The Circle

The story of The Circle revolves heavily around the ideas of social media and complete integration of one’s life onto the internet, basically eliminating all privacy. The Circle exists as a technological company where involvement in social media is just as important as work itself. The employees are expected to basically post everything about their lives though pictures, comments and reviews, as to “make information and experience equal for all”. At the end of the book, the main character Mae, wonders of a time when human thoughts can be completely shared, so as to be “equal”.

This story heavily reminds of two things. Firstly, the Borg from Star Trek. The Borg are a species mechanized life form created from other species, and are joined into “the hive mind” and are assimilated. With all their thoughts synchronized, they become the ultimate efficient species. The story also reminded me of the “stand alone complex” idea created in the animated show “Ghost In the Shell”. In a world where humans begin mechanizing themselves, an organization begins linking people’s minds into the internet where the world creates a continuum of mind all mixed together under the pretense that humans have the natural desire to become the same, this idea being the “stand alone complex”.

My overall opinion of the world created in The Circle is that it just shadows and augments the present world. With people carrying the desire to “share every bit of their lives” (I say with heavy sarcasm) on sites like facebook and twitter, I agree that many people do act somewhat similarly to the employees in The Circle. Personally I lack a desire to share everything that goes on in my life with the rest of the world (and admittedly I probably would go crazy in The Circle), but I think that even those who enjoy posting loads of content of social media would agree that The Circle takes the idea too far beyond a normal human’s ability to cope with such a situation. Either way, the mass social media of The Circle still develops from current social media and how people use it.

I’m curious though; do you think that the people in The Circle are people just like us? Or have they evolved to handle the mass amounts of electronic data received daily? Could someone in modern day truly live and thrive in a situation like that, or would we have to change?

Human Connections and Technology's Influence

I have always been a distant, quiet, and apathetic-like person yet at the same time, I can also be the most enthusiastic person you have ever met, when I talk about things I love and enjoy.

Usually I appear and act indifferent because of my genuine disinterest. I hear people talking about TV shows, celebrities, bands, or social media and I immediately tune out, because I feel no need to involve myself with thinks that seem "boring" to me. I have had several friendships break of in the past due to tragedy, lack of communication, and purposeful break offs. Perhaps these experiences have lead to my seemingly cold outer appearance, and admittedly I have continued to play that role while being perfectly happy. I still have friends and people I enjoy being with of course, but I find that I am relatively more wary and cynical that others regarding relationships. Perhaps I seem selfish and arrogant because I do not interact with others if I see no benefit or desire, and maybe I am wrong to even think this way, but regardless, this is how I am. (Like many, I'm sure) I form my relations around mutual interests and I suppose my friendships do invoke "happy" emotions in me, but in the end, I still find myself a loner. I often observe others unconsciously floating towards others (literally drifting or inching towards others) because I suppose humans have an innate desire to "be apart of something". I may do the same sometimes, but other times, I just stand there on my own, and feel perfectly fine with it.

So how do I cope with being alone? I'm guessing that some part of my genes just naturally makes me more prone to not caring, not to mention my fathers raising me and always telling me: "Who cares what other people think? It doesn't affect you!" But a big aspect of what allows me to be a loner, is technology.

Technology, computers, and the internet create a whole new plane of existence for us to "live on", and I'm not referring to life simulator games, I mean communities like forums, fandoms (a large group of "worshipers" or a certain movie, book, game, etc) or even just websites. I have an online art community where I can spend time just staring at amazing art, there are many youtube videos that I am extremely enthusiastic about and have seen many times, and I enjoy having discussions with other people about things that we have mutual interests in. I develop strong connections to the things I see (not necessarily the people specifically, but sometimes just the things they create). I have a crazy obsession for YGOTAS because it made me laugh so hard and through my appreciation of it's creation, I have created an overwhelming desire to meet the creator.

In the end, if you think about it, I'm really only creating bonds and connections with myself, because at the end of the day, I don't know anyone on the internet any more that I know my own friends. My enthusiasm for the things I see online refers directly back the my own reactions, and therefor I'm only just mentally interacting with myself. (Whether it be a rush of happiness from seeing a piece of art, or reading a funny article).

But what does this all come down to? I dunno, I suppose that it just depends on the person.
You may think it's unhealthy for me to be the way I am, but I'm not an antisocial person who sits on there computer all day. I think that technology is open for us to explore things that interest us and in the end we choose what we want to do with what we have.


(I may spend a portion on my weekends like this, but it's not exactly my "natural habitat")

Referring back to the question of how I "cope" with being alone.
You know, scratch that, I don't think I'm coping at all. I'm just doing my thing, being perfectly happy, and living my life with both people and technology. In the end, I really don't know the answer.
We're all still growing and developing, so we might as well just keep on going right?