Separation

Modern society is very effective in generating images about 'the others', the anonymous mass which an individual shall imagine as diverse and therefore mostly different. Seing others always as different, foreign or even hostile destroys solidarity. Fears, anxiety and 'Angst' lead to an alienated need for separation, or even into isolation. This behaviour is also cultivated, e.g. it is considered intrusive to talk to strangers in the line in the supermarket (one of the rituals of consumerism).

Separation (as many other phenomena) is strengthened through the internet. Although the internet makes communication with many others (as well as putting links to others') very easy, separation (or alienation) prevails. The separation in the internet is part of the separation in all of life. It is also reflected in the structures of the internet:

• separate 'home pages' (property)
• links without meaning, i.e. without a binding mechanism, thus often ending up as 'dead links'
• short-lived contents, mimicking the news industry
• anonymous users

Overcoming seperation thus requires - among many others things - a different kind of network, based on real, trusting relationships between the users.