Lauren Mackler

ZONES OF EMERGENCY: heartbreaks/feeling close/feeling connected/feeling lonely.

New technologies and web based forums are provoking shifts in our social dynamics. Relationships that are being made between people on the web are based on the absence of the other. In this way the relationship is anonymous almost narcissistic

(as if the reflective plane of the monitor was a mirror.) Absence, dependance and loneliness are inherent to this exchange. The zone of emergency that I choose to define in this context is therefore "feeling close/feeling connected/feeling lonely," the way the single anonymous individual navigates the decentralized community. I am particularly interested in this phenomenon because I think that by understanding some of our new patterns and behavior we can turn them outwards and use these forums with a more extraverted purpose. Some of the research that I have found relevant and interesting are making these fleeting and disconnected interactions more tangible such as the Object-Based Media research group at MIT.

As a metaphor I looked at the Game of Life, which is a mathematical equation which generates a zero-player game. This means that its evolution is determined by its initial state, needing no input from human players.

1. Any live cell with fewer than two live neighbours dies, as if by loneliness.
2. Any live cell with more than three live neighbours dies, as if by overcrowding.
3. Any live cell with two or three live neighbours lives, unchanged, to the next generation.
4. Any dead cell with exactly three live neighbours comes to life.

>>>>----------------------------------

fig 1.fig 2.fig 3. fig 4.

>>>>-------------------------------------------------

fig 5. six fig 6. five fig 7. eight fig 8. nine fig 9. seven

>>>>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

fig 10. eleven fig 11. ten

>>>>----------------------------------------------------

fig 12.

>>>>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

fig 13. fig 14.

>>>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------

fig 15.

>>>>----------------------------------------------------

Another conversation demonstrating this disconneted-ness is within classified sites such as Craigslist's missed connections in which people who have seen each other and not met, lost each other or somehow are disconnected can post anonymous notes reaching out to the other.

MISSED CONNECTIONS: Providence, RI

i fuckin miss u sooo much - m4w

Reply to: pers-580954854@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-20, 6:07PM

i mourn for you like the day it ended.. it has been a long time. i made poor decisions too. we could still try you know. I'll never give up hope
m

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/580954854.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

missed connection

Reply to: pers-584291691@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-23, 3:43PM

mp after all this time you still want me to marry you....your so sweet

Location: r i
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/584291691.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe

Miss you S.

Reply to: pers-576158775@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-16, 2:10PM

Wish we could be together. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you. I hope you are well and i hope she makes you happy.
best of luck

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/576158775.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

I miss you - w4m

Reply to: pers-579278664@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-19, 11:47AM

it started off casual, then I loved you. You said you loved me, then you disappeared. I heard you have a new girl. I can't get over this.

Location: warw
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/579278664.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

Still Missing You - w4m

Reply to: pers-583134937@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-22, 3:24PM

Still miss you. Thought that we had reconnected but you're gone again. I don't know if you're playing games or just don't know what you want.

Location: RI
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/583134937.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

texting nice things - m4w

Reply to: pers-576061367@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-16, 12:44PM

what are you initials?

Location: newport
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/576061367.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

Cute Girl at SBI - m4w

Reply to: pers-566663789@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-07, 9:38PM

You helped me put batteries in my camera and I was covered paint and dust. We should drink coffee sometime.

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/566663789.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

cute writer boy at Julian's Thursday night - w4m

Reply to: pers-568742822@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-09, 7:12PM

You were alone, you were cute, and I caught you looking at me. You were scribbling in a journal of some sort, and you had a nice smile. I had the red sweater and sparkly glasses, short brunette hair, and an equally nice smile. I'm a writer, too. We should hang out! (And, if you were wondering, the guy I was with is not my boyfriend.)

Location: Federal Hill, Prov
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/568742822.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

22 february 2005 - w4m

Reply to: pers-583290372@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-22, 5:34PM

i know you don't remember ( nothing that
has any meaning to me would interest
you , even though you were there)

I know now i never mattered.
why didn't you just leave then and
let me be?

Location: insane
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/583290372.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

School Street Cafe

Reply to: pers-575891456@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-16, 9:46AM

Hi you were the blond woman at the bar........we sneaked a few glances........talk to me

Location: Lincoln
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/575891456.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

you in woonsoket - m4w

Reply to: pers-583958992@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-23, 10:52AM

hey D. C. I DINT GET TO SEE YOU WIN I WAS OUT PLOWING STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU I WANT YOU TO BE MY W...

Location: r i
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/583958992.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

friday morning providence video - m4m

Reply to: pers-583955105@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-23, 10:48AM

we hooked up at the providence video store friday morning. want to meet again. you drove a black mercedes

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/583955105.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

hey hero

Reply to: pers-579940266@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-19, 9:12PM

why are you so afraid of me? you reel me in and cast me out. you chase me then you disappear. because you are scared of what you may feel. dont want to end you dillusion of who you think you are? but we both know different. we know you have it in you, the question is how much more teasing i will take before i am done with the game? is it worth the risk?

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/579940266.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------

looking for a lost lady can you help - m4w

Reply to: pers-582974688@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-02-22, 1:20PM

HI IAM LOOKING FOR A LADY WE MET IN A CAMP GROUND MANY YEARS AGO HER NAME WAS KATHY CAVINAUGH (BAD SPELLING) TALL THIN LONG BROWN HAIR DOES ANYBODY KNOW HER OR KNOW WHERE SHE CAN BE REACHED
DAN FROM SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Original URL: http://providence.craigslist.org/mis/582974688.html
-------------------------------------------------
this craigslist posting was forwarded to you by someone using our
email-a-friend feature - if you want to prevent these, please go to:
http://www.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/te/h1Gbst2YAJXZzlmcl5CZAUHZe
-------------------------------------------------