In a limited way, you're right, both NJ and Kincaid may have nudged the idea. But Gender is really only a piece of it, and a small piece, at that. Unfortunately, I lost steam far too early, and as such it seems my focus is merely age and sex, which it's not.
My whole fascination, and the point I don't think I quite presented, is that THIS is about as close as we come to being pure intellect. As such, yes, Age and gender are insensible, because a educated intellect exists as such regardless of those factors. Likewise, you're whole perception of me is based simply on what's presented - most prominantly, what I present to you. Granted, in your case, you know me in the Real World. Most of my Friends here know me. But, I don't believe either Mel or Kincaid has ever so much as seen a picture of me, nor have any of the random people I stumble upon, or those who stumble upon me.
My point wasn't that the Internet is a medium for altered existance, but that the Internet as such is a different sort of existance all it's own. As such, the idea, I like to believe, is independant of any single influence I've had.
And Apparently, So Are You
My whole fascination, and the point I don't think I quite presented, is that THIS is about as close as we come to being pure intellect. As such, yes, Age and gender are insensible, because a educated intellect exists as such regardless of those factors. Likewise, you're whole perception of me is based simply on what's presented - most prominantly, what I present to you. Granted, in your case, you know me in the Real World. Most of my Friends here know me. But, I don't believe either Mel or Kincaid has ever so much as seen a picture of me, nor have any of the random people I stumble upon, or those who stumble upon me.
My point wasn't that the Internet is a medium for altered existance, but that the Internet as such is a different sort of existance all it's own. As such, the idea, I like to believe, is independant of any single influence I've had.