Predicting the furture: Why we shouldn't do it.

I was looking back over a bunch of social media theorists and thought to myself  "wow, this actually did happen", but then other times they completely miss the mark.  Take 'micro-movies' for example.  They went well didn't they?  Oh for those of you who don't know what micro-movies are, that was sarcasm.  See how you don't even know what they are?... yeah.  I guess what I'm trying to say is, trying to predict the future is a real hit and miss game that we really should be careful with.  Take Henry Jenkins as another example.  When the internet showed up on the screen, he proclaimed limitless possibilities.  I mean yeah dont get me wrong, it would be very ironic for me to bad-mouth the internet,  I'm just saying he didn't account for people being jerks. 

anyway, since I don't like to predict the future I'm going to let others do it for me.

So I was reading this article...this one
http://socialmediatoday.com/ladyxtel/507170/future-social-media-relevance-mobile-niche-meaning

and there was a lot of talk about 'staying niche', as in, parts of social media stay.. well.. niche.  Does this mean we're going to be connected to even more different platforms in the future?  I'm not really going to say, remember I'm not the one predicting the future here, but I would like to ad that I don't really plan on joining too many platforms.  seriously, a little blogging, maybe tumblr.. facebook.  Actually while I'm on the topic of niche, I've already expressed my dislike for Twitter, but you know, Instagram is something which really shouldn't exist.  it's like:

Photo+Dark edges around border= Photography..  No it Doesn't!



But really I have enough trouble remembering my passwords, please don't give me anymore.



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You know, going back to my post about second life, I think the future of social networking and gaming will be really interesting.  So think about this, people who play a lot of MMOs.  I don't want to stereotype, but there would be a greater number of introverted people on the internet, hey, it's our safe-haven.  Now think about the futures in communication across these platforms.  More interactive means of communications may not be adapted fully.  Personally, I don't like the idea of a hologram phone call.  I don't even like regular phone calls; I text and call only when necessary.  I guess I'm just speculating just how welcome these advances in communication will be.


On the other hand, software changes to a game like second life will be rather interesting.  The game looks like it's from 2001 right now anyway, but maybe in a few years that might improve and create a more realistic second life.  There is no question the game will grow in content, and if it manages to grow in numbers, maybe it will reach a point that greater represents reality... maybe .65 life as opposed to .5 life. 

But will it expand in numbers?  Well generations to come are being more and more exposed to twechnology at a younger age, if this trend continues maybe more people will chose a life of fiction rather than to live in the real world, well, that's if there parents let them.  Again, i'm not going to go out on a limb and make predictions though.


OBLIGATORY CAT LINK
the quality is absolutely terrible on this one, but basically the video is outlining the evolution of cats and social media.  The cats begin to create their own social media, as they are evolving to the internet.  I really liked this episode, so I dunno check it out if you want (season 16: Faith Hilling), but yeah if not check out this crappy quality video.

1.5th Life? Is a half life better than no life?

I was reading a little bit of this e-book on second life, before my session timed out and they started asking me for money. 

Things like second life really interest me, as being a gamer, I do understand what it feels like to be emmersed within a virtual world.  Second life in particular sparks my curiousity, as I see it as less of a game and more of a 'life' fitting of it's name of course.  Take any MMO (massivley multiplayer online game).  Most of these games will have a theme or an objective, the ideas of increasing attributes or living in an alternate reality.  Second life on the other hand appears to much more closely represent 'the real world' rather than, say a medievil setting.  From my point of view (keep in mind i've played very little of second life), it does seem much less like a 'game' in the conventional sense, and more like it's title suggests; a second life. 

So anyway back to the book I was reading.  It was for the most part about identity with reference to second life, and raised some very good points about what identity truly is.  Can identity actually be captured in second life? 

The 'self'' is considered to be enduring.  Essentially something that lasts about you, i guess you could consider it 'personality'.  It is you.  It is a part of you, distinguishable from others.  It the stable and durable aspects which form your identity.  Likewise, the body is the physical existance and embodyment of your personality/self/identity. 

