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Are You a Lurker or a Performer? Exploring Our Online Roles
James Brown explores the intriguing concept of two distinct Internets: the polished, engagement-driven normie Internet and the hidden, chaotic subterranean Internet. He argues that most people navigate both realms, often playing different roles depending on the context. Just as we adapt our behavior in various social settings, our online personas shift from enthusiastic participants to silent observers. This duality reflects not only our online interactions but also our identities in everyday life, revealing how we wear different masks in different environments. Brown invites listeners to consider how these roles shape their experiences and what they reveal about their true selves.
Takeaways:
- The concept of two Internets highlights our varying online personas and roles we play.
- Navigating both the polished normie Internet and the messy subterranean Internet shapes our identities.
- We often adapt our online behavior based on the context, much like in real life.
- Our digital presence reflects our multifaceted nature, revealing different sides of ourselves.
- The distinction between being a participant and a lurker is crucial to understanding our online experience.
- Ultimately, it's not about choosing one Internet over the other, but how we engage with both.
James Brown delves into the fascinating concept of two distinct Internets: the polished, engagement-driven normie Internet, and the raw, subterranean Internet, which thrives on anonymity and authenticity. He discusses how Katherine D., known as default friend on Substack, articulates this duality, highlighting that many users oscillate between these two realms without fully committing to one. This dichotomy is not merely a reflection of our online habits but mirrors a broader truth about human behavior—how we adapt our personas depending on our social environments. Whether at work, with family, or among friends, we often present ourselves differently, and the Internet amplifies this phenomenon by offering diverse spaces for self-expression.
Brown emphasizes the importance of both Internets, suggesting that they serve different emotional and social needs. The normie Internet invites us to engage publicly and seek validation through likes and shares, while the subterranean Internet provides a sanctuary for introspection and deeper connections. He challenges the notion that individuals must choose one over the other, arguing instead that navigating these spaces can reveal much about our identities—whether we are chasing clout or finding solace in the shadows. Ultimately, he calls on listeners to reflect on their own online experiences, pondering the roles they play and how these roles correlate with their real-life interactions.
Transcript
Two Internets, many roles.
James Brown:This is commentary from James Brown.
James Brown:Katherine D.
James Brown:AKA default friend on Substack, makes an intriguing point about the Internet.
James Brown:She says there are two Internets.
James Brown:The normie Internet, polished, algorithm driven and built for engagement.
James Brown:And the subterranean Internet, hidden, messy and guarded by people who don't care.
James Brown:Care about clout.
James Brown:I think she's right.
James Brown:But here's where it gets interesting.
James Brown:Most of us don't choose one or the other.
James Brown:We live in both.
James Brown:Even on the same platform, we play different roles.
James Brown:We're enthusiastic participants in one corner and silent lurkers in another.
James Brown:One moment we're liking memes and commenting on TikToks, the next, we're scrolling through a heated debate, watching but saying nothing, like wallflowers at a digital party.
James Brown:And if we're honest, and we should be, we'd admit that this isn't that different from the rest of our lives.
James Brown:Think about it.
James Brown:Aren't we all a little different depending on the room we're in?
James Brown:At work, we present one version of ourselves.
James Brown:At home with family, another with friends.
James Brown:We're open, but with strangers.
James Brown:Maybe guarded, maybe more quiet.
James Brown:We adapt.
James Brown:We shift.
James Brown:We wear masks.
James Brown:Not out of deceit, not because we don't care, but because that's what life asks us to do.
James Brown:The Internet just amplifies this.
James Brown:It gives us more rooms to enter, more roles to play.
James Brown:The normie Internet pulls us into public performances, polished, indigestible for the algorithm.
James Brown:The subterranean Internet, on the other hand, lets us retreat, be quieter, rougher around the edges.
James Brown:And just like in life, we need both places.
James Brown:One to connect broadly and the other to feel seen more deeply.
James Brown:So do you really have to choose one Internet or the other?
James Brown:I don't think so.
James Brown:What matters isn't which space you belong to, but how you navigate them.
James Brown:Whether you're chasing clout or blending into the background, the roles we play tell us something about who we are.
James Brown:What do you think?
James Brown:Does Catherine have a point?
James Brown:Do I?
James Brown:And what about you?
James Brown:Do you find yourself thriving in one space and lurking in another?
James Brown:And how different are the roles you play online from the ways you play roles in life?
James Brown:Let me know in the comments and support my work@jamesbrowntv.substack.com on that note, I'm James Brown, and as always, be well.
