On mah video phone...

While I had an understanding of what camgirls were before reading this book, I wasn’t really positive and probably thought more along the lines of the pornographic sites that present images like those described by the author. There were a few things in the book that really caught my eye and made me fill the margins with notes. In the beginning where Senft talks about access to the internet she says “the belief that everyone counts in network society – or will, once they are given access – is a naïve one.” It was interesting to read this because it directly contradicts one of our first readings we had in this course about girls from the Dominican Republic and gaining access to the internet. That entire piece was about girls being able to succeed and go farther in life if only they were to have internet access. It’s funny though because when I read the article about girls in the DR I agree with it, but then Senft makes a valid point about how technology isn’t a good way to determine social power. I had never really thought about the different ways that people who have access to the internet use the internet and in what capacity. It would be interesting to see what these two writers have to say about each other’s’ pieces of work.

Something else that was intense and caught my attention was Senft’s recollection of watching one of her subjects (“friends”) try to commit suicide. “I’d argue that theory and practice were equally important. Hadn’t today shown me that speaking about something and doing something are not equivalent.” This was a bit disheartening to read because I’ve always been one to think that theory and practice go hand-in-hand, you definitely can’t have one without the other. In this case it was very evident that speaking about doing something or Karen and actually doing something for Karen would have been two very different things with two very different outcomes. After reading this I thought back, was there a time when one of the two outweighed the other for me? A time when it actually made a difference? Would this only apply to life or death situations? I still feel that one will never truly understand the theory that they are reading unless they actively participate in practice centered around the theory. However, sometimes the practice can in fact be practiced without having read the theory, but then how much of an effect does that have on someone if they don’t understand why they are doing what they are doing, why they are “choosing” to think a certain way. It was just an interesting statement and I’m still trying to think about a time when these two weren’t both equally important… does anyone have any good examples?

This was a great book! I learned a lot of things I had no idea about, especially since I’m not technologically savvy, so that was nice. The question I have isn’t really about the book itself, but rather a feeling after the fact. Looking back on your book and reading what you wrote, do you feel bad for feeling like Karen was being a nuisance? For instance, when you wrote “…it told me just how much I didn’t want to deal with this situation.” It seemed kind of harsh, although I completely understand where you’re coming from, especially given all that was going on with you in that moment in time. Ultimately it seems like you thought that Karen was just seeking the attention of her estranged boyfriend by pulling a stunt with the pills, if that is the case, do you think her entire webcam life was just to get attention from people?

Thanks again for the book! It was fabulous!