In so many ways, cyberspace mirrors the real world. People ask for information, play games, and share hobby tips. Others buy and sell products. Still others look for friendship, or even love.

    在许多方面网络空间反映了真实世界。人们找寻资料、玩游戏及分享兴趣嗜好的秘方。其他人买卖东西。更有人在找寻友谊，甚至爱情。

    Unlike the real world, however, your knowledge about a person is limited to words on a computer screen. Identity and appearancemean very little in cyberspace. Rather, a person's thoughts--or at least the thoughts they type--are what really count. So even the shyest person can become a chat-room star.

    但是不同于真实世界的是，你对一个人的认知只限于电脑荧幕上的文字。身份及外表在网络空间里没有太大的意义。反而，一个人的思想或至少他们在荧幕上所打出来的思想才是真正重要的。所以即使一位最害羞的人也可以成为聊天室里的热门人物。

    Usually, this "faceless" communication doesn't create problems. Identity doesn't really matter when you're in a chat room discussing politics or hobbies. In fact, this emphasis on theideas themselves makes the Internet a great place for exciting conversation. Where else can so many people come together to chat?

    通常这种看不到对方面孔的沟通并不会产生问题。当你在聊天室讨论政治或嗜好时，身份并不那么重要。事实上，这种对意见本身的强调让互联网络成为一个精彩有趣的谈话场所。世界上还有哪些地方可以让这么多人一起闲聊他们的兴趣？

    But some Internet users want more than just someone to chat with.They're looking for serious love relationships. Is cyberspace a good place to find love? That answer depends on whom you ask. Some of these relationships actually succeed. Others fail miserably.

    但是有些互联网络使用者想要的并不只是聊天的对象。他们在找寻认真的恋爱关系。网络空间是一个寻找爱情的好地方吗？那要看你问谁。这类恋情有些真的成功，有些则悲惨地结束。

    Supporters of online relationships claim that the Internet allows couples to get to know each other intellectually first. Personal appearance doesn't get in the way.

    网络关系的支持者宣称互联网让情侣先在思想上认识对方，而个人外表不会造成阻碍。

    But critics of online relationships arguer that no one can truly know another person in cyberspace. Why? Because the Internet gives users a lot of control over how others view them. Internet users can carefully craft their words to fit whatever image they want to give. And they don't have to worry about what their "nonverbal" communication is doing for their image. In a sense, they're not really themselves.

    但是网络恋情的批评者认为没有人能够真正在网络空间认识一个人。为什么呢？因为互联网络让使用者轻易地掌握别人如何看待他们。互联网络使用者可以依据他们想要给的形象精心推敲措辞。而且他们不用担心他们的形象受到非语言沟通的影响。就某方面来说，他们并不是真正的自己。

    All of this may be fine if the relationship stays in cyberspace. But not knowing a person is a big problem in a love relationship. With so many unknowns, it's easy to let one's imagination "filling the blanks". This inevitably leads to disappointment when couples meet in person. How someone imagines an online friend is often quite different than the real person.

    所有这些都不是问题，如果这个关系只局限于网络空间。但是在一个恋爱关系中不认识对方是个大问题。这么多的未知数很容易让一个人的想象力“填入答案”。当这对情侣碰面时，这类情形不可避免地将带来失望。一个人对网络朋友的想象通常和真实的情况有很大的差异。

    So, before looking for love in cyberspace, remember the advice of Internet pioneer Clifford Stoll:"Life in the real world is far richer than anything you'll find on a computer screen."

    所以在网络空间找寻爱情之前，先记得互联网络先驱克利佛.斯托的忠告：“真实生活比任何电脑荧幕上找得到的东西都丰富得多。”