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	June 5, 2003

IS THE INTERNET MAKING US ANTI-SOCIAL? After several long and heavy-duty posts in a row (which I'm behind in responding to comments on) I thought I'd take a break and post something short. Here's an excerpt from an old (1998) Wired interview with Cybrarian Reva Basch: WIRED: Will living and interacting online warp our cognition and perhaps change the way we interact offline? MS. BASCH: I notice it in particular when I read for pleasure.  I just can't keep my eyes still.  I have to remind myself to slow down and say "hey, you're reading for style, not content, stop browsing, start reading".  It has an accelerating effect on life.  At parties, I'll scan the people: "not interesting, not interesting...".  Which is AWFUL-- sort of looking over their shoulders for the next person who will add value.   It's a terrible, terrible thing to do.  And I'll tell you what else I've discovered-- I am less and less satisfied with superficial social connections.  Online, you really get into serious discussions, perhaps because the software focuses you on one particular issue.  I find that affects my relationships with offline friends, especially people I haven't seen for a while.  There's a lack of depth and context and continuity in a lot of my face-to-face relationships.  I think the whole quality of human interaction and language is changing. I confess I've caught myself scanning during social occasions. What do you think? Is the nature of reading and communication in the Internet age changing the quality of human interaction and language? 6:42:31 AM  trackback []  comment []

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