The Body on the Wire Could Be Real.

As technology creeps in and takes control of many parts of our lives, I hope to keep my life as free from this domination as possible. While appreciating technology, I do not enjoy feeling dependent on it for everything in my life. I like to think that I do not need technology for everything, especially for interacting with people. However, although I feel that I generally do a pretty good job at this, I know that there are many times when I do depend on technology to fee connected with others just like Ullman did in her story. I know that there have been times for me when I have gone on facebook or checked my emails multiple times during the night to avoid feeling alone. Every time I hope that maybe someone has sent me something or has written on my wall. However, although I do understand the dependence on technology to relieve loneliness, I do not go nearly as far with this dependence as Ullman did in her story. There have been multiple times when I have met someone via some Internet site, but if I have ever slightly connected with someone I have met them immediately and continued the relationship in person rather than online. Also, I don't often use technology such as social networking sites and email to communicate with people that I have met unless I am not able to meet with them in person because of long distances or other complications. It is in this area that I differ from Ullman. Her relationship progressed more through email than in person, even after they had met. I do my best to avoid this situation because I do not want to have to depend on technology for communication with people that I know, however I do sometimes find myself in the same situation, trying to find others though technology so as not to feel so alone.

Another similarity that I have with Ullman is that I often have a very different method of speaking to people through technology than in person. There are many times when I say something on facebook or in an email that would be uncomfortable or even embarrassing in person. Ullman mentions that in her emails with Karl they talk about beds which is something that would never be mentioned in person. Sometimes, if I take the time to consider it, I realize that the distance that technology provides makes saying some things less personal and more appropriate. It is very strange that technology could do such a thing, however I know through personal experience that this is so. Technology presents us with a wall. We can say nearly anything through technology because we have the notion that it is not the real world, therefore what we say doesn't actually mean anything. We know that nothing will come of what we say online, so it is ok to say it. There is a general understanding that the other person will know this unwritten rule and will immediately know that it is not real and will expect nothing from those online conversations. Ullman and I have both experienced this world of false security and understanding that technology presents. However, the strange thing to think is that we have control over the laws of technology. My online conversations and Ullman's emails are only as real or fake as we decide to make them. While we feel that it is technology and its characteristics that provide us with this unreal world, it is actually us. We decide what is real and what is not, and of we wanted, everything that is said through technology could be as real as if they were said in person.