Social Perception and the Internet

[Yshania]

@Veh - LOL!

PS your latest sig fits this thread quite well...

[Vehemence]

Originally posted by Yshania:
<STRONG>@Veh - LOL!

PS your latest sig fits this thread quite well... </STRONG>

It does doesn't it Ah secret code conversations.... high school memories come flooding back... no wait, my mistake, that's the roof leaking... crap!

[Yshania]

@Veh - hehe

Well I better be off for now - I only popped in briefly Catch you later...

[Vehemence]

Originally posted by Yshania:
<STRONG>@Veh - hehe

Well I better be off for now - I only popped in briefly Catch you later... </STRONG>

Later Yshania

[Yshania]

NM - moved the question...

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: Yshania ]

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by Yshania:
<STRONG>I have a six year old Pokemaniac... </STRONG>

*is suddenly reminded of the 8-year-old poketwerp who had a crush on her because of her extensive knowledge of pokemon...* *cringes*

Originally posted by Yshania:
<STRONG>I am not sure I would have chosen the word cultured. I do not think you become more refined by having access to the internet, I think if you take the 250 million or so people that have access to the net as a community - you will find there is a balance of all types, as there is in real life...cultured/uncultered/racist/passivist/witty/serious...I could go on. </STRONG>

Perhaps I should've used a term more like "culturally stimulated," and I was refering not to everyone on the net, but to those who spend large amounts of their time online at places like SYM. Especially with fable and C Elegans around, it's rather difficult to not gain some "culture" here at SYM, whether ye be a lurker or spammer.

Originally posted by Yshania:
<STRONG>Yes but for some it would involve getting into debt if they cannot afford to buy cash, and for others it may not be physically possible. Some countries do not even have a telephone line or a tv in every house never mind PCs and internet access...</STRONG>

Er...yeah...well...I was speaking mainly of the countries that aren't impoverished(sp?), the reason why I said "I don't quite agree." In the US, getting a computer is not that difficult. My first computer that was top of the line at the time(5-6 years ago) with a 75Mhz Pentium Processor, 1 Gig hard drive, and 32MB RAM cost $2000 US. The newest computer in our household, less than a month old, has a 40 gig hard drive, 1300Mhz Pentium 4 Processor, 128MB RAM, and 64MB Video RAM cost us $1300 US. $700 US less money for 40 times the hard drive space, 4 times the RAM, 8 times the Vid RAM, and 17 times the processor speed, etc. One of our other computers(275Mhz Processor, 64MB RAM, 5 Gig hard drive) only cost $500 US.

Originally posted by Yshania:
<STRONG>It is a real shame if people are being unable to study a course of their choice just because they do not have access to a PC. I trust the alternative course studied the same material?</STRONG>

The course is English Composition III, course number 101. My class is 101-D. That means there is 101-A, 101-B, and 101-C. They are all the exact same course(not all the same professor); however, if I remember correctly, two of them are done on computer and two of them are done not on computer. What that means is that when we write our essays in class, we type them on MS Word 97 then print them out. In the two computerless ones, the merely write them out by hand instead of typing them out.

Originally posted by Georgi:
<STRONG>Admittedly, not all chatrooms are like SYM (ie. not full of 13 year old boys wanting to cyber ) but the variety of SYM - the different people who come here, and the breadth of topics discussed - is excellent. I certainly learn a lot here </STRONG>

Which would you rather be in a chat with? A 13-year-old boy who wants to cyber or a 12-year-old girl who wants to cyber?

*has been in both situations and in both cases was more uncomfortable with the ages of those who wanted to cyber than with the fact that they wanted to cyber* (btw, the 12-year-old girl(who is probably 13 by now) was originally straight, then became bisexual after chatting with me often, and is now homophobic.)

Originally posted by Yshania:
<STRONG>I personally do not stop to consider peoples' age on this forum. I believe everyone has an opinion - regardless of age.

When my six year old comes to me with a strong opinion on something I listen. I may not agree with what he has to say and I will discuss this with him - but I do not say he is wrong, I do believe he should have a voice and be listened to.

A simple example - he used to be a picky eater (and still is to some extent, though on average his choices are healthy - if limited). I thought right - get him involved rather than just plonk my choice of food in front of him - 'what do you want for lunch and do you want to help me make it?'

The transformation was amazing. He had been given a choice of foods and asked to make a decision. He ate his lunch. We have not looked back.

When he misbehaves I warn him of the consequences of his actions and ask him to make the decision as to whether he is going to reconsider his behaviour. That way he takes responsibility for his own actions and makes the decision as to whether he needs disciplining or praising!

Involve them. We can learn so much from people younger than ourselves - as much as from those older...I hope this does not sound patronising - it is not meant to be </STRONG>

Alas, if only all adults/older people had your positive attitude on such things...

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: Sailor Saturn ]

[Yshania]

Posted by SS -

Perhaps I should've used a term more like "culturally stimulated," and I was refering not to everyone on the net, but to those who spend large amounts of their time online at places like SYM. Especially with fable and C Elegans around, it's rather difficult to not gain some "culture" here at SYM, whether ye be a lurker or spammer.

I agree then Through laziness - I tend to lurk

Never-the-less SYM is a small representation, but we do seem to have a great meeting of minds in here, whether agreeing or no - we are prepared to discuss without resorting too often to flaming

A good balance, and a great acceptance of the fact that people can have opinions without being wrong

PS

Posted by SS -

*is suddenly reminded of the 8-year-old poketwerp who had a crush on her because of her extensive knowledge of pokemon...* *cringes*

I make the most of involving myself in my kids' interests - too soon they will not consider me so cool!

