Sunshine Skyways

The characterization that one individual can make of another by virtue of being able directly to observe and hear that other is organized around two fundamental forms of identification: the categoric kind involving placing that other in one or more social categories, and the individual kind, whereby the subject under observation is locked to a uniquely distinquishing identity through appearance, tone of voice, mention of name or other person-differentiating device. This dual possibility — categoric and individual identification — is critical for interaction life in all communities except small isolated ones...(Goffman, 1983, p. 3).

In face-to-face interactions, I have a physical appearance which others see and use to place me into racial, ethnic, gender, age, and other social categories. Without saying or writing a word, my posture/stance, personal grooming, eye contact, clothing, facial expressions, use of personal space, smell, and physical gestures communicate who I am, both intentionally and unintentionally. However, in the world of cyberspace I have no physical body. I cannot point to my chest and say, "Here I am." As such, I cannot display myself as a physical entity for others to see my race, ethnicity, gender, age, height, weight, class, and other social categories based on visual inspection. Consequently, what I am in physical space is not me in cyberspace.

In a text-based virtual group or community, who I am is based entirely on what I write. I am nothing but words...


Bibliography:
Goffman, Erving. 1983. "The Interaction Order: American Sociological Association, 1982 Presidential Address" in the American Sociological Review, Vol. 48, No. 1 (February), pp. 1 - 17.