
Electronic monument Ulmer says has been realizing in the cyberspace. He also pointed out the Internet as an appropriate space where users (or netizens) will probably erect EM (as he said the Interent is an inhabitable monument). I think it is possible for everything to become EM from various online communities to games if these can function as a public sphere well. However, there are still questions which is: Is every cyber-communities possible for EM if they function as online civic sphere or realize democracy there, regardless of their morality or ethics?
Of course, all people will agree that they should not be harmful to real society. But, this is not such simple issue. For example, there was a accident which collectively tried to suicide around the fisrt of this year in Korea. The triers met online and, after confirming their purpose each other, made an online community, what is called, their title is "Meeting to suicide together." I don't remember exactly how many people tried to do but approximately 5~7. Of them were even teenages. Absolutely this gave rise to big social issue for collective suicide in Korea. I don't know if there is a similar case in the US, but it might be a general accident as Paul Virilio mentioned. This can happen everywhere the Internet is accessible. My point in the example above is whether the online commuity make the others harmful directly. "NO!!" They gathered themselves. Is suicide an immoral behavior? It's immoral to Christianity but such issue is generally contentious in society.
I also agree with immorality of suicide. That has potential dangerousness for society. We know this is not EM but this issue is on a process building EM. We have to be careful to the dark side online as if the Internet is depend upon who the user is, which purpose the user has. So, it is so critical for users to take a responsibility both individually and socially. The Internet is like a sweet poison. Users can speak more freely online with anonymity. Sometimes it is like abandon. Some of them seem not to anticipate any negative things occurring because of their action. Go to Youtube and see the replies!! Lots of bad replies.. I don't want to criticize them if it's not crap at least. It's not easy to get active collective reasoning online. Even though the Internet is absolutely good tool, it requires sensitive control effectively to deal with existing values. Here I am thinking it is possible for electracy to be an alternative apparatus for pre-Internet world...
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