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For some people researching their
own “E-Identity” is potentially a very lengthy process. In my lifetime, there
have been thousands of new ideas, companies, and services that have appeared
online and a lot of people of all ages take part in these conveniences, so I
can imagine trying to find every trace of oneself would be arduous. I, however,
have had a very easy time looking for traces of myself online. I do not have
any presence in the more obvious locations on the internet. I’ve never used any
kind of social media site, and while my close friends in high school used
social media they were not very into it either, so I don’t appear in any of
their posts except for prom photos. Googling myself turned up nothing for the
twenty pages of results that I checked, as expected, although there is a Ryan
Mueller who is apparently playing pretty good football for the Kansas State
Wildcats.
As far as the internet, at least in the scope of this prompt, is concerned
I basically don’t exist. I’m sure that people with better understanding of how
to locate information online could find traces of me around the internet, but I
doubt that anything that says anything meaningful about my character or
personality could be found. I am completely fine with this. I have never really
felt like I have been missing anything by my lack of an online presence. It’s not
really on purpose; for example, it’s not like I constantly repress myself
whenever I go on YouTube so I don’t leave a comment. I just in general don’t
feel a need to comment even if I liked what I watched. I am not against putting
myself out there online, I just don’t have any reason to want to do it either, this blog being the obvious exception. If
anyone wanted to get to know me, then they should just find me and talk to me
in person instead of trying to piece together an "identity quilt" from various online sources.
I find it very interesting that you do not feel a need to comment on the internet because I see that as a reflection of your personality in class as well. You are relatively quite, but when you do have something to say, it is important and revolutionary.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really interesting that this blog is the only evidence of you online. I wonder how others' e-dentities, including my own, would be different if each post required forethought and proofreading. I'm also curious, do you plan on taking this blog down after our class ends?
ReplyDeleteYour comment on sometimes having thoughts on things you see online but refraining from commenting/liking them any way makes me wonder: How many people feel the same way as you but were pressured into leaving a digital footprint. People certainly believe that they are expressing their individuality when online. When millions and millions of other people are doing the same though, what's the point? Is it really all that fulfilling putting your thoughts out there and gambling on feedback?
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that you thought of e-dentity's as an "identity quilt" because that is essentially what it is,but I've never thought of it that way. I don't know why we have this fascination with piecing together someone's life through their online persona's, but it's refreshing to know there are still people(like you) who don't feel the need to share every part of their life with strangers online.
ReplyDelete