Plugged In

In this episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, they were trying to communicate that we are living in a society that communicates through machines. These machines have many avenues and options that can virtually change our life by the way we communicate.

Computer mediated communication can be any form of electronic communication, this may involve human relationships that are computer based. As we seen from the character Willow, who does most of her communication on the computer, formed a relationship at the first sign of attention. Willow, although very book smart when it came to a communicating via email with someone she never met, Willow had no idea who she really was communicating with.

There was a comment on idiot box vs book and how there is much error in the computer, whereas the book has been around for centuries with much less error. In response Willow states that the only reality is virtual and if your not 'plugged in' your not alive. That is terrifying who would want to be plugged in to be alive! There are ways of communicating to others then the computer, there is also other ways to feel alive or plugged in.

While everyone is plugged in and Buffy is still the only one not catching on, this Internet demon has now tapped in and has taken control of everyone. OK, Buffy The Vampire Slayer is a series on TV but what if someone can control all those that were plugged in, they could do what ever their hearts desire. Now this really gets me thinking about the movies The Matrix, everyone plugged in and the matrix has total control of you now that's creepy!

When Buffy decided to start doing her own investigating on Willow's new friend you could see many ways of communication. Buffy spies on a lead, while close friends spy on her through security cameras, all while sitting in front of the computer. Web cams and different web feeds can virtually put you there but not really be there at all.

As the professor put it best, with a computer there is no texture, no feelings and emotions just words. When it comes to the idiot box vs book, the book wins because knowledge is power.