lacansmirror, Poster

Mark Poster addresses the Postmodern Virtualities of our culture and communication systems.  The early concept that Poster explains is the 'Communications Superhighway' where he says the internet has enabled individuals to communicate in new ways and at faster speeds.  Technical innovations in the 80's & 90's have shaped the communication frameworks that we use today.
Poster argues that new forms of communication or 'information superhighways' provides "new efficiencies but by itself changes nothing" (444).  Apps like Snapchat have transformed the way teens communicate, but without 'snaps' or active users, Snapchat means nothing.  The way we use Snapchat also dictates its meaning in our culture.

Later in the chapter, Poster writes about freedom of speech issues with cyberspace.  He asks, "does freedom of speech extend to cyberspace, as it does to print?" (445).  I would argue that is does the same way it does in print, but even print is censored.  You don't see the New York Times or their writers posting discriminatory articles or statements just because they have the right.  Whenever an individual is required to put their name on something, they often naturally censor themselves.  Online there is the same situation, your name and IP address are connected to almost everything you say online.  Therefore, self censorship is present in the cyber medium as well.  In anonymous forums, freedom of speech is often abused and can be hurtful.  Poster argues that people have the right to say how they feel, but there are problems when those feelings are not theirs.  A huge problem with cyberspace is that intellectual property stolen and copied constantly with little control.  It is essential for authors to publish their works online, but protecting their work is a challenge.