Today, there are millions of virtual communities with their own languages, rules and codes of conduct. The most bizzare and compelling individuals become heros, trendsetters and legends (when and if they fade away). Some leave and come back stronger than ever. Ownership of these online worlds changes hands regularly; factors such as momentum, shock value and the ability to deconstruct challengers all play a part in the development of ones online aura. It seems that rarely does anyone stay on top for long; the seat is too hot and the barrage to fierce. The highest level boarders are titans battling into eternity, words and imagery their armament.
Users spend years building reputations, gaining allies and "exposing" enemies. The growing library of multimedia on the web has also given users a new weapon in their arsenal- HTML- which enables hacking and use (and possibly abuse) of pictures and video. With the most serious online posters, as our hero has seen, the dismantling of a forum foe spills over into the physical realm, having real world consequences. Broken engagements, jail-time, lawsuits, violent confrontations and pregnancies are just some examples of the fallout from these virtual wars. Grown men have crumbled like the walls of Babylon.
For this reason many message boarders go to great lengths to keep their true identities secret, using aliases and gimmicks to mislead, confuse or spread further influence. While many of these online communities began and still exist underground, the model has become more conventional. Mainstream news sites that allow the anyone to comment on stories have given the public as much power as the journalist. The validity of factual information can be called into question and arguments can be disputed by anyone. If you have ever posted a You Tube comment, registered for E-Harmony or answered an ad on Craigslist, you are participating. Christian Bale won the role of Batman because of his popularity with online super hero geeks.
Its not just talent and style that take posters to the upper echelon but frequency and level of contribution. Generally thousands of posts and a strong resume of forum victories are essential to being accepted by the elite membership. As our hero has seen, users go to unbelievable lengths to prove themselves. Serious, civil debate has spiraled out of control into terrible freak-shows where heinous monsters rear their heads as madness descends. Silly jesters giggle and dance in the background while the King, not sure wether to scream for order or laugh maniacally, looses his grip.
But in the end, it's all about the LOLs. Board Hard.
"On the nets I can name myself anything I want, and so can you." - Peter Wiggin
6 comments:
Is Peter more evil than Achilles?
Neither should be messed with. Peter exposed Achilles originally and being Ender's brother, has a more inside track on him. That being said, comparing their histories, Achilles is more rutheless, born out of a life on the streets. Peter is more dangerous but Achilles is more evil.
Have we ever been given any insight as to the Wiggins Parents? I mean, sometimes it feels as though the entire spectrum of human emotion is being played out in the hands of their kids, what kind of life did they live? Are the memories of the cold war still infused in their being? Is Ender the human super-ego? It will interesting to witness the future of street life and how ruthless it will be. Thanks for the guaranteed intuit...
The series does talk about the parents, John Paul and Theresa. John Paul was originally approached by Graff for battle school, but was deemed too rebellious. Theresa was the daughter of military genius. There is even speculation that they were forced to meet by the IF, resulting in their three genius children. This breaks the overpopulation law of only 2 children. It seems the do it your own way style of his parents trickled down into Ender.
I agree the emotion is conveyed through the children. Through their various situations they are forced to grow up fast. Its interesting that, in this universe, the most brilliant minds are immediately groomed and turned into weapons.
Cozmik G-
I agree with your final note that frequency plays an important role in notoriety and recognition. Quantity of contribution, how often a given community updates is so disproportionately influential.
This is ironic insofar as it is collectively disadvantageous. Scott Adams of Dilbert fame compared today's information flows to firehose pointed at a teacup. Too much information negatively impacts our societal ability to retain, discern and effectively share data. We are overwhelmed and fragmented. Despite ever more ability to spew commentary, we feel ever more isolated and alone.
CCe-
Glad to have you here and look forward to your eloquent and informed contributions. I couldn't agree more with Adams' teacup metaphor. The oversaturation does do the surfer a diservice. So often do we find ourselves swimming endless circles in cyberspace. The Cozmik Word is my attempt at creating an open and honest web discussion.
Clarion Content is exquisite with regard to providing information in an educational, entertaining and non judgemental way. It is my dream, that through these models, true progress can be made.
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