Public Veil

This section, “The Public Veil” is about the differences and, more importantly, the similarities between IRL (In Real Life) and the “veil” of interacting with others online. The theme that a better name for IRL is AFK (Away from Keyboard) is commented on earlier in the reading because the online world is as real as the physical world, and this is further emphasized in this section. The author starts her discussion with the difference in meeting new people online, as opposed to AFK. It’s less intimidating and she has met many of her friends in this manner like her friends from a group called “The Computers Club” who works with identity manipulation.

The author tells a story of how a friend in the group, MOM, or maman’s, funeral. She had very real friends in this group, but at the funeral this way of meeting was considered to have cheapened their relationship. However, the author believes the Internet is the world without a physical body. They are the same people online as in AFK, but this lack of physicality in a relationship appeared to others shallower, despite the true depth in a relationship coming from memories and conversations. The author also discusses how, like in the physical world, he has only the shell of the online record, his legacy, without the “physical” presence. This is no different from the world of “reality” where only the memories remain after a person is gone.

I can honestly say I very much agree with the author’s ideas: emotional closeness is not about physicality, but memories, and spending time with them no matter whether online or AFK. It’s shallow to think that a physical body makes a friendship more real.