A Virtual Death and a Real Dilemma

This article took a look at multiple aspects about the effects and insight of the controversy that occurred with the fake death of  Kaycee Nicole Swenson.  What triggered my interest throughout this article was the direct effect of the blog, as a medium, had in the ability affect so many people.  As the reading states, "Hoaxes may have a history as old as communication, but some hoaxes are better suited to particular media than others" (pg 202).  Because of the lack of visual mediums, blogs are more susceptible due to the fact that it is typically text based.  Reading requires the audience to use their "imaginations to fill gaps and gloss over inconsistencies in their interactions" (pg 203).  This created an atmosphere where the audience became more connected with this fictitious character.  Furthermore, I found that because the freedom in which blogs hold, some address the impact of the hoax because of the technology itself.  This may bring people to not "trust" information conveyed through the web.  I found an interesting perspective to rebuttal why we shouldn't hate or distrust the internet  further in the reading.  On page 212, there is a quote from Powazek's forum , " This saga isn't going to make me stop trusting what I read on the web, the relationships I form here, because what enable trust, compassion and love is the message, not the medium...I found a out a friend died recently, because her daughter called up and told me. I do not hate the phone. I hate the fact that she died".  Although these hoaxes may be easier to be susceptible to on the internet, we should still take an appreciation of the web.  We must be more cognizant of what we trust, but that is on the individual to determine what is fake and what is reality.