Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Addiction

What's the most interesting aspect about MUDs is how the topic of addiction versus virtuosity becomes an issue of debate.  Prior to the article, I could not understand how these addictions developed.  Within a virtual world, one wold assume that we would choose real life interactions over virtual interactions no matter what.  Yet, the stereotypical nerd is not the only person who is subject to the addiction. So, the extension of the theory  that a person does not wish to leave their comfort zone due to issues with mastery to the virtual world makes complete sense to me.  
Rheingold goes into detail with this, " Pride in one's ability to master a medium is a positive thing.  but if the sense of self becomes defined in terms of those things over which one can exert perfect control, the world of safe things becomes severely limited--because those things tend to be things, not people.  Mastery can cease to be a growing force in individual development and take on another face.  It becomes a way of masking fears about the self and the complexities of the world beyond.  People can become trapped."
Is this a culture we want to exist since the culture is inherently isolating (physically)?  Can a person ever get true satisfaction from a virtual world or does our participation (extensive) gurantee us a trip to a psychologist? \

2 comments:

Dave said...

That's a funny comment about the trip to the psychologist. Seems very likely. I agree and thing Rheingold is onto something with the control illusion being exercised and demonstrated in a virtual world. It seems to often attract those who are powerless or feeling powerless in the "real world."
I think for other reasons it becomes addictive as well. When it's dark and gloomy outside, there is always a guarantee what it will be like online. People are given a stable environment which they can rely on something, as typical as the whether will be stable for them.

Dave said...

That's a funny comment about the trip to the psychologist. Seems very likely. I agree and thing Rheingold is onto something with the control illusion being exercised and demonstrated in a virtual world. It seems to often attract those who are powerless or feeling powerless in the "real world."
I think for other reasons it becomes addictive as well. When it's dark and gloomy outside, there is always a guarantee what it will be like online. People are given a stable environment which they can rely on something, as typical as the whether will be stable for them.