Introduction
Humanities is the field that examines human expression. However, while other approaches are based on psychological, sociological, and biological explanations, humanities encompass a more analytical and subjective approach. Language, art, and philosophy are among the branches included in this subject, elements that lack objectivity but provide an overview of human nature. For example, the current state in which individuals are surrounded by technology and have an onlife rather than living, in reality, can be exemplified through the application of humanities. From a philosophical perspective, escapism was practiced before the tech advancements, implying that a sense of desire for social isolation does not correlate with the current time but is an ongoing phenomenon.
Similarly, the circumstances in which people tend to avoid using verbal language and become verbophobic, choosing to send messages instead, is another form of isolation and insecurity that has been described through humanities subjects for centuries. The social science perspective, on the other hand, scientifically explains the elements of onlife and verbophobia, highlighting the psychological connotations correlating with the circumstances. The human expression exemplified through the escapism that the terms illustrate goes beyond science and reflect on the complex and profound nature of human being, a desire to be appreciated, and a proclivity to escape the physical world through metaphysical perceptions of the conscious mind.
The Proclivity to Resort to an Onlife
There are several connotations to the circumstances in which people avoid experiencing the real world. Avoidance, while being commonly associated with the development of technology and the desire to engage in activities in the virtual world, is now a current trend but an element that was part of human behavior for an expensive period of life. The technological sector did, in fact, progress (Philip 88). At the same time, the humanist approach highlights that the virtual does not have a dynamic property similar to the living matter (Braidotti 62). However, it is inevitable that the world’s dynamic property may instill a sense of avoidance in human beings and alternates behavior, generating circumstances in which escaping change appears to be a desirable option. The proclivity to resort to an onlife then becomes a fundamental trait of human nature. While the current approach aligns with advancements in the technological sector, a similar phenomenon can be exemplified through different elements.
In order for the desire to escape the reality of being integrated into a broader context of human nature, it is essential to assess the phenomenon from various perspectives. The social science perspective highlights the psychological background of the circumstances. Namely, being immersed in a virtual world while facilitating pleasure and a positive brain reaction is ultimately stressful (Brand 798). In certain instances, the phenomenon has been linked to depression (Dong et al.)
Thus, on the one hand, the individual escapes seeking asylum from the challenges of day-to-day life. On the other hand, the onlife negatively affects the perception of reality itself. The outcome is rather predictable as it is inevitable that problems, challenges, and limitations hold no weight in virtual reality. Thus, individuals may be inclined to have a similar experience when living in the real world, yet the challenges cannot be as easily avoided as in an onlife.
The subject of humanities has been intertwined with the experience of avoiding real life. Nonetheless, it is highlighted that technology has, indeed, impacted the notion of the virtual (Hoel 135). However, the virtual is more complex than a screen and a proclivity to interact, communicate, and live in the onlife. A more in-depth analysis can link the current phenomenon with an older, more described escapism in various fields. Similar to an artist spending weeks trying to express the details in the leaves while painting a forest of a jazz musician being emerged in creating a new sound, individuals have been escaping the natural world in multiple ways.
It can be argued that the human desire to create differs from the human desire to escape, but the two are not necessarily contrasting. An example of escapism without the element of creation can, likewise, be illustrated through the subject of arts. Thus, a person can virtually construct a new imaginary world solely by applying imagination. In this case, while no interactions between people can be experienced through imagination while having an onlife, the reality of communication via technology is relatively ephemeral in the first place. One cannot see the face or hear the voice of the human they are interacting with within the case of written communication, which is why the reality aspect is somewhat distorted.
Art is one of the humanities elements that can be perfectly applied to explain the human phenomenon of seeking an escape by having an onlife. Not only does art highlight the presence of the phenomenon in different manifestations, but it also relates to the severity of the circumstances in which one dismisses the material world and creates a semi-material one virtually. Specifically, art portrays human emotions, which is why humanities are to be applied to determine whether the phenomenon which is often associated with the present is an exemplification of human nature itself. Current literature suggests that the notion of immersion highlights the factors that impact human flourishing from the perspective of humanities and arts, respectively (Tay et al. 215). Immersion aligns with the circumstance of onlife as one experiences a sense of avoiding the physical element of being to have an interchangeable virtual sense of belonging and self-development.
