What is scary to me are some of the responses her identities elicited.This is precisely why my Facebook account is a pseudonym, even though I know I can be found in the virtual world. All I can think of, though, when it comes to any type of fully online relationship, can be summed up in photos:
Now, am I saying this only applies to women? Of course not. To wit...
It is the expectation vs. reality--how we want people to see us vs. how we actually are. Of course these are hyperbole and intended for comedic effect. But the concept remains the same: can we really trust anyone we only know through the medium of cyberspace??
Good one, Andrea! Personally, I will suppress any photo of myself that does not comply - at least loosely - with my illusion of self. Just last Saturday I attended a workshop and a group photo was taken at the end. I was shocked when I saw the photo because I had gone the whole day thinking I looked one way, but the photo showed me something else. Is this fallacy driven by media? I think the images can also come from real people.
ReplyDeleteThis idea reminds me of when I hear my voice recorded and played back. I'm always horrified and in denial that it's actually my voice! And, I have to admit, I do have strict qualifications for the pictures that I upload of myself online.
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