A Virtual Life

That's not to be confused with a virtuous life. A virtual life in this case refers to the world found online. In the world of My Space, Facebook, Twitter, Second Life, Blogging, free-for-all, knock down, drag out Forums, one can begin to live life by entering a fantasy land of the imagination but my real name isn't Alice. Where does social networking end and fantasy begin? The line blurs quite often. Who can nurture two thousand friendships? Just asking. People do whatever they do for a variety of reasons so to be hands off, nonjudgmental about it, whatever their motivations, long live the Internet and information "sharing."

As a voracious reader, I inhale the printed word whether it is on old-fashioned paper books, newspapers, or magazines, an e-reader, a cell phone, a TV screen, or a computer screen. Aren't we all a little like the robot, Number 5 in the movie Short Circuit who repeats, "Input, I need input!" Shameless voyeurism perhaps, more likely a twenty-first century information junkie. No apologies from this corner or that fragment--creative license. Those of us who engage in this fire hose of verbal cacophony know to come armed with the audacity of a waterboarding agent.

Ultimately, when entering the virtual world, I wonder, "What's in it for me?" Entertainment or the opportunity to rearrange a few synapses is a goal to which I can relate. It is fascinating to learn that natural vanilla comes from the bean of two orchid species. That trivia might be needed for an online crossword puzzle. Money might be a goal for a few folks--more power to you. Social networking from a keyboard seems a little too sanitary for me, and I find it hard to trust what's on my computer screen. It's a marvel that folks would put their real names online, or maybe that is just an illusion. "All the world's a stage," and we are all nom de plume. E-mail with established friends is convenient and great to maintain long distance friendships because it is easy to imagine their facial expressions and the tone of their voices. Lacking those very important features of communication, relating to others online in places like a forum, or a blog seems to be like "Number 5 is Alive" and minus a few senses!

Jump in, the water's fine. Like real life, the virtual life has swimming pools, hot tubs, reflecting pools, whirlpools, cesspools, quicksand, swamps, etc., etc. For me, the virtual life is a warm sea with waves of entertainment best taken with a grain of salt.

ENABLING VOYEURISM

I once stayed in a hotel room in Paris with a bathroom overlooking the major street in front of the hotel. The most noticeable feature of the bathroom was a window in the shower. It wasn't a frosted window and there were no curtains provided. The view from the hotel across the street was no doubt interesting as was the sidewalk view from across the street. Since the window opened and had a latch closing, I took a blue shopping bag, covered the window, closed and latched it so I could take a shower without becoming an x-rated peep show. I'm pretty sure I could never get a job stripping because who would want to see my poor body and pay for it, therefore, no one gets to see it for free either.

Years later, I saw an article in a magazine called "Voyeurism in Paris." Apparently, it is common practice in that city to walk the streets playing peeping tom and watching others go about their lives through their uncovered windows. Call me paranoid, but I don't see walking the streets in the dark, and peeking into other's homes as entertainment. To me, it borders on the criminal and if it isn't, it should be. One's home should be one's castle and if one wants to be observed, one can venture into recognized public arenas. Granted, "candid camera" is everywhere these days, and even more reason to be able to have privacy in one's own home or hotel room or bathroom. If I am going to be observed under lights, I expect to also observe anyone who is watching me. It brings to mind slasher films where a peeping tom observes from the dark exterior of the house, the vulnerable young, defenseless female, before entering the residence to slash her to bits and dismember her. Ever hear of Ted Bundy, Son of Sam, Hillside Strangler, Jeffrey Dahmer? None of them are fiction and sick people wander the streets every day.

I'm probably the only homeowner in my neighborhood who has drapes on all windows and closes them at night. Other houses have "window treatments" that consist of draping valance fabrics on the top fifteen inches of the windows, and otherwise having open views of the inside of their houses, night and day. Lights go on inside houses, and all activities and people are observable from the dark exterior. I don't go around the neighborhood looking into windows, but it is obvious to see when driving past from the street. It brings to mind the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright whose home designs featured curtainless windows.

I know someone who recently complained about having a home "intruder" but admitted they never lock their doors. In what century do they think they are living? Have they never heard of burglars, serial killers, drug abusers, or lunatics? One journalist put it well when she said, "If I leave my car unlocked, my purse on the front seat and you steal it, it makes you a thief and me a damned fool." Whatever happened to common sense? I like to think I am saving weak people from their baser inclinations rather than enabling their lack of self-control. I lock doors, have burglar alarms, and cover all windows at night. Yeah, I know, stuff happens, but it won't be because I invited it. Reality Check!