Response 2 – SarahS

Nobody Here: At first I didn’t understand what this website was. It was very confusing to me, seemingly a series of random words, phrases, and bugs. A lot of bugs. However, as I continued to dive into the site, it led down a rabbit hole of web pages and “jumps” and so on. The only way I could logically connect it to this project theme was the idea that this person is creating this website as a look into the random thoughts of their mind.

This person creates a bunch of pathways that the user can jump down and it reminds me of having a conversation with this person (who seems to be a bit neurotic). Conversations can go deep and deeper as they go on, and can also become more random and off the original topic. The new technology for this project would be the coding for the site. Every day code is expanding like any language would, and people are creating unique and expressive ways of using it to express themselves. I’m not sure that anyone in society has the ability to create this kind of online self, however most do. Most of the materials to code and create a website are free nowadays, as well as the laptop or desktop computer needed to complete such a project. All you need is a library card and you can have access to a computer with internet.

Life Sharing: I find this project interesting because now I can’t think of anyone wanting to do this project “on purpose”. I say “on purpose” because, in today’s world, we share all kinds of things – we check in to restaurants, share selfies, show who we’re in a relationship with – personal things, but it’s all on our own terms. This project does all that, but without any filter. The only new tech in this project was the addition of the GPS, which seemed to have a major impact on the project as a whole, in terms of popularity. I think everyone is influenced by their race, culture, gender, “class” – what are we, in the dark ages? Do we still call them classes? – and age, but I don’t think these were reflected as a “new self” in this project.

It was just normal people, in reality, being tracked. If anything the audience following and keeping up with these people were the real ones affected. They had to take time out of their day to check up on these “life sharers”, so that makes a difference in their everyday life. Maybe someone in the audience would see that a life sharer was going out on a Saturday night, and that would make the audience member want to go out too. Or maybe a life sharer bought a certain brand of clothing, that is a type of advertisement that is broadcasted to the audience, influencing their decisions. I think this could create a more connected and knowledgeable society.

Like these people did in 2000, we now share things about ourselves all the time, and I’d hate to think that it’s all bad. I find that I can connect with friends and family from afar, and as a Navy veteran, I’ve traveled a lot so keeping in touch with all the various places I’ve been stationed can be difficult. I also find that I can make more knowledgeable purchases and through marketing has a great influence on what people buy, the fact that reviews can be made on products has taken a jab at advertising, in my opinion.