Internet ≠ Reality

Something about the Turkle article that stuck out to me was when she was talking about a girl using an interactive CD-ROM to learn about rafting down the Colorado River and then comparing it to actually rafting down a river and arguing which would be more beneficial. Now, I can’t say that I’ve ever used a CD-ROM to explore different aspects of rafting down a river, but I have been white water rafting in real life, and it was quite an experience, one that I don’t think would be possible to replicate by playing with a computer program. Sure, you would learn some things about rivers and rock formations by using the CD, but how long would you remember that information? Would you ever use it again? Most likely not. The lessons you could learn from actually rafting could improve your life in many different ways. You could learn how to react quickly, think on your feet, get some great exercise, and pick up a great hobby in the process. I think that this could really apply to most things that people do online that they could do in real life as well. Sure, reading all about driving manuals and studying will help you pass your driving test, but actually getting behind the wheel will be the best experience you can get. Playing a game online and making lots of friends may be somewhat helpful, but at some point you’ll have to get out and actually talk to some people, which will help you learn how to interact and socialize with real people. In the end, I suppose that I agree with Turkle when she says that while people think that the Internet and technology like that will be an easy way to solve whatever issue they may have, it’s no substitute for the real thing.