Real life
Encyclopedia
Real life is a term usually used to denote actual human life lived by real people in contrast with the lives of fictional or fantasy characters.
. It generally references life
or consensus reality
, in contrast to an environment seen as fiction
or fantasy
, such as virtual reality
, lifelike experience
, dream
s, novel
s, or movie
s. Online, the acronym "IRL" stands for "in real life", with the meaning "not on the Internet".
When used to distinguish from fictional worlds or universe
s against the consensus reality of the reader, the term has a long history:
In its use for differentiating online personal worlds from "offline" life, the term has a much shorter history and a more unclear future, as the Internet has existed for a much shorter time. Sociologists engaged in the study of the Internet have determined that someday, a distinction between online and real-life worlds may seem "quaint", noting that certain types of online activity, such as sexual intrigues, have already made a full transition to complete legitimacy and "reality".
"Real life" is sometimes a controversial term, describing "productive" activities, such as working, in contrast to "unproductive" (leisure
) activities. Outside of fictional worlds, the phrase is often used to compare a more traditional way of living against a pejorative
ly depicted existence, such as academic life
, in a manner similar to the term "real world". A person with experience in "real life" or the "real world" has experience beyond book learning.
"RL" stands for "real life". For example, one can speak of "meeting in RL" someone whom one has met in a chat
or on an Internet forum
. It may also be used to express an inability to use the Internet for a time due to "RL problems". Similarly, the phrase "in real life" is often replaced with the acronym "IRL". Some prefer the expression "face-to-face", abbreviated "f2f".
Some Internet users use the idiom
s face time
or "meatspace" or "meat world", which contrasts with the term "cyberspace
". "Meatspace" has appeared in the Financial Times
and in science fiction
literature. Some early uses of the term include a post to the Usenet newsgroup austin.public-net in 1993
and an article in the Seattle Times about John Perry Barlow
in 1995.
The term entered the Oxford English Dictionary
in 2000. The terms "meatspace" and "meat world" are apparently derived originally from the science fiction novel Neuromancer
by William Gibson
, published in 1984. In the novel, the anti-hero
of the novel, Henry Dorset Case, works as a hacker
in a virtual reality data space in cyberspace (a term also coined by William Gibson in 1981) called the "Matrix". Case describes his physical body as his "meat self" and in the early mid 21st century
when the novel takes place, prostitutes are described as "meat puppets". Gibson apparently derived this term from the punk rock
band Meat Puppets
, founded in 1980.
(John
6:39-40) for the Christian
understanding of eternal life
—the outcome of being "born anew" or "born again" mentioned in the Bible
(John
3:7). In contemporary usage, it includes the notion of a favorable "abundant life
" (John 10:10), leading to its use in names such as Real Life Church. In this Biblical context, "real life" begins on Earth when one decides to become a Christian, continues through this life until death, then continues beyond in the presence of a divine God. Because of this overlap, it is not comparing spirit and flesh, as in ancient Greek philosophy
, but rather, an integration that elevates humanity beyond this life in substance and time. Christians believe Jesus
inaugurated human eternal life by his resurrection, which is commemorated at Easter
.
or to mean adulthood or the world of adult
s as opposed to childhood
or adolescence
.
Usage online and in fiction
On the Internet, "real life" refers to life in the real worldReality
In philosophy, reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. In a wider definition, reality includes everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible...
. It generally references life
Personal life
Personal life is the course of an individual's life, especially when viewed as the sum of personal choices contributing to one's personal identity. It is a common notion in modern existence—although more so in more prosperous parts of the world such as Western Europe and North America...
or consensus reality
Consensus reality
Consensus reality is an approach to answering the philosophical question "What is real?" It gives a practical answer: reality is either what exists, or what we can agree seems to exist....
, in contrast to an environment seen as fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
or fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, such as virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
, lifelike experience
Lifelike experience
Lifelike is an adjective that relates to anything that simulates real life, in accordance with its laws. Its goal is to immerse individuals into what is called a lifelike experience. It gets as close as possible to real life behavior, appearance, senses, etc. therefore enabling its subject to...
, dream
Dream
Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, philosophical intrigue and religious...
s, novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s, or movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s. Online, the acronym "IRL" stands for "in real life", with the meaning "not on the Internet".
When used to distinguish from fictional worlds or universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
s against the consensus reality of the reader, the term has a long history:
In its use for differentiating online personal worlds from "offline" life, the term has a much shorter history and a more unclear future, as the Internet has existed for a much shorter time. Sociologists engaged in the study of the Internet have determined that someday, a distinction between online and real-life worlds may seem "quaint", noting that certain types of online activity, such as sexual intrigues, have already made a full transition to complete legitimacy and "reality".
"Real life" is sometimes a controversial term, describing "productive" activities, such as working, in contrast to "unproductive" (leisure
Leisure
Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
) activities. Outside of fictional worlds, the phrase is often used to compare a more traditional way of living against a pejorative
Pejorative
Pejoratives , including name slurs, are words or grammatical forms that connote negativity and express contempt or distaste. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social groups but not in others, e.g., hacker is a term used for computer criminals as well as quick and clever computer experts...
ly depicted existence, such as academic life
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, in a manner similar to the term "real world". A person with experience in "real life" or the "real world" has experience beyond book learning.
Related terminology
The abbreviationAbbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
"RL" stands for "real life". For example, one can speak of "meeting in RL" someone whom one has met in a chat
Online chat
Online chat may refer to any kind of communication over the Internet, that offers an instantaneous transmission of text-based messages from sender to receiver, hence the delay for visual access to the sent message shall not hamper the flow of communications in any of the directions...
or on an Internet forum
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
. It may also be used to express an inability to use the Internet for a time due to "RL problems". Similarly, the phrase "in real life" is often replaced with the acronym "IRL". Some prefer the expression "face-to-face", abbreviated "f2f".
