Look For Friendship In Cyberspace

　　In so many ways, cyberspace 1 mirrors the real world. People ask for information, play games, and share hobby tips. Others buy and sell products. Still others look for friendship, or even love.

　　Unlike the real world, however, your knowledge about a person is limited to words on a computer screen. Identity and appearance mean very little in cyberspace. Rather, a person's thoughts-or at least the thoughts they type — are what really count. So even the shyest person can become a chat-room star2.

　　Usually, this "faceless"communication doesn't create problems. Identity doesn't really matter when you're in a chat room discussing politics or hobbies. In fact, this emphasis on the ideas themselves makes the Internet a great place for exciting conversation. Where else can so many people come together to chat?

　　But some Internet users want more than just someone to chat with. They're looking for serious love relationships. Is cyberspace a good place to find love? That answer depends on whom you ask. Some of these relationships actually succeed. Others fail miserably.

　　Supporters of online relationships claim that the Internet allows couples to get to know each other intellectually3 first. Personal appearance doesn't get in the way4. But critics of online relationships argue that no one can truly know another person in cyberspace. Why? Because the Internet gives users a lot of control over how others view them. Internet users can carefully craft their words to fit whatever image they want to give. And they don't have to worry about what their " nonverbal"communication is doing for their image. In a sense, they're not really themselves.

　　All of this may be fine if the relationship stays in cyberspace. But not knowing a person is a big problem in a love relationship. With so many unknowns, it's easy to let one's imagination " fill in the blanks."This inevitably leads to disappointment when couples meet in person. How someone imagines an online friend is often quite different than the real person.

　　So, before looking for love in cyberspace, remember the advice of Internet pioneer Clifford Stoll: "Life in the real world is far richer than anything you'll find on a computer screen."

　　练习题：

　　Ⅰ. True or False:

　　The author believes cyberspace is suitable for doing things like:

　　1. asking for information

　　2. playing games

　　3. sharing hobby tips

　　4. buying and selling products

　　5. discussing politics

　　6. looking for friendship, or even love

　　Ⅱ. Question :

　　Why cannot a person know another one through Internet?

　　答案：

　　Ⅰ. 1. T 2. T 3. T 4. T 5. T 6. F

　　Ⅱ. Because the Internet gives users a lot of control over how others view them.

　　译文：

　　网络交友

　　网络空间在许多方面反映了真实世界: 有人在里面找寻资料、玩游戏及分享兴趣爱好的技巧。另一些人在里面买卖东西。更有人在里面找寻友谊, 甚至爱情。

　　但是不同于真实世界的是, 你对一个人的认知仅限于电脑荧幕上的文字。身份及外表在网络空间里没有太大的意义。反而, 一个人的思想——— 或至少他们在荧幕上所打出来的思想——— 才是真正重要的。所以即使一位最害羞的人也可以成为聊天室里的热门人物。

　　通常这种“ 匿脸”沟通并不会产生问题。当你在聊天室讨论政治或嗜好时, 身份并不那么重要。事实上, 这种对意见本身的强调让互联网络成为一个精彩有趣的谈话场所。世界上还有哪些地方可以让这么多人一起闲聊?

　　但是有些互联网络使用者想要的并不只是聊天的对象。他们在找寻认真的恋爱关系。网络空间是一个寻找爱情的好地方吗?

　　那要看你问谁。这类恋情有些真的成功, 有些则悲惨地结束。

　　网络恋情的支持者宣称互联网络让情侣先在思想上认识对方, 而个人外表不会造成阻碍。但是网络恋情的批评者认为没有人能够真正在网络空间了解一个人。为什么呢? 因为互联网络让使用者轻易地操纵别人对他们的看法。互联网使用者可以为了他们想要塑造的形象而精心推敲措辞, 且不用担心他们的形象受到非语言方面的影响。就某种程度而言, 他们并不是真正的自己。

　　所 有这些都不是问题, 如果这种恋爱关系仅局限于网络空间。但是在恋爱关系中不认识对方是个大问题。这么多的未知数很容易让一个人凭想象力“ 填补空白”。这往往导致情侣碰面时不可避免地失望。一个人对网络朋友的想象通常和真实的情况有很大的出入。

　　所以在网上找寻爱情之前, 先记得互联网先驱克利佛· 斯托的忠告:“ 真实生活比任何电脑荧幕上找得到的东西要丰富得多。”