Behind The Digital Curtain
Terry McKay: What makes life so difficult?
Nickie Ferrante: People.
- An Affair to Remember (1957)
Affairs of the heart in the last century are no different than the ones in the 21st century - except we have many more by way of the internet. These affairs never even involve the face to face glow of Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, they are quick views of blurry hand held photos taken in bathroom mirrors and video chats lit by 4 watt wall lights.
"She offered me free love. At the time, that was all I could afford. "
- The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John le Carré
The Chatty Lover: A True Story From A Friend Made Into A Short Play
Scene 1: Bedroom or basement. Computer. Online chat.
Her: Let's finally meet in person!
Him: Cool! How about a movie?
Her: Sure!
Scene 2: Same place. A week later
Her: So what movie?
Him: Anything you want.
Her: okay! how about the hollywood cemetery? there's a movie playing there saturday!
Him: COOL!
Scene 3: Same place. A another week. Day of movie
Her: Looking so forward to meeting you.
Him: Me too!
Scene 4: Same place. An hour before movie.
Her: Leaving now for the cemetery!
Him. BTW, I'm married.
Her: ........
The End. Fade out to the glow of the monitor against an empty chair.
A mask of gold hides all deformities. - Thomas Dekker
The computer is a mask that we wear, we have many masks; one for work, one for play and many for when we want to be someone else. We can entrap another with our words, with images, with the fine tooth comb when we sift through their thoughts and wishes. Is it a fair trade when all we are really looking for is attention? Is it fair to trade down just to be loved digitally?
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. " - The Wizard of Oz
We reveal ourselves when the time comes to open the curtain. Some present themselves to the outside world as booming giants that tread the land, worshipped and adored - but pull back the curtain and you see a person working the keyboard and mouse to design who they want to be, not who they are.
Honesty is a trait that falls to the wayside when there is a lacking of something in one's life. To get that prize, lies and deceit are bait, but then the nagging question arises, "what will I do if they want to meet me in real life?" Then you have to confess or play even a greater role offline. The unreal becomes real and a new story has to be written to hold up that facade. But like all facades, the shoring behind it eventually weakens from the weight and falls, and in that reveals the true self.
'I've worn that mask so long I don't feel safe without it. " The Man Behind The Iron Mask
An old cliche "If you keep doing that with your face, it will stay that way!" If we get too comfortable in our masks, we eventually grow into it and become that. To peel it away means to deal with the true self, and that might be more than one can handle.
Image: Ophelia Chong/ Nightmen