Virtual emersion often takes the form of two different experiences in art. On the one hand, the element correlates with a joyous escape from the material world and situations in which individuals either escape to avoid challenges and despair or in an apocalyptical setting, often highlighting the danger of emerging technologies. The first case can be exemplified through the children’s book “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. In the novel, the protagonist is a young girl who lost her parents and, together with her siblings, finds a fairytale-like world in which they can maximize their potential, exercise their braveness, and find their courage. Namely, “Lucy goes into the wardrobe” and remains a significant part of the newly found world before turning back to reality (Lewis 19).
On the one hand, the passage can be interpreted as an element of fantasy, which does not necessarily align with reality. However, on the other hand, the wardrobe may be a metaphor for entering an imaginary world in which earthly problems become redundant. In this case, a child is emerged in the virtual to avoid coping with the loss of their parents and the need to acquire a sense of independence and self-sufficiency at a young age. As a result, the book may be interpreted as portraying a situation in which one chooses an onlife as it provides comfort despite the limitations of the material environment, which can be avoided through the experience of the metaphysical world.
As mentioned, the need for escape may align with the negative connotation of an exemplification of the negative aspects of human progress. An example of the theme is “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury. In the short story, the parents are determined to get rid of the virtual reality screens covering the walls in their children’s room, which is why the children end up trapping them inside one of their scenarios, purposefully killing them in the process (Bradbury 12).
The gruesome storyline does, indeed, exemplify the dangers of being immersed in an onlife and losing the grip on reality in the process. In this case, the children were willing to give up everything in their physical life, including their parents, to remain a part of the imaginary reality they have created via technology. As the material environment has become an inconvenience, the ultimate sacrifice is to deny one’s humanity by erasing the memory of what made the children human in the first place, their mother and father. As a result, the events can be interpreted as the choice of becoming robotized through the dismissal of everything that exemplified the material world and complete immersion into the virtual.
The correlation between having an onlife and fulfilling expectations that may not be easily fulfilled under standard conditions is palpable. An example of literature highlighting the problem is the famous novel “The Catcher in the Rye”. While not immersed in virtual reality through technology or similar means, the protagonist lives specific experiences through dreams. Namely, the dream portrays the character’s desire to remain young. Thus, he exemplifies his dream by stating, “Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around, nobody big except me” (Salinger 93). In this case, the dream allows the protagonist to live in a scenario that fits his desires, personality traits, and fears of adulthood. It can be highlighted that, similar to the concept of having an onlife, the character’s brain and subconscious generate a scenario in which he can be happy.
As a result, the philosophical perspective on the notion correlates with the simple idea of the desire to be happy, which is a significant motivator for human behavior. Being happy implies that one cannot reach the same level of calmness, courage, balance, and spirituality in real life, which is why it is more easily generated in a virtual setting. A similar symbol is illustrated in Robert Frost’s “Birches”, in which the poet exemplifies feelings correlating with the idea of how difficult it is to let go of childhood (Frost). An onlife, in this case, allows humans to either relieve certain feelings or generate a setting in which said emotions can be artificially facilitated.
Virtual reality, however, can be achieved through various means. Music, paintings, theater, and cinema are the ways in which the creators of the pieces impose the virtual world they have created on those admiring their art. For example, Maurice Ravel, the French impressionist composer, has created certain musical pieces that allow listeners to become immersed in a beautiful and magical world.
The beauty of “Une Barque Sur L’Ocean,” in particular, correlates with the sense of being lost in a fairy tale that does not resemble the real world (Ravel). Literature, music, and paintings, in this case, may have a similar effect to having a virtual onlife via technology with one major difference. In the first case, the admirer or the artist applies imagination to reach emotional harmony. On the other hand, in the case of an onlife, the individual generates the physical aspect of their world by surrounding themselves with other people with similar interests, living a life that they may not be able to achieve in the material world, and creating a comfortable virtual environment. Nonetheless, the notion of having an onlife, while correlating with different forms and exemplifications of the element, aligns with social sciences through the evidence of psychological avoidance and with the field of humanities by portraying the ultimate mission of being happy and fulfilled.
