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A Modern Philosophy Of Identity by Nobody: 3:02pm On Mar 03, 2012
Online Identity vs. Offline Identity

This is not a rant on the online/offline stereotype whereby people assume different personalities on and off the internet. No, it isn't. I would be very suited to ranting on about this. This, rather, is a prophecy. It's a prediction. The world is becoming increasingly based on the an internet foundation. Wires, cables, computers and hubs are coming to live each day in various locations and are bringing to life the desires and yearnings of billions of individuals. A philosophy has to explain this, has to justify it, just as 18th century dialectics attempted to explain the fight between then existing capitalism and then rising communism.
This philosophy moves to posit that our online personalities will soon become intertwined with our offline personalities such that humans will soon become a solid blend of one. The usernames we choose, our email addresses, our NL handles will at a time replace our names on school forms, medical certificates or birth records. Possible? I say, yes!
This philosophy seeks to add that lives will soon be led exclusively online with justifiable reasons, in fact that lives will soon be force-led exclusively online. It should get to such zenith that it will become extremely difficult telling apart our online and offline lives. That one will find it a difficult thing to tell whether he visited Paris online or offline.
In addition to the above, this philosophy claims many other things. It would however be irrelevant to go into additional details.

What do you think of this? undecided
Re: A Modern Philosophy Of Identity by emofine2(f): 4:30pm On Mar 03, 2012
I think this topic is interesting and something very important to consider.

This, rather, is a prophecy. It's a prediction.

I think this form of existence is not only a future possibility but it’s occurring even now.  But your Paris example  does make one wonder how fine the lines between non-fiction and fiction . . . reality and surrealism will become - (or maybe the line will just be perforated allowing essentials to diffuse between these categories via osmosis) - if our minds cannot separate them or if these concepts just evolve to become indistinguishable . . .will “offline” and “online” still be valid terms?, what type of existence or dimension will one be living in – it’s like the Matrix except the twist being those who have miraculously or through some other circumstance have managed to maintain a singular offline existence will no doubt be isolated and probably irrelevant but effectively more alert or “awake”.
Re: A Modern Philosophy Of Identity by Nobody: 8:32pm On Mar 03, 2012
It's my belief that something like the Matrix ultimately awaits mankind, except it won't be unwelcomed. Effectively more alert or awake? I doubt. will they be irrelevant to the scheme of things? certainly!
I would expect that these fine lines will disappear. Offline and online will lose their meanings, and there will be just one reality, one personality. One good evidence is the uniqueness of email addresses or website handles. This uniqueness is very characteristic of the uniqueness of offline attributes. This is at least one valid reason why personalities are and should develop. if we note that personalities mature as interaction increases and that the internet is going nowhere soon, it stands to reason that online personalities should grow side-by-side with offline ones. In the end, the boundaries which separate them will disappear and it will be a mix of one personality.

In reasoning, sometimes considering the extremes is often valid. In this case, am quite surprised no modern philosopher has recognised the essence of pursuing the realization of this philosophy and champion it, much like Marx did after he saw the philosophical need for communism. I tell you, the lines between offline and online will vanish, because then the internet will become much more available than it is today. It will access all other aspects of social advancement, be used in promoting virtual reality (in which case we would need a handle) and become ever so dominant that politicians might even begin campaigning with their website handles.

Is it not happening already with news outlets rushing to social websites in search of personal messages left by serial killers, criminals, saviours or sportspeople? Do they not immediately tie these messages to the offline identity of people?

IMO, what remains now is for a daring philosopher to promote this thinking so that humankind can prepare in earnest.
Re: A Modern Philosophy Of Identity by Nobody: 8:43pm On Mar 03, 2012
Perhaps an attempt can be made at defining personality anew, listing its attributes/qualities and proceeding to outline why offline and online personalities are essentially one and same. Perhaps also why they can mix easily and ultimately become one.

This is also not only about personality. It's about humankind. It probably is also about government. Why, isn't it probable that the internet, which at the moment is government-less, will get some form of government with elections popping up and parliaments taking form? Will this not be a fight on the ground as well as on pcs? Do we envisage suspects getting discharged from crimes on the strength of their online personality? Do we expect a man becoming president based on the history of his online interactions?
Aren't organizations already requesting facebook ids during job recruitment?

It is only a matter of time. . . . undecided

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