Above is last session’s discussion with the writer Honor Levy. We talked about the Internet, its history, memes, world-building, and roleplaying. The first minute or so is of us waiting for people to enter the Zoom—starts approx. 2-3 minutes into the video.
What is Internet Real Life? Our relationship with the Internet has always been framed by extremes. Initially, there was internet-optimism, the belief in boundless possibilities and transformative potential. Eventually, this optimism gave way to internet-pessimism, marked by anxieties around digital dependence, surveillance capitalism, harassment, cancel culture, and the relentless culture wars.
Yet, these opposing poles of optimism and pessimism each carry a sense of absolute certainty. Today, as we've grown weary of these oversimplifications, we're seeking a new way of understanding: Internet-Realism.
Internet Real Life (IRL) is an interview and discussion series explicitly designed to articulate and explore this new stance: a thoughtful, balanced reflection on our digital existence that acknowledges both the transformative potential and the perils of the Internet.
📅 April 4th → Molly Soda
📅 April 11th → Günseli Yalcinkaya
📅 April 18th → Sean Monahan
📅 April 25th → August Lamm
A sneak peak of our speakers:
Format of Each Session:
Hour One: Engaging guest presentation followed by an interactive Q&A (recorded)
Hour Two: A private, candid, collective inquiry session designed for open dialogue and deeper exploration (non-recorded)
What You Get:
✅ Live Zoom access to every interactive session
✅ A carefully curated syllabus featuring essential readings and materials
✅ Early, exclusive access to recordings for review and reflection
Meet Your Hosts:
Katherine Dee: You know me if you’re reading this!
Peter Limberg: Creator and steward of The Stoa, a vibrant digital community dedicated to philosophical inquiry, deep sense-making, and thoughtful dialogue amid societal uncertainty.
Join IRL to navigate the complexities of our digital lives thoughtfully, consciously, and realistically. Let's move past pessimism and optimism toward a richer understanding together.
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