In his book Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob, Lee Siegel attempts to expose the dark side of the internet. I found most of the arguments less than compelling -- for instance that excellence and originality are sacrificed for popularity. That's always been the case.
Then he started talking about porn.
"The consummate vicarious endeavour, it thrives on and guarantees anonymity. Pornography transfigures other people into instruments of your will . . . you can mentally manipulate them without fear of rejection or reprisal."
Fair enough, but then he says:
"Pornography and technology are joined at the hip. They both transform the reality outside your head into means whose sole end is convenience." "Technology is a blessing . . . but it will not lead you to other people as finalities, as ends in themselves existing outside your needs and desires."
Through technology, he argues, the world shrinks down to just one person: you. So when you chat online, or read a Facebook profile (or blog), are you interacting with a real person? Or does the detachment of the internet allow you to see whatever you want?
But really, who needs the internet's help to do that? It's hard to think of a time I've treated someone as an end in themselves. Perhaps the internet just reveals the essential problem of "being human" after all.
Based on the given description, Mr. Siegel's writings seem to assume that those people whom a person interacts with on the internet or with technology are mere strangers. People of unknown origin, being used to the internet user's own means. Sure they may have a face (picture) or a short bio, but in effect they are strangers which the user really doesn’t care much about and can and probably often does use as an instrument of their will. Used, perhaps, merely as a diary to help one track their thoughts or get another unbiased opinion, or possibly a less moral connection. No one can claim that seeking an third party opinion is always a wrongful act, but the miss use of an “unconnected” third party certainly is.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I dare say that most people use the internet as a communication medium with people they already know or have known. Facebook can be no more perfect example in that everyday people can go on and see snapshots of persons’ lives whom they have not seen in many years, or who they look forward to seeing later that day. Therefore, if these connections are not with strangers, how then can the internet or technology not lead you to another person, rather than just yourself?
Is it a question of sense connection? If so, the person on the other end is real to the user, he or she knows them personally, has spent time with them, and can mentally picture their reaction. In fact, the now greater improved timeliness of communication offer by technology reinforces the personal connection. Just compare writing a letter to posting on a blog or e-mail. Furthermore, while obviously personal contact allows for the use of all the body's sense capabilities, is this necessary for all interaction? Does the author then include writing letters and taking pictures as technology? Is talking on the phone close enough to be considered okay, but chatting via Skype not? Moreover, I would go so far as to claim that in many cases a degree of personal connection removal allows people to open up and truly talk about how they feel or what they are thinking about, almost as if a barrier of awkwardness or even fear of rejection has been removed.
To close, technology seems best defined as a tool available for use. No different than us creating a shovel to displace dirt, rather than using our hands. Whether or not people are capable of hiding behind it or misusing is a question of humanity and not of the tool. Shovels have been used as weapons, have been coveted, and have been bartered for things I am sure we’d consider much worse. Yet, they provide for an improved way of living, and allow for one man to take care of another, thus I cannot claim them as evil. Mr. Siegal, how is technology or the internet any different?