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The Ideas (continued)
With the advent of virtual spaces and, more recently,
hybrid spaces in which virtual and real worlds
are overlapping, the emotional tenor of these
worlds has become an important question. In what
ways can we talk about intimacy in the electronic
realm. In Britain the internet is regularly characterised
in the media as a space in which paedophiles 'groom'
unsuspecting children and teenagers. Against this
back drop can we establish a more subtle understanding
of the nuances of online relationships. When two
players who know one another place their avatars
together and wait for the camera view to zoom
down to head height so that the two players regard
one another, what is going on? Is this mute tenderness
manifest to anyone else and should it be?
And alongside these small moments, there is a
louder and more forceful set of interactions between
runners and players based on insults, teasing,
goading and humour. These public declarations
seem to happily coexist with the private moments
that appear marginal to the casual observer. Yet,
this demotic discourse also can surprise: the
online players understanding that the runners
are tired, cold, struggling with the environment
on the Kop Van Zuid can become a powerful emotion.
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