Recently a little known man named Christopher Poole spoke at the Web 2.0 Summit on “internet identities”. He claimed that Facebook and Google Plus are incorrect in their ideas on how people want to see themselves on the internet. In case you have no idea what he’s talking about or why you should listen to him, I have some clarifications for you. By now if you haven’t heard of Facebook you’ve been living under a rock. Social networking is one of the biggest tools available on the internet. Everyone from individuals to corporations have a presence on at least one of the many different Social Networking sites. Yet a young man named Christopher Poole, known to the internet community as “moot”, claims that Facebook and Google have gotten everything wrong.
He claims that Facebook and Google have set up a process where people are forced to use their “real life” persona. You are identified by your first and last name and are only that. No matter which picture you’re in, no matter what social groups you’re a part of, you are always identified by your first and last names. Poole claims that this is incorrect and that people naturally adopt different personas based on the social circles they are in and what they identify with. If you are unfamiliar with technology, you may not understand what he’s saying, but it’s actually a rather simple concept. When you register with a site you are asked for a “username”. The username that you select becomes your identity on that site. It is your name, your connection, your means of identification. You are no longer “[First Name] [Last Name]”, you are “AwesomeMom2” or “CoolBikerDad7”. The way that you act when you have that shield of “anonymity” is different than the way you would act in public. You can change your personality to suit your environment, your friends, your needs, or your desires. Your kids are exactly the same way. When I play Xbox 360 games I am “Gunner0079”, a master of Gears of War and respectful gaming community member. When I play PC games I am “KingAstaroth”, the terror of Modern Warfare and Left 4 Dead who is a powerful ally and a fearsome enemy. When I write game reviews and conduct business online I am “The Legendary Carmine”, a die-hard gaming fan dedicated to making the video game industry seem a bit friendlier to those who aren’t necessarily deep in the community. Your kids are the exact same way. When they go to school they’re a different kind of “Johnny Smith” than when they’re home. When they’re online they’re “LittleBoyBlue3” and they’ll shift their behavior to what they think is best suited to the community of friends they have created. The internet is an unbelievable world where your kids can explore who they are and who they want to become. I can guarantee that kids who understand the value of truth, justice, and freedom will be people online who are respectful members of internet communities. The people online that sometimes pop up on the news, who use the mask of anonymity to hurt others or make the internet a wretched hive of scum and villainy are the kinds of people who are bored and have no idea how to empathize with anyone. Moot had things right, anonymity on the internet is a great thing. This is especially true for preteens and teenagers who want to try different personas without the ever-lasting consequences of public ridicule. I’m not about to go and change my name on Facebook, but you as parents should be aware of the value of screen names and alternative personas. Continue to teach your children how to tell the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, and they’ll reflect those lessons in their online lives.
2 Comments
6/21/2012 06:54:07 pm
Nice blog about the gaming and the points which are described are also interesting to read. Thanks for the blog post.
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The Legendary Carmine
Andrew Clayton (a.k.a. The Legendary Carmine) is SSG's Executive Editor. He toils at the stone to make sure this site brings its readers valuable content on a daily basis. Like what we do? Want to see more? Donate to the site using the button below!
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