The Internet is pure information, pure virtual space (well it's also computers, hard drives, and wiring, but that's not what people mean when they talk about Th

The Internet is pure information, pure virtual space (well it's also computers, hard drives, and wiring, but that's not what people mean when they talk about The Internet). Hyperreality deals with the simulation of the real (both classical/physical simulation as well as idea and mental-model simulation), so much so that the real eventually becomes less important than the simulation itself. At some point the symbols of the simulation begin to take on a life of their own (think of brand logos, the Nike swoosh, the apple with a bite taken out). The symbols begin to have their own meanings apart from reality, welcome to the realm of the hyperreal. The word "girl" is not a real girl, it's meant to "capture" or "represent" what a girl is in communication. We attempt to capture "real girlness" in the words we use and the mental models we build. Over time usage of the word gets perverted, it no longer "accurately" captures the essence of what a girl is, it is a distortion of the real. The word, which started out representing reality, becomes untethered from reality, and starts to take on a life of its own. Eventually you leave behind all pretense of reality, and the word/symbol has it's own inherent meaning that only makes sense in context of the hyperreal. This article only really seems to make sense if you live more in the world of hyperreal symbols, and are less concerned about the real world that the words once represented. A lot of this is due the Enlightenment, as we now live in an "Age of Reason" which is absolutely obsessed with simulation -- everything must be captured, categorized, analyzed, broken down, understood, only to eventually be integrated and manipulated in our mental models (simulations). In many ways The Internet is (or has the potential to become) home for the absolute hyperreal. All that matters to the internet is the relationship between symbols. Are you aligned with the right symbols, brands, products, politics, lifestyles, etc.? Endless bites of "simulated false realities" designed for mental consumption. We yearn for the real, the authentic, while living in an increasingly hyperreal world starving of any underlying meaning. What's more important; The Real, or The Internet's captured and increasingly perverted version of "The Real"? I am unconcerned with the hyperreal when what it claims to represent is untethered from the real world. To some it's deathly serious. I've found my mental health is better staying focused on things that are more real. If you find these ideas compelling I suggest you read up more on it [1]. The book Simulacra and Simulation is a wonderful starting place, really opened my eyes [2]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreality [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra_and_Simulation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra_and_Simulation