technoculture314-09

Today's lecture really opened up my eyes on the different types of relationships people in today's modern society are able or unable to have. Looking at what a relationship is from a historical or traditional point of view would obviously be one that is physical, not just through intimacy, but physical in terms of being able to see your partner in front of you (face to face). With the rise of technology however, one is able to have these "online relationships", which I personally believe can be looked at it in both positive and negative aspects. It can benefit those who do not share the same level of confidence that many of us have in the "real outside world". It can give one the confidence to approach people online, and allow him or her to say or do things that he/she are unable to do outside the internet. However, looking at online relationships from a negative aspect, I would have to say that one may become too attached to the person he/she is interacting with on the other side of the screen, or maybe it can lead to a sort of obsession that comes from one side. Even worse, if personal information such as an address or phone number is given out, then it can lead to danger occurring outside the internet. I recall seeing something similar to this in a documentary. I also agree with Luke Goode on how the internet commodifies sex and intimacy. I feel that technology has given us the opportunity to change our life, however it is the person's own decision whether he or she choose to change it for the better or worse. I don't think that the issue of online pornography should be given so much attention. Pornography is something that is part of society and it has been for a long time. No one really knows how much more it will develop and whether it would be more acceptable or be seen as an immoral sort of behaviour in the near or far future. What I'm trying to point out here is that there are much wider and more important issues that are occurring globally which should be looked at. On the 'Infidelity and the New Media' topic, many class mates and I found it ridiculously funny that a woman divorced her husband because of his "virtual online sex". I do however agree on the fact that new media has definitely given people the opportunity of infidelity, it is much easier and people may feel more free to cheat on his or her partner, whether it's by text messaging, chatting online or agreeing on meeting someone in the real world after chatting online. With that, I feel that it is easy to get caught, because technology always leaves one's traces, and therefore I would agree on what was also discussed in class, about how people who fool around by using technology should do so in a smart way. New media has clearly increased the way we choose to interact with people, I personally believe that it helps to shape our relationships with those around us, it can however be both a positive and a negative thing.