Liandra Pires’ Response to “The Varieties of Cyberspace: Problems in Definition and Delimitation,” “Cybertime,” & “McLuhan and New Media”

When I think of the word, cyberspace, I think of science fiction. But cyberspace is much more than that. The term cyberspace has become a conventional means to describe anything associated with the Internet and the diverse Internet culture. In Professor Strate’s article, he states that, “We take for granted that cyberspace is a profane space, a site for work or entertainment, but it can be argued that sacred cyberspace exists as well.” This is very true. Most people go on the Internet for entertainment, whether to watch a movie, play a game, shop, or just browse websites, but who really takes time out to think that the Internet could be a “sacred space?”

What I found most interesting of Prof. Strate’s article, “Cybertime,” is the part where he states, “Computing constitutes a human activity and an event that influences our perception of time and our sense of self and community.”  In our culture now, more people are spending extra time with their computer, or mobile devices. People are spending less time with actual humans. Therefore, our society will be increasingly less social with each other. Have you ever been out to a restaurant and saw a couple on their phones the whole time instead of talking to each other? It is really sad. What ever happened to human interaction? It is very important for people to spend some time with their family and friends without their phone. It is a healthier way of living.

Marshall McLuhan puts it best when he states that “Popular culture is a reflection of the technological environment, and how it works in conjunction with the technological society, numbing minds and allowing individuals to adjust to an impersonal, industrial environment.”