The Internet Makes Me Feel Fat

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Earlier in the piece, however, Harding criticizes Stanley's seemingly incongruous statement that programs such as "The Biggest Loser" feed complacency in viewers, in part by creating an illusion that the arduous road to weight loss is no biggie. Harding writes, "How does being inspired to diet represent 'complacency' about one's (or one's kid's) fatness again?"

With great appreciation for both Stanley and Harding, I think I get it. The increasing opportunities to immerse ourselves in fantasy stunt us in reality. At least it does me. Just like publishing behind an avatar keeps this writer off Dr. Perricone's fat-busting/age-reducing/acne-blasting super salmon diet. (That's why as an exercise in self esteem … and because my boss is making me … my next column will feature my real life corporeal image in the byline.)

See, living in fantasy land — whether it's hiding behind a cranky pixie cartoon, watching weight-loss competitions or buying fitness equipment as a substitute for actually exercising — frees us from dealing with reality. Plunking down $299 at Brookstone for that OSIM® iGallop™ Core and Abs Exerciser (on sale from $599) provides a fantasy high that you'll actually use it for something other than a wet towel pedestal.

Rejoicing with the TV competitors, newly fit in one short TV season, creates the fantasy that since you were on their journey, at least from the comfort of your couch, you're fit, too — at least in your imagination.

So it goes with the Internet. You can fantasize that you're better than those air-brushed celebrities with their lousy rhinoplasty and live off the endorphins long enough to not think about your own health. Or you can occupy a young, hot, fit avatar in "Second Life" and boost your real world self-esteem via the elevated respect and acceptance you receive in your avatar community.

It's true! Studies from Stanford's Virtual Human Interaction Lab reveal that in the virtual world as in the real one, the younger, hotter and more fit you appear, the better you'll fare. (See, there's a reason attractive avatars are "Second Life's" chief demographic.) And you have a good chance of letting such treatment affect your real world confidence, too. Such studies also show that exercising your avatar may motivate you to exercise yourself.

It's not clear, however, how long these positive reinforcements in virtual reality last … maybe until "Law & Order" comes on. It could be that one good, long look in the mirror — or say, a real life rejection — is more than enough buzz kill, with the resulting emotional crash keeping you out of the gym and in line at the Dunkin' Donuts. I mean, if you're me.

That's why I don't buy it when Ree posits that Morpheus may be beyond virtual vanity. "Maybe he's so Zen-master-guru-evolved, he doesn't feel the need to alter his avatar's appearance."
Nope. No way. Not with the head-to-toe vinyl and leather Morpheus and his Scooby Gang don whenever they upload. If Morpheus is so cool with the mid-life weight gain (jeezy-creazy, even his name is antithetical), why not maintain the natural fiber/hobo chic so popular in Middle-earth?

This is one giant plot hole in "The Matrix's" humanity fable I can't get past. If Morpheus was real and as emerged and understanding of virtual reality as his character is supposed to be, he'd feel fat, just like the rest of us. Even though, beyond our twisted standards, he really isn't.

Helen A.S. Popkin's Netiquette is now Technotica. Same cranky avatar, now with more gadgety goodness!

When you think about it, a lot of the things in The Matrix is really kind of limited, not exactly the kind of thing you'd do if you "free your mind." Sure Neo can fly, (so can Superman, that's not exactly new) but that kind of "power" is based on or references the limitation of gravity, which is also limited to the idea of a body located in space for that matter. Even if you're going to do that, why not teleport?

So the freedom that comes with the online world is also one that references existing structures, the fact that we have a body, social needs and the like. Simply put, a lot of the influence with stuff like this is peer pressure, or at least peer influence. While social influence is powerful, it is by no means the only factor nor is it the most intelligent - but a lot of people seem to act like it is. If you follow the crowd you probably don't think for yourself, or just don't think period - and if the crowd largely consists of people like this it's no wonder it's not very smart. Rather than being a unique individual that contributes to the collective, people tend to try to fit in to the collective and be preoccupied with being accepted and liked - and a bunch of people looking to follow someone else isn't exactly a recipe for genius.

So to me this positive reinforcement from the virtual world is just the same crap turned upside down. For better or worse, it's all waiting for outside influence to change you, when it is questionable that you'd even want to be changed in that particular way. We can talk about how twisted our standards are, but why even identify with that at all? Outside of how we're hardwired biologically, standards as a psychosocial construct will only limit you. So the question is, do you really prefer being with the/a crowd over being free?

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Posted By: Davincidoll @ 09/07/2008 4:53:05 AM

It's good that men and women are worried about their bodies. The internet gives and extreme impression of what is "normal", yes, but ignoring body image altogether to avoid guilt is not healthy either. Sure lets blame the internet. How about instead of focusing on not being "fat" we are more focused on being active and healthy? Because it's not cheap and it's not easy? In America weight is it one of our biggest concerns because it is leaning us towards obesity, diabetes, heart complications, etc. You know the whole song and dance. If you are on the computer all day obsessing then you get what you "paid" for.
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Posted By: yourmomgoestocollege @ 09/07/2008 12:13:46 AM

Nerds: People who are looked down upon socially, but they just happen to be really smart and the ones you go to for help with your computer, homework - whenever you can't figure out something yourself.
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Posted By: yourmomgoestocollege @ 09/07/2008 12:07:20 AM

When you think about it, a lot of the things in The Matrix is really kind of limited, not exactly the kind of thing you'd do if you "free your mind." Sure Neo can fly, (so can Superman, that's not exactly new) but that kind of "power" is based on or references the limitation of gravity, which is also limited to the idea of a body located in space for that matter. Even if you're going to do that, why not teleport?

So the freedom that comes with the online world is also one that references existing structures, the fact that we have a body, social needs and the like. Simply put, a lot of the influence with stuff like this is peer pressure, or at least peer influence. While social influence is powerful, it is by no means the only factor nor is it the most intelligent - but a lot of people seem to act like it is. If you follow the crowd you probably don't think for yourself, or just don't think period - and if the crowd largely consists of people like this it's no wonder it's not very smart. Rather than being a unique individual that contributes to the collective, people tend to try to fit in to the collective and be preoccupied with being accepted and liked - and a bunch of people looking to follow someone else isn't exactly a recipe for genius.

So to me this positive reinforcement from the virtual world is just the same crap turned upside down. For better or worse, it's all waiting for outside influence to change you, when it is questionable that you'd even want to be changed in that particular way. We can talk about how twisted our standards are, but why even identify with that at all? Outside of how we're hardwired biologically, standards as a psychosocial construct will only limit you. So the question is, do you really prefer being with the/a crowd over being free?