Philosophy Discussion Forums

It's true that there are some things you can do in person that you can't do online. And it's great to have chat with pals over a beer down at the pub, or meet up for coffee with a bunch of friends. That sort of socializing is unbeatable. But if your old, and if most of your friends are already dead, and if you can't get about anymore, then the ability to get online and chat can help fill the void.

And, then, there are some subjects, (philosophy, for example, in which careful thought before expression is needed) that are more suited to written discussion online. I can't imagine talking about metaethics or the mind body problem or Materialism vs Idealism with my pals down at the pub. They're just not into that sort of stuff. It's more about who's going to win the big match on Saturday.

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:24 am Online "communities" are being alone together.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 6:02 am ...or being together, alone?

mark liu wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:30 pm Any community is simply a collection of people, thus we are never alone. In that sense however, some communities may be of a better quality based simply due to the fact they are in person. Simply put, there are things you can do in person that you can't do online.

...and perhaps vice versa?

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 9:20 am

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:24 am Online "communities" are being alone together.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 6:02 am ...or being together, alone?

mark liu wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:30 pm Any community is simply a collection of people, thus we are never alone. In that sense however, some communities may be of a better quality based simply due to the fact they are in person. Simply put, there are things you can do in person that you can't do online.

...and perhaps vice versa?

Definitely possible. Any examples?

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:24 am Online "communities" are being alone together.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 6:02 am ...or being together, alone?

mark liu wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:30 pm Any community is simply a collection of people, thus we are never alone. In that sense however, some communities may be of a better quality based simply due to the fact they are in person. Simply put, there are things you can do in person that you can't do online.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 9:20 am ...and perhaps vice versa?

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 10:58 am Definitely possible. Any examples?

Hmmm.

I think there could be circumstances where the (metaphorical) distance could be useful. It could make an emotionally-difficult conversation easier to conduct, when the participants are not in face-to-face contact. I'm struggling here to find a real-world example. This is the best I can do for now. I'm sure there are other examples...?

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 20th, 2024, 8:23 am

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:24 am Online "communities" are being alone together.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 6:02 am ...or being together, alone?

mark liu wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:30 pm Any community is simply a collection of people, thus we are never alone. In that sense however, some communities may be of a better quality based simply due to the fact they are in person. Simply put, there are things you can do in person that you can't do online.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 9:20 am ...and perhaps vice versa?

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 10:58 am Definitely possible. Any examples?

Hmmm.

I think there could be circumstances where the (metaphorical) distance could be useful. It could make an emotionally-difficult conversation easier to conduct, when the participants are not in face-to-face contact. I'm struggling here to find a real-world example. This is the best I can do for now. I'm sure there are other examples...?

I absolutely agree that such difficult conversations are easier to perform remotely. In addition there are numerous conversations (typically of a professional type) that benefit from a written format.

I guess I was substituting emotional and psychological "warmth" or closeness for "better", without delineating what I was addressing specifically.

Good points.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 20th, 2024, 8:23 am

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:24 am Online "communities" are being alone together.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 6:02 am ...or being together, alone?

mark liu wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:30 pm Any community is simply a collection of people, thus we are never alone. In that sense however, some communities may be of a better quality based simply due to the fact they are in person. Simply put, there are things you can do in person that you can't do online.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 9:20 am ...and perhaps vice versa?

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 10:58 am Definitely possible. Any examples?

Hmmm.

I think there could be circumstances where the (metaphorical) distance could be useful. It could make an emotionally-difficult conversation easier to conduct, when the participants are not in face-to-face contact. I'm struggling here to find a real-world example. This is the best I can do for now. I'm sure there are other examples...?

I find I can engage with people who share my offbeat interests with much less effort online. I doubt anyone in my neighborhood cares much about philosophy, handicapping horses, disc golf, ceramics or long distance cycling, or whatever other nonsense I am interested in at any given moment. If I only wanted to talk about football or Christian nationalism, then I could just go next door.

chewybrian wrote: ↑April 21st, 2024, 6:30 pm I find I can engage with people who share my offbeat interests with much less effort online. I doubt anyone in my neighborhood cares much about philosophy, handicapping horses, disc golf, ceramics or long distance cycling, or whatever other nonsense I am interested in at any given moment. If I only wanted to talk about football or Christian nationalism, then I could just go next door.

