Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The writers and producers of this episode of Buffy are trying to communicate how the use of computer mediated communication can be dangerous and deadly. There are hardly any scenes where the positive aspects of CMC are demonstrated. The writers are conveying a message to the audience that the internet is dangerous and will only become more dangerous in the future. The older man in the show is ridiculed for not being very computer savvy and he is smart for not trusting the evils of the internet. The monster that was released onto the net is evil in everyday life, but is much more easily accessible on the internet. He is also about to reach a larger amount of people faster.

This is a different message than what we have been discussing in class. In Buffy, the internet cannot be used for good or bad depending on what you chose. The writers make it seem as if the internet is an evil tool no matter what your motives are. It also brings to focus the absence of reality in CMC. Willow falls hard for someone she knows nothing about. She feels safe with him and shares information with him that she would not share with anyone else. She has not had a lot of experience in the dating field and feels that the online relationship she built over chatting is real and valuable.

In this episode, when all the things that a computer can do are pointed out, they are all for bad. A computer brings “love, power, and knowledge,” says Malcolm’s creator. When using a computer, one can “change traffic lights, destroy the world’s economy, release nuclear missiles, and convince a perfectly nice kid to kill someone.” The writers are presenting only negative aspects of the internet and internet based communications in this episode.

It is also important to note that the writers show the vulnerability of people on the internet and how easy it is to get wrapped up in emotions with someone that doesn’t exist. Although it is a cheesy show about vampires, the issues are real, present in our society, and dangerous for our future.