Spoof, Spam, Lurk and Lag: the Aesthetics of Text-based Virtual Realities

This article gave a very in depth and close examination of how text communication has effected society’s intercommunication skills. Referring to types of interaction as MUDs, Multiple User Domains, and MOOS, MUDs Object Oriented. The article gave some direct examples of some of the problems that exist with our heavy reliance on text communication whether it is through e-mail, cellular text messaging, chatting, or e-mail. Some of the problems addressed include spoof, spam, lurk and lag. Just to give one example of the problems that these things create if we consider lagging we will see some of the problems that exist. With a face-to-face conversation or a telephone conversation there is direct and instant communication, but with text communication there is a lag in response. People’s need to communicate quickly makes them less aware of spelling errors also there are subliminal messages that can be implied or interpreted depending on the length of the lag which may give false messages.