Fear of Rejection and the concept of Verbophobia
Human development correlates with multiple aspects of the nature of individuals driving said progress. Humanities writers mention that the notion of human progress is, indeed, an uncertainty (Higgins 129). Namely, the element of progress itself is challenging to exemplify as, on the one hand, development in all sectors is present. On the other hand, the human experience, behavioral patterns, and perceptions remain static. An example that is linked to the previously mentioned phenomenon of having an onlife is the development in the technological realm. For example, science fiction is considered one of the drivers for human change and progress affected by the desire to obtain more advanced knowledge and experiences (De Matas 127).
While technology has changed many aspects of human life, it is vital not to underestimate the significant alteration in how people communicate, share information, and gather it. A similar outcome can be exemplified through the impacts of the Gutenberg printing press, a machine that allowed individuals to learn more about the world they live in and aspire for more. Similarly, the internet and social media have had a major impact on the minimization of distance and language barriers and the psychological aspect of social interactions.
Specific conditions and personality traits have influenced communication for certain people for as long as people interact. However, the current time allows for said limitations and barriers to be managed by avoiding certain communication elements. For example, sending paper letters minimizes verbal communication. However, it was inconvenient, while phone calls encouraged speech and generated a sense of unease for people who may find it more comforting to express themselves in written form. Nonetheless, the existence of social media platforms facilitates both types of communication with minimal to no barriers.
However, the social science perspective highlights evidence illustrating that verbal communication is perceived as unfavorable in multiple instances. Evidence shows that individuals fear speaking and resort to texting due to the fear of awkwardness and the lack of time to express their ideas thoughtfully (Kumar and Epley 595). In the case of speech, one does not have time to adequately look for the best terminology to share an idea, which may result in mistakes in how others perceive the content of the conversation. Texting, on the other hand, aligns with a more flexible environment for putting ideas into words so that miscommunication is avoided.
Similar social science research was conducted concerning counseling. Namely, participants were to rank experiences with online verbal and written counseling through texts. The results highlight that individuals tend to enjoy messaging therapists due to several outcomes. On the one hand, it was reported that a significant limitation was the fear of negative perception through verbal communication. On the other hand, the reports highlight an intense fear concerning the judgment of one’s social skills (Navarro et al.).
The analysis aligning with social sciences, however, highlights a primary humanist notion of the essential experience of rejection and its avoidance, which aligns with standard human experiences. Both the psychological perspective and the humanist one exemplify the importance of seeking love and recognition in how one’s operates and behaves. The phenomenon is closely tied to the aforementioned element of progress, as progress can be linked to the desire to succeed and be rewarded for it. From a humanist perspective, progress is generated by the basic desire to be accepted and praised. Regarding verbophobia, the underlying circumstances in which the notion is applied can exemplify the fear of rejection due to an inability to reach the standards of social communication considered desirable.
In written communication, one may construct a new character that is not limited by verbal skills. For example, someone anxious and somewhat isolated may find it less challenging to engage in conversations that do not require quick responses and constant physical engagement. Humanities sources mention the difference between the notion of a character and the underlying self (Wirth 25). Character is how one presents and operates in society. The self, on the other hand, is how one feels and perceives the world, and the identity may be lost when one strives to be perceived as a different persona (Tal 13).
Constructing a character is more difficult in verbal communication as the responses may require promptness, disrupting the portrayal of the self one desires to achieve. Written interactions, on the other hand, may facilitate circumstances in which a person can create the illusion of being the communicator they want to be. Thus, one is a verbophobic when the fear of rejection and ridicule facilitates an avoidance of situations in which control is lost and quick responses are required.
The fear or avoidance of verbal communication, similar to the concept of having an onlife through the prioritization of the virtual and imaginary, has been an ongoing experience described in the literature in multiple forms. For example, a lack of verbal communication is portrayed as a sense of despair and unwillingness to interact with the outside world due to the dismissal of society concerning the person exercising said behavior. An example of a literary character fitting the pattern is Chief Broom in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, a psychiatric hospital resident who states, “I been silent for long now it’s gonna roar out of me” (Kesey 7).