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: Yshania ]

[C Elegans]

A very interesting topic, Veh And very good repies, too. I'll add my thoughts:

IMO, internet/CMC socialising can never and should never be a substitute for real life social contacts. Instead, I think it should be viewed as a different category of socialising and communicating, just as partying all night with a large group of people is a different category from an intimate dinner with your long time best friend.

I realise though, that the world is full of people who don't have a lot of friends for different reasons, and for them, I think CMC is better than no contact with other people at all.

Personally, I'm like mr Sleep, my behaviour here at SYM doesn't differ from my behaviour IRL, except that I joke more IRL, and my ironic, absurd kind of humour doesn't fit the text medium.

I'm a very social person, and I've always had the privilige to have many friends. My travelling has given me the opportunity to make friends with people from many different countries. I have some very close long term friends, some friends I share special interests with, and some friends I party with. (Some people of course fit into all categories) Most of my friends range from my own age and upwards. The age span is about 15-20 years, no more.

I have no previous experience of message boards and chat. I've only used mail to communicate with people I already know (mostly professional contacts) and I've only used ICQ for communicating with my husband when he worked in South America and phone calls were over $2/minute.

The reason why I like SYM is not because I think it has any advantages over real life socialising, to me, it hasn't, except for the practical aspect. Where IRL would I find so many people from different countries, backgrounds and ages, at one place, communicating with each other? If someone knows of such a place, tell me and I'll get the next plane But I wouldn't abandon SYM anyway, since there are many people here I like, and "net-friends" just add to my other friends

[Georgi]

Originally posted by Sailor Saturn:
<STRONG>Which would you rather be in a chat with? A 13-year-old boy who wants to cyber or a 12-year-old girl who wants to cyber?

*has been in both situations and in both cases was more uncomfortable with the ages of those who wanted to cyber than with the fact that they wanted to cyber* (btw, the 12-year-old girl(who is probably 13 by now) was originally straight, then became bisexual after chatting with me often, and is now homophobic.)
</STRONG>

Sorry, I did mean to imply that this was a bad thing... It's just that's what people expect a chat forum to be like... SYM makes a pleasant change.

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by Yshania:
<STRONG>I make the most of involving myself in my kids' interests - too soon they will not consider me so cool! </STRONG>

That's good. My parents do that, too; though, not as much now as they used to. In fact, I got them both into pokemon somewhat. They each have their own Game Boys and Pokemon Pinball games and my mum has several other pokemon games. In fact, she plays pokemon more now than I do. My response was more out of the fact that kids 10 and under tend to be "Poketwerps" rather than "Pokemaniacs"(usually those 11+). These "poketwerps" refer to pokemon by the wrong name, constantly ask the same questions about pokemon over and over because they constantly forget, they are only really interested in the commercial side of pokemon rather than the game itself(which is actually for ages 10+(*can't find the box to check absolutely for sure of that*)) partially because they are too young to really comprehend the game; though I would guess that any kids raised by you would be/are better at comprehending more complicated things and such. A parents participation in their kids' interests definitely has some bearing on the intelligence/comprehension level of the kid. The 8-year-old poketwerp I mentioned is the daughter of the uncultured lady I mentioned either earlier in this thread or in another thread. The girl is adopted(but doesn't know it) and the uncultured lady spoils her for fear that she won't love her, but doesn't show any real interest in what she's doing and such. (Note: This particular girl's qualification as "twerp" is not just from being a "poketwerp")


One more thing. By showing true sincere interest in what your kids do and are interested in, and thus gaining the "Cool Parent" 'title,' they will always think you're cool, they just may not always let you know that they think that. Take it from one who's parents earned the "Cool Parent" title years ago, even though they don't hear it from her often enough.

[Yshania]

Posted by SS -

In fact, she plays pokemon more now than I do.

That would be quite funny had I not been helping my boy with his fourth badge yesterday I did play his first game with him quite a bit, but then he was only four at the time and was just learning gaming other than educational stuff...two years on he is more than capable - just easily frustrated He has the blue, yellow and gold versions and has played through them all dozens of times to try different Pokemon (a little like me and the BG series )

Posted by SS -

These "poketwerps" refer to pokemon by the wrong name, constantly ask the same questions about pokemon over and over because they constantly forget, they are only really interested in the commercial side of pokemon rather than the game itself(which is actually for ages 10+(*can't find the box to check absolutely for sure of that*)) partially because they are too young to really comprehend the game;

Ok - he is definitely not a twerp then He knows which Pokemon are strong against which, more than just being able to name them all, their types, their special attacks, and who they evolve into...btw electronic games are for 8+ but I do not about the cards - he has a load but only as a collector. We have not played the game...

Posted by SS -

though I would guess that any kids raised by you would be/are better at comprehending more complicated things and such

Thank you! but half the time I am running to keep up with them You should see my boy with Settlers III, Black and White, Curse of Monkey Island and Sims. He also had a go with BG and IWD, but the plots are a little complicated at the moment for him so he only plays for the battles (he likes magic users ) Is nothing sacred?

Posted by SS -

One more thing. By showing true sincere interest in what your kids do and are interested in, and thus gaining the "Cool Parent" 'title,' they will always think you're cool, they just may not always let you know that they think that. Take it from one who's parents earned the "Cool Parent" title years ago, even though they don't hear it from her often enough.

It is nice you feel that way. My parents never had cool status. I remember at the age of about 7 or 8 realising that they are not infallible...

On a side note with the Pokemon thing though. It did all get a little out of hand here in the UK and was banned at my boy's school because of the upset it caused etc etc. I can understand any teachers frustrations and misgivings when they had a class of 30 5 year olds who could name the best part of 150 Pokemon but not remember 26 letters of the alphabet

[ 09-01-2001: Message edited by: Yshania ]