Hyperpersonal refers to an idea that CMC relationships can actually be more intimate than relationships that are formed when physically together. This information could be found on page 144 in chapter 11 of our book.
I can't imagine this being possible! It baffles me because the people I feel closest to are people that I love spending time around, and can actually sometimes feel lonely without their presence. I also feel that I have a pretty good amount of insight on both sides of this situation so that I could make an informed judgment either way. I have played and sometimes do play online games with a great deal of interaction with many kinds of people. Some who I still choose to communicate with via email. But I've never felt that I could feel closer or more deeply connected with any of these people in the way I am with my best friends and girlfriend (all of whom I've met in person).
With all the online social networks now I understand how people can end up meeting online and starting a relationship through email and instant messaging, but I cannot imagine being extremely close to most of those people without face-to-face interaction. I've had intimate conversations with people through myspace (could be the same for some with facebook, but I'm newer to it and don't have much interest in building new relationships with it) with people I've never met before, but never has a connection arose simply through written text. Maybe hyperpersonal perspective with CMC is only valid for certain types of people.
~Tornn
2 comments:
I could definitely understand your apprehension to how someone could possibly be closer to someone via CMC than physical relationships. It seems confusing because CMC is computer mediated... meaning the computer stands in the way of you and the other person! However, I think I can understand how it could be possible. For instance, when chatting with someone via some sort of messenger (usually a close friend or someone I already know), I think I tend to express things, thoughts, feelings, that I may not actually say out loud to someone. Not because I'm afraid to say it face-to-face, but just because sometimes its easier to type and read. Of course you run the risk of being misinterpreted, but if you can articulate well, I disclose things with people when I'm "bored" at work about the everyday nonsense you don't always get to "talk" to them about. That's how I feel a bit closer with my friends.
Consider the time in which this original research was done--over 10 years ago, which is ages in internet time. Today, communicators tend to use online communication as just one way to interact with someone else. Interpersonal relationships are often developed, maintained, changed, and ended in person, over the phone, texting, instant messaging, with email--many options. This research was done when online communication, such as chat rooms and discussion boards, were in their infancy. Now that online communication has become more integrated in our daily lives--normalized--it's rare that we have relationships that are only online or only offline. Still, as Josey Grossey points out, individuals do reveal personal information in online contexts and can develop close relationships when only interacting online.
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