I am starting to read "The Distributed Self - Virtual Worlds and the Future of Human Identity
Continuing to read
The identity is a concept that is evolving all the time. Our own sense of self grows throughout our entire lives and is affected by our environment. So it makes sense that we should develop a sense of self with roots in every area of our lives, including our online lives. I am not someone with deep roots in online communities, and the Distributed Self gave me a better understanding of how important an avatar is and that in designing an avatar you are putting forth what you feel is your best self. It is not just a character.
I disagree with the statement that “human consciousness can be seamlessly integrated with intelligent machines and that there is no essential or absolute demarcation between bodily housed consciousness and intelligent computer simulation.” (The Distributed Self P. 9). Technology like this is so new, and it it is great; but to go so far as to say that interactive simulations mirror real life is very extreme. Human nature is still human nature, and people will still act differently when hiding behind a screen (even with an avatar) than they would if face to face with the people behind the avatars. I feel that interactive worlds are a great tool, but not a complete substitution for real life interactions.
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