Yes, that is the most beneficial aspect of the interweb. If no-one local shares your interest(s), there will be many across the world who do, and you can reach them via the web, and share your enthusiasms.

chewybrian wrote: ↑April 21st, 2024, 6:30 pm

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 20th, 2024, 8:23 am

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:24 am Online "communities" are being alone together.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 6:02 am ...or being together, alone?

mark liu wrote: ↑April 18th, 2024, 2:30 pm Any community is simply a collection of people, thus we are never alone. In that sense however, some communities may be of a better quality based simply due to the fact they are in person. Simply put, there are things you can do in person that you can't do online.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 9:20 am ...and perhaps vice versa?

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 19th, 2024, 10:58 am Definitely possible. Any examples?

Hmmm.

I think there could be circumstances where the (metaphorical) distance could be useful. It could make an emotionally-difficult conversation easier to conduct, when the participants are not in face-to-face contact. I'm struggling here to find a real-world example. This is the best I can do for now. I'm sure there are other examples...?

I find I can engage with people who share my offbeat interests with much less effort online. I doubt anyone in my neighborhood cares much about philosophy, handicapping horses, disc golf, ceramics or long distance cycling, or whatever other nonsense I am interested in at any given moment. If I only wanted to talk about football or Christian nationalism, then I could just go next door.

Very true (except for the disc golf, there's probably lots of folks near you). But that's yet another example of online communication making difficult things easier, but I'm asking for examples of it making something better.

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 24th, 2024, 12:10 pm I'm asking for examples of it making something better.

But those are such examples. If I can find a community online who are fellow enthusiasts of X, an interest that is not widely held, then online communication does make things better. It allows me to share my interest(s), not have to pursue them in isolation, like some kind of pervert.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 24th, 2024, 1:02 pm

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 24th, 2024, 12:10 pm I'm asking for examples of it making something better.

But those are such examples. If I can find a community online who are fellow enthusiasts of X, an interest that is not widely held, then online communication does make things better. It allows me to share my interest(s), not have to pursue them in isolation, like some kind of pervert.

I'm in total agreement with your post, though if there was someone with an esoteric interest of yours in your town would you prefer to interact online?

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 25th, 2024, 12:59 am

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 24th, 2024, 1:02 pm

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 24th, 2024, 12:10 pm I'm asking for examples of it making something better.

But those are such examples. If I can find a community online who are fellow enthusiasts of X, an interest that is not widely held, then online communication does make things better. It allows me to share my interest(s), not have to pursue them in isolation, like some kind of pervert.

I'm in total agreement with your post, though if there was someone with an esoteric interest of yours in your town would you prefer to interact online?

No. Either, or both, is quite acceptable.

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 25th, 2024, 11:03 am

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 25th, 2024, 12:59 am

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑April 24th, 2024, 1:02 pm

LuckyR wrote: ↑April 24th, 2024, 12:10 pm I'm asking for examples of it making something better.

But those are such examples. If I can find a community online who are fellow enthusiasts of X, an interest that is not widely held, then online communication does make things better. It allows me to share my interest(s), not have to pursue them in isolation, like some kind of pervert.

I'm in total agreement with your post, though if there was someone with an esoteric interest of yours in your town would you prefer to interact online?

No. Either, or both, is quite acceptable.

So in person is not superior. I can think of reasons why it would carry negatives, such as risk. So you have convinced me. Well done.

Communication is communication. If we start to compare the details of the various means in which humans are able to communicate, we will find pros and cons, of course. And perhaps it is the case that some subjects better suit particular variations of communication? Sometimes, distance, real or metaphorical, is helpful. At other times, it actually hinders communication. Horses for courses, although that proverb is not saying everything there is to be said of communication, of course.