In Chapter 10 of Sherry Turkles, Life on the Screen
she examines the concept of multiple identities on the internet.
In this chapter the author discusses how the identity of internet users
can become skewed and how the internet can be a tool for exploring ones
personalities or how it can be detrimental to one's mental health.
In addition to this she also believes that the internet has caused a shift
in our society. What was once a rigid society has become fluid and
adaptive. She feels that the internet has pushed society towards
the search of the self.
Many of the users described in this chapter, used
the internet and its many avenues for self exploration of their personalities.
In one instance a young Grad student at MIT who has lost her leg in a automobile
accident used a MUD ( Multiple User Domain) to examine how others might
treat a person with a prosthesis. The response she got was extremely
positive and this response motivated her to get back into the "real" world
with her prothesis. This is one example of how the internet can be
beneficial to a persons psychological well being. This woman was
very apprehensive about going out of her room with her prothesis but after
seeing how people reacted to her characters prothesis she had enough courage
to do the same as her character.
Sherry Turkle really did not go into detail or give
a clear example of a negative consequence of online personality exploration,
but she did explain why she feels it could be a detriment. She feels
that if a persons personalities have trouble communicating with the other
personalities then this person now has developed a multiple personality
disorder. This becomes a detriment I feel because the individual
is no longer coherent. The self is in turmoil and the person may
have trouble in being a productive member of society. I do not believe
this is a wide spread epidemic but those few that already had identity
problems and then explored the web could be harming themselves. Although
she does not give much detail she sees internet personality exploration
to be very unpredictable and should be approached cautiously.
So I feel that like all thing in life moderation is the key.
I feel it can be a positive thing, this exploration online, as long as
the person does not lose touch of the real world surrounding him or her.
So by keeping strict tabs on the amount of time spent online a person may
be able to find benefit from the internet in this way.
Class Comments
Unfortunately, due to limited class time there were
no questions or comments from my classmates regarding the issues brought
up in this chapter. But going by what has been debated over in class previously,
I feel that the majority of the class would agree that moderation is key
to the use of the internet.