What is, to me, the difference between virtual and real?

Join me in my quest to find out if by sitting at a PC I’m having a real life experience or a virtual life one.

I think that the difference between virtual and real life is mostly seen in communication (spoken in life versus written on the Internet). Why is that? In real life communication I can be happy and I can transmit with all my senses the way I’m feeling to the other person. On the Internet, I have, at most, some jokes, some bad words and some emoticons. But most of the time is a my-oh-my very much impersonal communication, mostly in a serious manner (or at least perceived that way). So the toughest difference comes from what is virtual life mostly about – communication.

But where is it only a fine line between virtual and real? I think there are a few domains that follow this condition:
a. Movies – yes, it’s better to see them at the cinema, you are on a chair, large room, some smell, some taste (pop corn and drinks), some social engagement (laughs, movements, scary moments); but all-in-all you can get an almost-as-good experience right from the comfort of your own home; Get some friends and it’s even better;
b. Music – Sure, the atmosphere in a Opera house, in a disco or at a concert can’t be reproduce; But reproducing music in a digital era gets quite simpler; Again, social part can be a different experience in real life;
c. Reading – Yes, I know, a book is generally better for the eye, for the posture, for the feeling of yet; And you might remember more things while reading a real book rather than an e-book; In the same time, finding things to read (not necessarily books) on the Internet is quite easy and find it one of the pleasures in life;
d. Typing – I write pretty fast and I can type with about the same speed; It’s not the same thing, but I can get a good sensation while typing on the keyboard; But the structure of words that is formed inside my mind is pretty much the same;
e. Digital photography – I have no photos in my room, other than those for diplomas and IDs; And I miss none; I can’t quite compare the sensation of watching a digital photograph or a printed one, but I do compare the space of a digital photo on my hard drive versus the space of a real stack of photos on my desk;
f. Communicating via headphones and microphone versus meeting live – Communicating live has some obvious advantages (body language, a broader view, a clearer transmission of data, a better hearing option); But when talking with some very close persons like this, I can get a pretty real feeling; Anyhow, it’s much better than typing.

I think these are pretty much the most important things that are similar in life with those on the Internet.

Coming back to the experience of sitting in front of a PC – is it real or virtual? The chair I sit on, the desk, the computer, me – are all real -, but my imagination is trapped in a virtual world. I think that’s the difference. Or at least until I hear some loud sounds on my opened window.

How do you feel about this blog post on virtual and real life experiences?