What is it about technology that brings out our darker sides? But to put the question in a more expository light; what is it about the Internet that makes us seem to lose any concept of shame? One minute, we can be so petty about keeping things private/secret/concealed. And then the next minute, we get on our computers and then everything is either put on display, or your dark side comes out.
Things like inappropriate/overly intimate photos, innermost and vulgar/rude/racist/hurtful thoughts and all the other things we wouldn't want the world to normally see; are now available 24/7 online.
Offline, you might have the discretion skills of a nun. Offline, you might not believe in stalking someone. Offline, you're yourself.
But online... who do you become? What sort of person is it that types those statuses? Who is the person posting the picture? Who is the person being creepy?
In life, it's inevitable for us to do dumb stuff we will all regret. Whether it's getting a tattoo, or whether it's riding a bike off a cliff to get the disability pension... that's up to you.
Another thing that's supposedly in your control is how you behave online. It's perfectly easy to be a good little boy/girl with Internet usage. There's just a tonne of rules telling you not to do certain stuff.
Listening to those rules is not a matter of life or death, but rather a matter of gradual shame.
And thebeautiful thing about the Internet? Whatever rule you break, you always leave a digital footprint in the sands of time. It's hard to wash them away, and you also can't get rid of any duplicate footprints, or the memories in your mind and everyone else's.
If you're going to be shameful, I'd like to say the best place to do that is offline. But seeing as there's cameras on phones nowadays; we might as well just avoid doing things we will regret.
Unfortunately, regret is one of the inevitable elements of life, and without it, stuff is somehow meaningless.
If you're ever going to regret anything then; make sure there's no cameras or Wi-Fi around at the time. Because the shame increases tenfold when it's all online.
Things like inappropriate/overly intimate photos, innermost and vulgar/rude/racist/hurtful thoughts and all the other things we wouldn't want the world to normally see; are now available 24/7 online.
Offline, you might have the discretion skills of a nun. Offline, you might not believe in stalking someone. Offline, you're yourself.
But online... who do you become? What sort of person is it that types those statuses? Who is the person posting the picture? Who is the person being creepy?
In life, it's inevitable for us to do dumb stuff we will all regret. Whether it's getting a tattoo, or whether it's riding a bike off a cliff to get the disability pension... that's up to you.
Another thing that's supposedly in your control is how you behave online. It's perfectly easy to be a good little boy/girl with Internet usage. There's just a tonne of rules telling you not to do certain stuff.
Listening to those rules is not a matter of life or death, but rather a matter of gradual shame.
And the
If you're going to be shameful, I'd like to say the best place to do that is offline. But seeing as there's cameras on phones nowadays; we might as well just avoid doing things we will regret.
Unfortunately, regret is one of the inevitable elements of life, and without it, stuff is somehow meaningless.
If you're ever going to regret anything then; make sure there's no cameras or Wi-Fi around at the time. Because the shame increases tenfold when it's all online.
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