The silence, in this case, is portrayed as the character’s alignment with the perception of those around him. Thus, since the world considers him mentally ill and unable to talk or comprehend aspects of the world around him, he will fit this perception of himself by always being silent. Although the verbophobics, in the new sense of the concept, are avoidant of verbal communication and prefer written one, the concepts correlate concerning the implications of societal expectations and a sense of fear of unfulfilling them. Thus, on the one hand, an individual prefers texting as there are fewer risks of embarrassment. On the other hand, Chief does not speak as a society already perceives him as someone incapable of fitting their standards.
An example of why written communication is, indeed, more comforting is Napoleon’s letters to his wife, Josephine. In one of his letters, the French leader addresses his wife in the following way: “Farewell, wife, torment, joy, hope, and heart of my being” (Bonaparte). It can be implied that letters were the only communication channels between the couple. Nonetheless, it is vital to consider whether such profound expressions of emotions can be exemplified during verbal communication. Communication can be perceived as a form of art, and art requires perfecting, time, and patients. From this perspective, individuals prefer writing as it allows for a more in-depth consideration of the best possible way in which feelings can be exemplified on paper. Moreover, while reading may not be as compelling as watching regarding the emotional substance of the content, arts highlight that perception is subjective. For example, Richard Wagner’s “Faust Overture” is a classical composition that illustrates the Faustian tragic play through sound (Wagner).
Thus, while social sciences highlight that verbophobics avoid verbal expressions due to the lack of confidence and fear of societal rejection, the humanities approach exemplifies the vitality of different forms of information sharing and their effects on the human experience.
Conclusion
Technological development is considered to have a major impact on alterations in human behavior and experience both from a social science and humanities perspective. While social sciences highlight the negative implications of switching to having an onlife, humanities reflect on the phenomenon as an experience in which one escapes the material world and immerses into fantasy, a circumstance that has been a part of human nature for a long time. Similarly, while the scientific perspective illustrates verbophobia as a result of anxiety and fear of rejection, a humanities approach highlights the experiences correlating with different communication measures and the intensified emotions that can be shared in written form or through arts.
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Appendix: Neologisms
The 21st century can be described as one employing a major societal change. The shift can be attributed to the technological advancements that have generated various trends, innovations, and revolutions. One revolutionary change is the use of social media, which shapes how people communicate, interact, and live their lives. It has been a concern that individuals tend to prefer online spaces to real-life communication. Thus, it is essential not to underestimate both the significance of online spaces in people’s lives as well as the overall revolution in human interaction.
The work that best suits the phenomenon is the neologism “onlife”. The combination of the world “online” and “life” describe the phenomenon in which an individual lives their lives online. Namely, their friends, experiences, and knowledge are all connected to their online activity. The term can be applied in a sentence the following way: “My onlife is much more exciting than my real life”. According to Garber, neologisms are constructed to fit specific circumstances correlating with the present. Thus, “onlife” is a testament to future generations regarding how humanity has converted to an online way of life. Moreover, the meaning of the word aligns with the current paper in regards to encompassing a human experience correlating with psychology and humanities, which is why it can be integrated into this analytical essay as well as further humanities explorations.
Another change that has been generated due to technological advancements is verbal communication. Namely, people prefer sending texts and messages, while calls have become secondary channels of interaction. Making appointments online, texting friends, and Googling instead of asking teachers questions are the things that have replaced verbal communication. Moreover, talking has become more intimate as it requires prompt ideas to be voiced without the person having time to think about a statement or redact it later.
The term “verbophobia” is a description of the phenomenon in which a person avoids verbal communication and prefers written one. An example of a sentence can be, “I am such a verbophobic that I had to find a salon that accepts online appointments”. The word is a combination of the term “verbal” and the adjective “phobic,” which exemplifies fear. Future generations can benefit from knowing the word and its origins as it is an illustration of the changing communication channels. It is excellent for an examination of the human experience in this paper and other works as it relates to a seeming current human experience that has been a fundamental element long before technological advances.