But, what happens when you apply theories about the 'self ' to a platform where these traits and characteristics are fluid, and easily changeable?  The Body is very important to talk about here.  The creation of a second life avatar allows you, the player, complete control of your outward appearance.  No longer are you bound by physical flesh and genetic heritability, so create the 'you' of your dreams.  This has implications on what the 'self' truly is.  There is a theory in psychology which suggests self esteem, or how you view yourself is a combination of the true self and the 'desired' self.  On a platform such as second life, you can present your 'desired self', and leave the ture self completely out of the embodyment of your character.  It might cost you a few Lindens to get there, but this, your avatar is the virtual version of your perfect existance. 

Again, if we were to look at identity construction in second life, you are free to create whatever identity you wish, which according to Ensslin and Muse (2011, the book I was reading) is usually an over-sexualised exageration of positive qualities.  Furthermore, this identity and self is not enduring, and can be changed completely at any time. 

The take home message is pretty much that second life isn't actually 'life', but a world populated by 'perfect' version of real world people.  Second life is not a full life, but only a half life.


That said, I still want to talk about gaming addiction, or more politely emmersion into a game's world.  I myself tend to become very attached to my avatar in the MMO's I play, but again second life is rather different.  It is a world of creation, and even real world money.  Now I really don't want to get into a 'what is reality?' argument because I really can't stand it when people do that, but there's no denying some players can emmerse themselves to a point where their avatars become more important than their physical real-world bodies.  There have been several cases, especially with a game such as WoW, where players have died in real life while playing.  I can't relate to that level of gaming addiction and investment in a character, but I still think it's a very naive standpoint when people say things life "Get a real life" and "these people need to get out more". 

I know all the Harraway lovers will probably jump up and down screaming "Cyborg! Cyborg!" for saying this, but the real world might not be the best fit for everyone.  Think about the kid who nobody talks to.  He has no friends, sits by himself at school, and has become such an outcast he's too affraid to even answer a question in class.  Lets call him, Dave, I guess.  Now imagine if Dave is also "Dave234"; a well respected second life architect earning real life money for his designs, spending all his spare time in second life.  He has loads of friends, and is very sociable and confident.  Lots of people laugh at his jokes and think he's so much fun to be around.. in the game of course. 

I know some would say taunting things to Dave, you know, get a life, what a loser, come to the real world ect,  and some would say his throwing his life away,n but I think that Dave is gaining a life.  It's not a complete life, but it's much better than the one he has in the real world.  What If dave really is a sociable kid, but because everyone at school hates him, he has to revert and hide in his shell?  Maybe Dave's 'Self' is just as accurately reflected in his existance in second life as it is in real life, and hey, he's good at it!  He's making real world money from his talents.  he is applying hard work and dedication to his designs, and people wan't to diminish or belittle the one thing Dave has going for him by telling him the one thing he's got going for him in life doesn't count, and that the only place he's happy is all a lie. 

I know I've said second life isn't a full life, but consider that maybe it's the best life some people have. 

How would you feel if I told you Dave was paralised from the waist down?  Would you still tell him to get out and get a life?


OBLIGATORY CAT LINK!

Offensive 'segue' I know, but it's obligatory, you know.  It's not called "SOME OF THE TIME CAT LINK!". 

This one was really hard to find really, but I thought I'd just talk about how some people create avatars in second life to represent like a cat-human crossover.  Again if I were to go back to notions of 'the self' and such, I think that it's really interesting some people chose to present themselves as anthromorphic cats.  I mean, maybe there are some people out there who's 'desired' self reflects an impossible state of a cat-human hybrid.  It's quite interesting to see sexualisation of half-cat people.  Personally i like to keep my cats and humans separate, but hey, that's just me.  Let's just say this picture is one of the non-creepy ones I found......I think I'm going to close my computer and walk away in fear now...