In an increasingly
digital world, the once definitive characteristics of humanity are blurred. As
we try to project a digital image or identity that accurately represents us, we
become increasingly dependent on that profile to interact with others. This minimizes
human-to-human communication and ultimately suppresses the raw emotional
connection we share in person. Rational thinking, self-awareness, free will,
and expression of love, hate, and fear often characterize humanity; it’s clear
that in the age of social media, we lose a huge portion of those
expressions—internet trolls make us question whether people even think
rationally before posting something, people are governed by likes and shares,
and no one wants to be emotionally online for fear of being judged.
It is because of this phenomena that Ash 2 from Black
Mirror’s “Be Right Back” seems a little off. As suggested by the Uncanny Valley
theory, humans are extremely uncomfortable with near perfect simulations of
themselves because our own understanding of humanity is sensitive. With society
requiring an internet-based life, we have redefined what it means to be human; our
digital selves are so heavily intertwined with our human selves, suggesting
that Ash 2 is truly a continuation of Ash 1’s identity. As an artificial
intelligence, he has all of the same decision making skills, rationality, and
learning capability of the original Ash. We are so creeped out by this only
because we’re aware he’s a robot. If no one knew Ash had died and his wife just
replaced him with Ash 2 secretly, he would pass as Ash 1 to family and
friends—because he is Ash 1. It is uncomfortable and hard to face, but this is
the world we have created. When our personalities are uploaded to the cloud on
a daily basis, we transcend flesh and live digitally.
3 comments:
I like and agree with your intro to the issue pertaining to social media, and how it suppresses personal human contact with one another. I also agree that if no one knew about Ash's death, and only saw the robot, most people would be fooled, for a time. If someone who knew Ash just as much as Martha spoke with the copy, he/she may be fooled temporarily, but because of his/her past experiences of Ash plus this Uncanny Valley thinking burrowed deep within the human subconscious, this close friend or relative could clearly see changes in appearance, mood, and personality. Yes, no one wouldn't automatically assume that it is a robot, but after further examination, the differences would be noticeable, and most would question these differences.
I agree with you that our society is slowing integrating our digital selves with our real selves. It seems that it is almost impossible to things online without making an account or linking in with Facebook. Ash 2 may pass to family and friends at first but because he has no true emotions, I think he would soon be discovered. To Martha, it is very clear that Ash 1 and Ash 2 are so different because the parts that Ash 1 shared with Martha are not found on social media or anywhere else digitally (like "throwing a jeb".) These are things that they shared privately that made their relationship private and intimate.
I agree that as technology progresses, we will become more of a digital society. My hope is that the trust's of humanity that you say we repress will become less repressed as we reach a more technological state.
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