Remember that famous New Yorker Cartoon, i.e. “On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.” ?
The cartoon, published in 1993, showed two dogs sitting at a computer with one at the keyboard, illustrating how–at least back then–it didn’t really matter who you were, you could be anyone you wanted online.
I think there’s a noticeable, striking difference today, in the world of Facebook, Twitter, et al. The Internet — before the social web — was a fairly anonymous place. When you posted messages on a mailing list, it wasn’t your name (or often, your alias) which counted, it was what you said in your message. In a myriad of ways, it was what you did–rather than who you knew, how you looked, or who you associated with that mattered.
Today–particularly with the social web–it’s more about who you’re linked with, your “friends”, your latest video/photo, what clique you hang out with, what your political opinions are, where you went to school, etc.–an almost 180 degree turn from the once-anonymous Internet. Today, they not only would know that you are a dog, they would know you were a border collie, where you went to obedience school, that you were a fan of Cesar Milan, that your mother was a poodle, your birthday, your ten best friends, if you liked dry or wet dog food, your favorite spot to “mark” territory, how often you went on walks, and who you happened to sniffed out walking.
Now, you might not care, or perhaps, you like all of that social interaction and collaboration. But this is why I mourn the loss of that anonymity: there’s been a loss of the power of merit, intelligent dialogue, and substance in exchange for high school level superficiality. It seems, things which shouldn’t matter (are you male, female — black, white, asian, whatever — disabled, able — Republican/Democrat)–have been thrust into the forefront of the dialogue. So, instead of people paying attention to the substance and facts, it has, sadly, often retreated back to “do you look like/think/dress like me, do you have the same friends as me and hang out with the “cool people” and therefore should I value your opinion?”
I recall a conversation with a very smart, knowledgable friend–who also happens to be physically big, intimidating, and of Middle Eastern descent–about his objections to posting a photo of him on the Internet. I have talked with females who are extremely careful about their online networking because the high level of inappropriate comments and pick up attempts. I wonder about the personal information — things that HR departments and employment attorneys would cringe about if they were asked on an employment form — spread out on Facebook or elsewhere for everyone to see.
Sure, there’s lots to be said for this new social world. And, maybe I’m just being grumpy because I’ve always hated social cliques and “popularity”. But it seems like we’re losing some of the most empowering attributes of the Internet with the social web — anonymity, color-blindness, valuing intellectual merit of ideas, and the weighing of substance over style.
