opinions, with rare exception for those extremely talented at representing their actual personalities (re: morons) in written form.

[Althane]

Aww, you don't really love me, Nique?

Seriously, I prefer the internet over personal interaction. Why? Because where I go on the internet, people are mostly NOT complete retards. (Fifth excluded, because I like excluding him)

Where I go in real life, except for my college classes, people ARE complete retards, and immature little idiots who think saying "Your FACE is *something" or "Your MOM is *Something" is a good comeback. Or who think that "Gay" is a totally cool word to use as "Stupid" and as an insult, instead of using just a few neurons and making an actually GOOD insult.

Here, all we have is thought only

And that's why I love the damn internet. Keeping away from the retarded places is easy, and you can't get sued for assault when you want to bash them over their heads.

[greed]

Gotta agree with Althane. The fact that the internet is "just thought" really appeals to me(the lack of idiots in my general haunts helps too). I also derive no more or less enjoyment from contact with people over the internet than I do with people in the outside world.

[Critic]

I prefer the physical interaction myself.

Why?

Answer: Body language. Even though I'm quickly annoyed with physical people, I can also understand physical people better, enabling me to relate to them easier. Have you ever tried to explain how to do something on the computer over the telephone? even if it's a friend it's still a pain in the ass.

Question: Could communication via phone be considered virtual?

[Althane]

I wouldn't consider phones to be virtual communication, mostly due to the fact that it's instantaneous. On the internet, you have more of a setup to think, plus there's nothing but your thoughts themselves, no tone or inflection, no grunts or hmmms unless you put them in there.

Hmmm

Yeah, like that.

[Major Blood]

I'm all for virtual myself. Really it comes down to this in my opinion...

Where i live, nobody likes the things i like. I have nothing in common with everyone else. When i come to, NPF for example, just about everybody here likes the things i like. It makes it easier to relate to people. So why should the fact that we've never actually met face to face come into the equation? I say it should not.

[Sir Pinkleton]

throughout the week the people I interact with the most and 'talk' the most with is you guys.
Aww, how sweet. ^_^

On a different note, However much I enjoy internet interaction, it can't replace the physical world interactions. Sure their might be more annoying/embarissing events out there, in the real world, but it makes me feel like I'm actually doing something.
That, and you can't enjoy a donut on the internet (or at least not quickly).

[Azisien]

Well, there is some tone, it's just not physical. Just a different medium of conferring tone (body language vs. written language). Obviously we're a little more naturally inclined to understand physical interaction, the Internet hasn't been around for long.

I'd say the majority of my interaction is virtual, if only because with a PC, and a laptop, and frequent wireless Internet access, I can manage to be online more often than out with friends. Do I prefer one over the other? I'd have to say I'm roughly neutral. I don't really give a damn about body language or all that stuff, much as I enjoy staring at the bodies of my heterosexual male friends. Meanwhile, the Internet can be a little slow at times if you only surf half a dozen or so websites like I do, and the lack of physical interaction makes you wonder exactly who you're chatting with.

Like for instance, half of you might be decapitating kittens right now, and I'm sitting here going, "Oh that Althane, what a nice young man he must be."

On the plus side for physical interaction? Boobies!

[CelesJessa]

I'm all for the physical interaction. Yes I do enjoy talking to people online, but, for me at least, the connection just doesn't feel as completely real. I mean, I know there's a person on the other side of the computer, but I need to see people smile, hear them laugh, hug them when they're sad. It's also very easy to misread the intent of someone (sarcasm, sadness) without hearing the tone and other parts of communication.

For me, there's some things where words alone just don't cut it.

That's not to say I don't enjoy speaking to people online, and making friends online and such. I just value my non-internet friends and family above all else. (and there's just as many dumb people online as there are offline)

[Althane]

Any particular reason that you chose me?

Well, let me lay your fears to rest. I haven't killed any kittens lately, nor dogs. There was the rabbit, but that was an accident. I also haven't killed any humans yet.

[Azisien]

Well I chose you because I figure you're a nice young man. Not because I think you decapitate kittens. No, of course not that.

[Phlegyas]

That, and you can't enjoy a donut on the internet (or at least not quickly).

Well, you do get to enjoy cookies. Hey-oh! Ba-da pish!

[Althane]

Well I chose you because I figure you're a nice young man. Not because I think you decapitate kittens. No, of course not that.

How do you even know I'm nice/young/a man? Besides the fact that I portray myself as an angry guy who's too nice for his own good. =P

>_>

<_<

*hides the kitty ears*

[Flarecobra]

I'll go with both. After all, face-to-face, you get to hear tone and see body language, but then again online, you can actually take time to think things out, and if you decide to change something a minute later, you can just go back and do it.

[Nique]

I'll go with both. After all, face-to-face, you get to hear tone and see body language, but then again online, you can actually take time to think things out, and if you decide to change something a minute later, you can just go back and do it.

Which makes it more like you are reading someone's analysis or documentation of something instead of having a natural conversation. *shrugs* forum conversation has its place, but you're missing out if you don't value some human interaction on a more basic level.

Shooting the breeze just to be around someone who's company you enjoy? Not a bad way to kill a few hours.