Some Internet users use the idiom
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
s face time
Face time
Face time is an English idiom for direct personal interaction or contact between two or more people at the same time and physical location. Face time therefore occurs in "real life" or "meatspace" and contrasts primarily with interaction or contact which occurs over distance and/or electronically...
or "meatspace" or "meat world", which contrasts with the term "cyberspace
Cyberspace
Cyberspace is the electronic medium of computer networks, in which online communication takes place.The term "cyberspace" was first used by the cyberpunk science fiction author William Gibson, though the concept was described somewhat earlier, for example in the Vernor Vinge short story "True...
". "Meatspace" has appeared in the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
and in science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
literature. Some early uses of the term include a post to the Usenet newsgroup austin.public-net in 1993
and an article in the Seattle Times about John Perry Barlow
John Perry Barlow
John Perry Barlow is an American poet and essayist, a retired Wyoming cattle rancher, and a cyberlibertarian political activist who has been associated with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He is also a former lyricist for the Grateful Dead and a founding member of the Electronic...
in 1995.
The term entered the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
in 2000. The terms "meatspace" and "meat world" are apparently derived originally from the science fiction novel Neuromancer
Neuromancer
Neuromancer is a 1984 novel by William Gibson, a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre and the first winner of the science-fiction "triple crown" — the Nebula Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Hugo Award. It was Gibson's debut novel and the beginning of the Sprawl trilogy...
by William Gibson
William Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
, published in 1984. In the novel, the anti-hero
Anti-hero
In fiction, an antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis in which the character is generally useless at being a hero or heroine when they're...
of the novel, Henry Dorset Case, works as a hacker
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
in a virtual reality data space in cyberspace (a term also coined by William Gibson in 1981) called the "Matrix". Case describes his physical body as his "meat self" and in the early mid 21st century
21st century
The 21st century is the current century of the Anno Domini era or the Common Era in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The century began on January 1, 2001 and will end on December 31, 2100. The years from 2001 to 2010 are historical; the years from 2011 to 2100 are subject to futurology and...
when the novel takes place, prostitutes are described as "meat puppets". Gibson apparently derived this term from the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Meat Puppets
Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in Phoenix, Arizona. The group's original lineup was Curt Kirkwood , his brother Cris Kirkwood , and Derrick Bostrom . The Kirkwood brothers met Bostrom while attending Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix...
, founded in 1980.
Christianity
"Real life" is also a synonymSynonym
Synonyms are different words with almost identical or similar meanings. Words that are synonyms are said to be synonymous, and the state of being a synonym is called synonymy. The word comes from Ancient Greek syn and onoma . The words car and automobile are synonyms...
(John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
6:39-40) for the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
understanding of eternal life
Eternal life (Christianity)
In Christianity the term eternal life traditionally refers to continued life after death, rather than immortality. While scholars such as John H. Leith assert that...
—the outcome of being "born anew" or "born again" mentioned in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
(John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
3:7). In contemporary usage, it includes the notion of a favorable "abundant life
Abundant life
Abundant life is a term used to refer to Christian teachings on fullness of life. It is not an organized movement or a unique doctrine, but a name applied to the teachings and expectations of the groups and people who follow the teachings...
" (John 10:10), leading to its use in names such as Real Life Church. In this Biblical context, "real life" begins on Earth when one decides to become a Christian, continues through this life until death, then continues beyond in the presence of a divine God. Because of this overlap, it is not comparing spirit and flesh, as in ancient Greek philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, but rather, an integration that elevates humanity beyond this life in substance and time. Christians believe Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
inaugurated human eternal life by his resurrection, which is commemorated at Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
.
Society
"Real life" is also used to mean life after educationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
or to mean adulthood or the world of adult
Adult
An adult is a human being or living organism that is of relatively mature age, typically associated with sexual maturity and the attainment of reproductive age....
s as opposed to childhood
Childhood
Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of toddlerhood , early childhood , middle childhood , and adolescence .- Age ranges of childhood :The term childhood is non-specific and can imply a...
or adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
.
See also
- In Real Life, a TV reality show for kids
- Lifelike experienceLifelike experienceLifelike is an adjective that relates to anything that simulates real life, in accordance with its laws. Its goal is to immerse individuals into what is called a lifelike experience. It gets as close as possible to real life behavior, appearance, senses, etc. therefore enabling its subject to...
- Off-line
- RealityRealityIn philosophy, reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. In a wider definition, reality includes everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible...
- Virtual realityVirtual realityVirtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
- Brick and mortar business
- Face timeFace timeFace time is an English idiom for direct personal interaction or contact between two or more people at the same time and physical location. Face time therefore occurs in "real life" or "meatspace" and contrasts primarily with interaction or contact which occurs over distance and/or electronically...
- Face-to-faceFace-to-faceThe face-to-face relation refers to a concept in the French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas' thought on human sociality.Lévinas' phenomenological account of the "face-to-face" encounter serves as the basis for his ethics and the rest of his philosophy...
- Online and offline
External links
- Meatspace from the Jargon FileJargon FileThe Jargon File is a glossary of computer programmer slang. The original Jargon File was a collection of terms from technical cultures such as the MIT AI Lab, the Stanford AI Lab and others of the old ARPANET AI/LISP/PDP-10 communities, including Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Carnegie Mellon...
. - Meatspace from Oxford Dictionaries Online