Dinty W. Moore's essay, "The Night Thoreau Had Cybersex or, Once You Get On, How Do You Get Off?," not only entertained me, but made me realize a sad reality of the technological revolution. When something as sacred and personal as sex gets replaced by talking dirty to a stranger and masturbating in front of the glow of the computer screen, people should begin to think seriously about the state of their personal and social lives. Moore does an excellent job of combining necessary technical information with humorous accounts of his cybersex adventures. The transitions between his Henry David Thoreau dreams and content are smooth, and, by using Thoreau as a Freudian-like influence, a strong point is made about this type of virtual reality relationship.

To imagine Thoreau having any interest in cybersex brings to mind some interesting questions. For instance, would this naturalist, who spent most of his time living in a shack on Walden Pond, agree with world? Would his solidarity agree with pleasuring oneself with the help of a cyber partner? This essay not only raised questions about this American writer and philosopher, but also about the limits and definitions of chastity. In the first paragraph of the essay, Throeau asks Moore, "What is chastity?" and "How should a man know if he is chaste?" Questions about whether or not a person is cheating on his or her spouse, or breaking possible vows of chastity when participating in cybersex, are almost as controversial as questions about the morality of abortion. Who's right; who's wrong? Regardless of answers, Moore points out that Internet newsgroups are being led by sex groups, recreational groups, and job groups, a circumstance that points out the obvious fact that people want to "talk about sex, go to the movies, and if there is any time left over, find a good paying job" (213). Maybe what should be questioned are the priorities of this group of people. Depending on who is asked, this hierarchy of importance can show why this society seems to be suffering from lack of morality and self respect, or it can show that these people have recognized the finer points of life.

Moore's opinion comes across in his writing without him alienating those who might not agree with him; however, I am not one of those people. His examples of conversations between users and his descriptions of how cybersex is done are very funny and give readers a humurous look at this popular and sometimes serious matter.

His last paragraph sums up his essay nicely, and gives an interesting commentary on the matter. He makes the following statement:

If we choose to talk about sex on the Net, or even engage in a sort of sex, we can do it without fear. No one really knows who we are, no one but ourselves needs to know that we are doing it, and if anything goes wrong, if an affair turns ugly or inconvenient, we can just switch it off. The perfect answer in a society that is increasingly busy and inclreasingly unsafe. Easy in, easy out, no regrets in the morning. I have seen the future. I already miss the past. (226)

Moore, Dinty W. "The Night Thoreau Had Cybersex or, Once You're On, How Do You Get Off?" CyberReader. 2nd ed. Ed. Victor J. Vitanza. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 1999. 212-226.

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