Thursday, November 4, 2010

Pattern Recognition: Online Networks Everting to the Real World

    One of the most prominent themes in Pattern Recognition by William Gibson, is the theme of the internet and social networks, and how these are similar and different from the real world. The two ideas as Cayce puts it “evert” to each other, one eventually becoming part of the other. Because Cayce is such an introverted and mysterious person, he interactions in the social networking world seem extreme. From the beginning she admits that her online network “...is a way now, approximately, of being at home. This forum has become one of the most consistent places in her life, like a familiar cafe that exists somehow outside of geography and beyond time zones.” (4) Her online F:F:F is her oasis when she is in an uncomfortable and new scenery.
    Most importantly, Cayce acts as an active social member of her online network. In the real world, Cayce is more silent and keeps to herself. But her personally does a complete 180 when she is participating in her online forum. Cayce checks her iBook at every possible chance. It becomes a pattern throughout the novel, that whenever she has access to the internet, she pulls out her book and checks her hotmail and the F:F:F for updates and new information.
    The online social networking that Cayce does serves as a main indicator of how Cayce is as a person. In the flesh, she is quiet and shy, and she is greatly affected by others actions. With her allergies to labels and symbols, in the real world Cayce painfully reacts to meeting new people. She judges before she should and it hinders her interactions with people. In her online world, there are none of these distractions. Online, it is simple CayceP and other users. These other users just have names. No faces, no labels, nothing to distract.
    Cayce first breaks through her shell in the real world when she faces the fact that she will need to know Parkaboy’s real name, and will have to meet with him face to face. “And I know this sounds completely insane, but I need your name. I don't actually know it.” (278) This is a major point when the online world is slowly everting into the real world. It is not pleasant at first and “The name feels strange on her tongue.” (279) For this first time, Cayce is interacting the same in the real world and in her online comfort zone.

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