Our Digital Selves vs. Our Real Life Selves

When watching this film, I was in total shock. It was also a little creepy out, yet amazing. In the film "Be Right Back", when Ash died and Martha got the robotic form of Ash made it was only a replica of Ash1's digital self. Everything that was programmed in Ash2's mind was only things from Ash1's social media. Therefore, Ash2 didn't really have many real emotions or real behaviors because they weren't programmed into his mind for him to do. He only mimicked what was provided for him. For example, he only knew the happy side of Ash1. He didn’t know little things such as inside jokes between Ash1 and Martha, how to have sex, or even how to be upset. Everything that he knew had to be taught to him. Martha had to guide and teach him to do everything that wasn’t programmed in his mind. He’s basically like a child being brought up and taught the things to do and not to do, or the emotions to have or not to have, and when to have those emotions and when to not express those emotions. The things we do have been taught to us, so does that basically make us robots, too? But, because Ash2 only knew things provided by Ash1’s social media, he was acting as a one-sided Ash1. That led to the question, should we aim towards making our digital selves more like our “real-life” selves? In my mind, I can see why one would say yes and I could also see why one would say no. I would personally say no because I think we have to be mindful of the things that we post on social media. We have to always remember that people are watching our every move, especially when it comes down to social media. We, especially at the college age, have to make sure we post things that are appropriate because of jobs. Many jobs look at social media profiles to see if someone is a “good fit” for their company. Does that make it right? No, but that’s just the world that we live in. People base their first opinions of you based off the things we post on our social media, so if you post negative statuses, posts, or pictures you’re more looked down on. I also say no because we should have respect for ourselves and for others, such as our parents or other family members. This video shows us that we put our best selves on social media. So ask yourself these questions, if someone was to make a robotic replica of you, would it be the everyday you or just the occasional you? Would that replica of you have all of the emotions that you experience or would it portray one type of emotion. Would the robotic you be a prettier you or the “regular” you?