The Internet’s such an interesting place, culturally. For instance, the conceptions of age and linguistics.
In conversation, if someone uses a certain word there’s a millisecond judgment of whether they’re part of the in-group or the out-group. Particular turns of phrase are used by X, Y or Z generations (Alphas can’t speak yet, or at least just in babbles) to find familiarity. Understandable, especially in the wild west of the digital landscape where there are no physical bodies to gauge whether another person is a threat. But one of the most interesting things is that this language is taken outside of the digital sphere and utilised as another bonding tactic in someone’s repertoire in addition to things like age, body language, clothing, ethnicity.
Another interesting thing is the development of children who are growing up during the technological era. I suspect they’re using these signifiers not only to ask “can I relate to you, do you understand me” but also “am I safe”. Maybe because underneath the cynicism and dark humour is uncertain attachment because they’re essentially parenting themselves (because parents don’t understand how to use tech and in fact, are asking or even depending on their kids to figure things out for them), parented by their peers, bonded by the Internet. Or maybe I’m just reading into it.
Regardless, the Internet is facilitating the development of another language, a digital language, and culture in parallel to and transcending the ones already existing.
QON #1: —
The Internet’s such an interesting place, culturally. For instance, the conceptions of age and linguistics.
In conversation, if someone uses a certain word there’s a millisecond judgment of whether they’re part of the in-group or the out-group. Particular turns of phrase are used by X, Y or Z generations (Alphas can’t speak yet, or at least just in babbles) to find familiarity. Understandable, especially in the wild west of the digital landscape where there are no physical bodies to gauge whether another person is a threat. But one of the most interesting things is that this language is taken outside of the digital sphere and utilised as another bonding tactic in someone’s repertoire in addition to things like age, body language, clothing, ethnicity.
Another interesting thing is the development of children who are growing up during the technological era. I suspect they’re using these signifiers not only to ask “can I relate to you, do you understand me” but also “am I safe”. Maybe because underneath the cynicism and dark humour is uncertain attachment because they’re essentially parenting themselves (because parents don’t understand how to use tech and in fact, are asking or even depending on their kids to figure things out for them), parented by their peers, bonded by the Internet. Or maybe I’m just reading into it.
Regardless, the Internet is facilitating the development of another language, a digital language, and culture in parallel to and transcending the ones already existing.