Love Online



Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to find out that how much of revolution has occurred in the etiquettes of courtship done online. Article written by Henry Jenkins is used to present his point of view as well as mine. Ultimately the results show that although online courtship is the new fashion but at some point all the elements of traditional courtship does come into play.

Introduction1

Discussion2

Author's Point of View2

My Point of View3

Textual Evidence4

Conclusion4

Love Online

Introduction

The article Love Online says that online relationships are no more restricted to just being online. In his article the author tells about his son Henry, fifteen years of age, who travelled from Cambridge to Omaha to meet his girlfriend Sarah who he met online. The author says back in our time there were not a lot of girls in his neighbourhood to go out with but his son choose an even bigger medium, the cyberspace to find someone who shared his interests.

Henry met Sarah on an online discussion forum and after some time they started talking through private emails and then ultimately his son gathered the courage to call. They kept exchanging virtual candy, flowers until they moved to exchanging photographs and more tangible goods afterwards.

Author says that long distance relationships are not new. They have been there since time unknown. From author's grandparents to parents and then he himself all have been exchanging love letters. Though little change at author's time was that there were telephones to conduct this courtship through. For Henry and Sarah there communication might have been little messages passing from computer to computer but even he saved all those conversations as carefully crafted love letters.

Author says that it was because of the virtual communities that his son and Sarah met otherwise that would have not been possible. But this medium of communication was enough for them and they still sent written notes to each other. The first time they met each other Henry was not able to recognize Sarah since she was different in reality to the photograph she had sent to Henry. As in any courtship meeting for the first time they carefully considered what they will say to each other and they finally found a common ground to start their discussion on.

After that they broke up not because they met online or the real meeting did not live up to their expectations but because they were just teens and there interest shifted. Author then says that his next relationship was also with a girl he met online and who belonged to Melbourne, Australia. The author in the end says that online courtship can never make up for the traditional face to face courtship across any generation. The importance of photographs and hearing voice on telephone is gaining more popularity in these types of relationships.

Discussion

Author's Point of View

The writer's main argument through this article is that online relationships may be the new fashion in today's time but they can never make up or ...