There is no Cyberspace, Mr Barlow!

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I had always felt that the term “cyberspace” was one of those pieces of hysteria that seems to ooze from every pore of the internet. Then I was introduced to a document entitled, “A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace” by someone called John Barlow. Upon further investigation, I found out that he is the person who popularised the inaccurate “cyberspace” term, and it all fell into place for me! This former Wyoming cattle rancher and rock music song writer has spent the past decade producing a whole range of essays espousing his somewhat misguided views on the internet - yet, amazingly, he is a leading light in the eyes of some, a key figure for those who view the internet as a free for all haven from authorities and the evils of the world. Interestingly, this is the same Barlow who in his essay, “Is there a Cyberspace?” wrote that television was “toxic to the soul”. He sees television as an evil, yet fights for “freedom” on the internet, a communications tool which brings more soul toxins into our homes in one day than television can bring in a year. But to answer your question Mr Barlow, "No, there is no cyberspace."

When the internet first started to stretch its legs in the early 90's there were only about half a million people using it, and these were mostly academics and computer geeks. And, as people are prone to do, they started imagining, or "conceptualising" as scholars call it, that all kinds of wonderful things would fall the way of humankind through the global village that would rapidly grow from the internet. They saw people all around the world interconnecting in one grand global community, a community where all the problems of human existence would be wiped out. Barlow argues that he is part of a group who are creating a world that all may enter without privilege or prejudice accorded by… economic power. Yet he writes from Davos, one of the wealthiest and richest communities on the planet and shows no understanding of the fact that most of the world’s population live in horrid poverty and don’t have access to adequate food each day, let alone have the massive wealth needed to log onto the internet. He argues for complete freedom on the internet - yet this is the guy who hates TV ! What Barlow and his cronies are doing is conceptualising the internet and, in their imaginations, turning it into a Utopian dream world, far, far divorced from the cruel realities of human existence. One can conceptualise anything, its a very easy thing to do. You just imagine the world as you wish to see it and there you have it. But this doesnt mean that cyberspace really exists. Yes, it exists in Barlow's mind, and it exists in the minds of those who wish to imagine it - but it doesnt exist in the real world.

In the real world, only a small portion of humanity has access to the internet, and the vast overwhelming majority will never gain access to this wonderful global communications tool because they are too poor. Their daily existence is spent trying to desperately find one meal for their families- keeping themselves alive for one more day is their priority. Indeed, the amount of money most of us internet users spend in a year on our "luxury" would feed many families in other less privileged parts of the world. In many ways its quite offensive for anyone to even consider the internet is a global anything when its only, really, a plaything for the rich. But lets explore this idea of the Barlowites that there is some kind of magical cyberspace - a Utopian land of freedom and equality - for those who can afford the entry fee. I wonder where it can be?? When I sit down at my computer and log in to my ISP, nothing happens until I open my browser. Then, before my eyes, a preselected web page, like the page of a book or a TV channel, will open. I am still sitting in front of my computer, no part of me has travelled anywhere. My mind is definitely still here in the real world because whilst I surf the 'net I am also looking outside the window of my home, keeping an eye on the kids in the lounge room and listening to the distant TV. When I bring up another web page there is no part of me travelling anywhere, there is no "area" behind the screen where people around the world are congregating. There is just me and my computer - in the real world! The cyberspace cadets would also have you believe that all of us internetting away are part of some world changing community. Somehow, miraculously, all of us who internet are going to change the way the world operates. We are going to sweep aside the political and economic systems of the world, and bring forth a new era. But this,again, defies logic because the people who surf the internet are not somehow different to the people who live in the real world - they are the very same people. When a rude, nasty person logs onto the internet they do not suddenly become a saint - they remain a rude, nasty person ! When a politician publishes some of his ramblings on his website, he has not suddenly become a compassionate, honest and caring soul. He is still the same lying scumbag who ignores your opinion all year round in the real world - he has just found a new way of trying to get your vote and your money. The internet is not different to us, it does not change our characteristics, it is merely an extension of us. Whatever is truly inside us, will still be inside us when we internet. Whatever characteristics human society possesses in the real world are the same characteristics that are be found on the internet because it exists in the real world.

The internet is not the first new technology to hit humankind. We have seen many over the past 100 years or so. We have seen radio, TV, cars, faxes, telephones, and now the internet, all enhance our lives, but none of these technologies has changed the fundamental principles that underlie human society. The rich are still rich, the powerful still powerful and we the general public still struggle away every day with very little power, very little control and very little say over how things are done. The internet can not change that - only we as people can change that, internet or no internet. When one grabs the telephone and rings the butcher to enquire if pork chops are on special today, the academics of the world dont have multiple orgasms and whoop with delight that you are in telephone space - and write glowing articles on the joys of being part of a global butcher ringing community, so why must we have this hysteria with the internet? The internet is a marvellous and fascinating new addition to our lives, a magnificent communications tool that gives those of us lucky enough to have access to it the chance to explore many fantastic and exotic delights. But must we really spoil it, Mr Barlow, with geek speak and hysteria?? There is no place free from government control where people can do and say as they please. There is no global equality or Utopian "space" created by the internet. There are just mums and dads and kids hammering away in the real world at their keyboards enjoying this wonderful communications tool. And thats because... There is no cyberspace, Mr Barlow.

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about the author...
after many years as an online sports writer and statistician, I have hung up the pencil and headed off to university to try my luck in the world of academia. I am presently working my way through a BA in Internet Studies. From time to time I will post an article on those issues that have tickled my fancy and hope you find them to be of interest.

any comments???