In Response to Thomas: 3/10

Original Post by Kim Thomas: 1. In "Modern Media and Persuasion," Larsen describes McLuhan's point of view on media usage. McLuhan sees innovations such as the television and internet as creating a "lonely crowd." Due to the fact that watching television and surfing the internet are activities we do alone and often, we have sacrificed relationships with our neighbors. I certainly do not know any of my neighbors, do you? However, there is also the opinion that the internet has created a "Global Village." Through the internet we are able to connect to people all over the world. The definition of community now includes and online community such as the ones we find on Facebook and Myspace. Which view of the internet, and television do you lean towards? Is the internet alienating ourselves from each other? Has it changed what we consider socializing? Or has the internet brought us together?

McLuhan, Larson and Thomas all make interesting points about the advancement of media control in our society. When it comes down to it, people are overwhelmed with electronic options—phones, internet, iPods, television, etc. There is so much to keep us occupied. This “lonely crowd” that McLuhan discusses is flourishing day by day as people decide to congregate on the internet rather than in person. Although impersonal and often detrimental to our social skills, its benefits are worth noting.
The internet has a certain veil of secrecy and anonymity that people are drawn to. When chatting with friends, because we are not in person and hence unable to read expressions, generally speaking we are more honest and straight-forward. This is to say that when behind a screen and detached from direct contact humans automatically feel more confident. It is as if we are drunken with personal power and persuasion. In many ways our rhetoric changes when we are on the internet—sending an e-mail or chatting with a friend through facebook. Often times what we say through the written word may differ from what comes across aurally and in person. Messages are coded and decoded in very distinct ways through each medium.
As far as the internet sacrificing relationships, I would argue that while it does limit our interpersonal contact there is room for relationship building through the veil—albeit limited. First and foremost, a relationship created online is not a relationship. A more substantive relationship includes personal contact and the understanding of someone's oral and auditory habits. A person may be completely different in person then how they present themselves online. Lets face it—humans are naturally good liars. The concept of the “Global Village” does have some warrant in this argument, however. The internet has allowed individuals to connect to virtually anyone and anything. The world has become smaller with a simple click of a button. This virtual globalization, however, faces the same problems and same criticisms as a larger move towards globalization in where there often is a loss of culture at the expense of integration.
This movement towards a global village via the internet is two-fold. On one hand individuals are separating and thus alienating themselves from immediate personal contacts (this idea of loneliness) while on the other hand we are consequentially creating a culture of community albeit limited. I use limited in the sense that, again, relationships from online are not true relationships to the fullest extent. However, there is something that is created with such easy connection. This something—whether it is greater understanding, respect or questioning of another culture proves the power the internet has over our daily lives. There is no escaping it nor the inevitable juxtaposition of alienation and community. While an odd combination, it is one that seems to work for many people.