The new movie "Her" is pretty much a perfect way to sum this song up. If you thought that guy was completely f*cked up, then you understand this song.

I think it was actually Greg himself that said in an interview that it is about the idea of needing nobody else in your life, a "very American idea". It might have been Brian, but I remember that quote.

Of course, if it was actually just Brian, then that might not be the essence of the song but just one aspect. And either way, the aspect of identity is a good one - not sure if it's about the internet, though - the song was released in 2000, stuff like Myspace / Facebook (meaning the MASSIVELY popular social networks akin to these) weren't around back then.

Simply put:
Go out and do something.
PS also look at The state of the end of the millenium address

I too think that it's true, how the song tells about people who simply use their computer way too much. But I think that the song could also tell about the difficulty of "normal" human relationships like in the line: "And it's never been quite so easy". the same theme seems to repeat troughout the whole song, telling you how much easier it is to communicate trough computer. The other thing that kind of wakes up my interest is: "The world outside is so big, but it's safe in my domain, Because to you I'm just a number and a clever screen name". To me it tells (again) how easy it is to form realtionships in the internet. Because people know you just "as a number", all limits are gone and you can do nearly everything you like. And the song itself...it's just awesome

This song is a great song, and not only because it points out our cultures depedency and obsession with computers, and technology in general, but also that many people are perfectly happy and willing to be completely annonymous and superficial (for all you give to me. Preditable errors and no identity) ( ...and will be joined in the most soul-less way). He wants to point out that so many people are loosing their comfortability with face to face interaction. I hesitate to call it "anti-social" because that phrase has a different meaning, but it does show that we are becoming more and more isolated and reclusive.

It's obvious that mr Graffin isn't making fun of anyone, he is simply pointing out that people has been more and more anti-social since the internet came to the world. Especially those who -just- look at porn. I mean, "you can be my princess, or you could be my whore", shows that he also means that you could either look at porn, or do other things though. The song, is totally awesome. I have never heard such an melodic and awesome song ... really different, but the chorush really blow my off totally. So amazing, so smooth. Great work from beginning to end...

Although this song IS funny as hell, I know for a fact that Greggy boy didn't pen this out just to get a few chuckles. This song, in short, is about how the internet is whored as a great way to communicate, but it really makes us more anti-social. 'Every waking hour, and every lonely night.' Unlike people, your computer is available to you whenever you want. It doesn't feel smothered when you spend too much time with it, and it doesn't feel neglected if you don't spend any. 'It's never been quite so easy, I've never been quite so happy.' It's so easy to just turn on your computer, and you have your friend. You'll never be lonely again. 'And we'll never ruin each other's day, 'cos when I'm thru, I just click, and you just go away.' I tell this line to a girl I talk to on AIM all the time. Because I love to talk to her, sometimes I don't want to. So she'll never ruin my day, because all I have to do is click, and we're through. No 'goodbye' is even needed, and there's no harsh feelings. For all she knew, my computer crashed, or I was disconnected. 'I love my computer, you'll always in the mood.' Sometimes your friends don't want to talk to you, but your computer will never stop you from turning it on. 'You can be a princess or you can be my whore.' This line is incredibly significant. First of all, the internet is a network of willing liars. You can find a 60 year old man who pretends to be a 16 year old girl. But as far as you know, he IS a 16 year old girl. Hell, I once had a crush on some guy who was claiming to be a girl. However, I can also talk a girl and pretend I'm slightly older, or better looking, or smarter. I correspond with a hard-core Christian girl, and I withhold information that if she knew, she would stop talking to me. (Like that I am a communist and a Satanist). To her, I could be a prince, and to someone else I talk to, I could be a whore. On the internet, you can be whoever you want to be.

Everyone in my opinion, is right. I don't think Graffin was going at it as a joke or to make fun of anyone, but to point out that people out there spend a little too much time on the computer, and that the world can be all yours at a click of the mouse. Via porn or anything else. It also seems that people tend to personify the computer too? "I love my computer, you never ask for more, you can be my princess, or you can be my whore". I have a friend that spends time on the computer a lot, and he jokes around that him and his computer communicate telepathically. Or he'll say that his computer will know when he's on another computer. Whatever, he's a funny kid, but like the song says, there are people out there that depend a little too much from their computer.