Truman Syndrome

[octocheese]

This is old news but I can't get it out of my head and was wondering what others thought about it. For you who haven't heard about Truman Syndrome you can read the article here http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/30/MN9A14BC6R.DTL or read my quick synopsis below.
Truman Syndrome is named for the move The Truman Show where Jim Carrey's character, unbeknown to him, has his whole life broadcast on tv as entertainment for the world. Researchers have identified multiple patients from around the world having delusions similar to what happens in the Truman Show. They think they are on reality tv, that society is watching them. One woman thought she was a webcam and another threatened suicide if he was not let "off the show."

Obviously these people have health problems that have made them susceptible to these sorts of delusions but these delusions have only come about recently, since the age of reality tv and online social groups. Now I don't have delusions like that but it has got me thinking about the role tv and the internet has begun to play in my life.
Take Facebook for example. I have lots of people I know know through work who "friend" me. They send me all sorts of cutsie stuff (flowers, cats, karma). The weird thing is that many of them have hardly ever spoken to me the entire time I've known them. And we'll have a good volley of sending each other plants but completely ignore each other in the real world. Perhaps many of you *ahem* younger people don't find this as odd as I do but I can see how people susceptible to mental health issues can develope Truman Syndrome.
Anyway, sorry for the really long post and I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.

[Skirr]

(First off,) I thought that was a great movie.

And I can see what you mean about finding it strange that you'll either never meet these people, or never socially engage in real life. But maybe that's because you were introduced to that facet of the internet years after the younger demographic was. Because I don't find it strange per se, but quite annoying when I find someone I think is really cool and I might hang out with and I can't because they live in a different country.

And I can see how something like the internet and Xbox LIVE and other non-face to face socializing could easily induce someone into a kind of Truman Syndrome.

But to be honest, everyone thinks everyone else is watching them, don't they? What people don't realize is that when you think someone is watching you, they're wondering if people are watching them. (Unless I'm wearing my hat. Then people are watching me.)

[octocheese]

I agree, good movie. And now I'm curious about your hat but we'll save that for a more appropriate thread. :amused:

It's kind of like having multiple lives when you hang out in social groups/forums. I have trouble wrapping my head around the fact that here in BE I have made "friends" with people who have similar interests. Some times we even have meaningful conversations. But it's the people I see in the "real" world who get all excited online and we establish a "relationship" but heaven forbid you mention it to their face. For that fact alone I prefer places like BE. To me the "friendship" is more genuine, as frivolous as it may be.

[Skirr]

Well, when you meet someone online it's that they can't judge how you look unless you let them, or judge any other superficial factors. All they can see is your personality.

[blunt_smoker_420]

I can see why people can think they are being "watched" but i think it is ridiculous. the movie was great though.