I would like to share a general reflection of mine, after months of lurking around public forums, and browsing blogs and twitters. I have to say, I'm a little uneasy, and I am curious as what other people think. I believe the Internet has brought out many, MANY voices (including mine) that would otherwise be quiet and shut in their shell. So my question is: is this good or bad?
See, when I'm browsing a forum or reading a blog, and ponder whether or not I should reply and most importantly, whether or not my thoughts on the matter are relevant enough to be posted, I am sitting at my computer, most likely still in my pajamas, and staring at my children as they smile back at me from my computer wallpaper. I have to say, my children are LOVELY when they are holding STILL and QUIET, something that happens ONLY in photos. So there, that instantly puts me in a good mood. So I sift through the Internet and my jaw drops. Because what I see -- well, not always, most of the times what I read is enjoyable and useful, yet often enough to make me ponder, I see people snarl, rant, ramble (like I'm doing now), whine, seek revenge through long, whiny posts on their blogs. Is that what the whole blogging and posting on forums is meant for? Why is it that it is so easy to stray away from its original purpose? And why do I often feel that the Internet has become a huge kindergarten?
After much brooding on the subject, I have come to the conclusion that the main problem with the Internet is that it is faceless. I stare at my kids, maybe somebody else has flames and red devils on their wallpapers. Think about it though: would we have so much to say (between blogs and posts), if each time instead of typing in the comfort of our homes, we'd be standing on a stage, mike in our hands, thousands of people staring us? But wait: the thousands of people ARE out there, even more, it's just that they are reading instead of staring (even worse: verba volant, scripta manent!!!), and I don't see their faces, and they don't see mine..... Ouch. Problem. Because you see, I think that this has a soporiferous effect on our frontal lobes, that part of the brain that prompts us not to snarl a F.O. when somebody steps on our toes in the street and grimace instead a pained, "It's OK..."
I think right now my lazy frontal lobes are telling me that I have been rambling long enough and it's time to quit. I wonder though if other people have been thinking about this, or if it's just me going through a philosophical stage in my life. As a disclaimer though, I will say that I had browsed a few literary forums before finding AW, and I have yet to find a more civilized, composed, and useful forum. Which is pretty amazing given how many members it has. So, thank you all!!
See, when I'm browsing a forum or reading a blog, and ponder whether or not I should reply and most importantly, whether or not my thoughts on the matter are relevant enough to be posted, I am sitting at my computer, most likely still in my pajamas, and staring at my children as they smile back at me from my computer wallpaper. I have to say, my children are LOVELY when they are holding STILL and QUIET, something that happens ONLY in photos. So there, that instantly puts me in a good mood. So I sift through the Internet and my jaw drops. Because what I see -- well, not always, most of the times what I read is enjoyable and useful, yet often enough to make me ponder, I see people snarl, rant, ramble (like I'm doing now), whine, seek revenge through long, whiny posts on their blogs. Is that what the whole blogging and posting on forums is meant for? Why is it that it is so easy to stray away from its original purpose? And why do I often feel that the Internet has become a huge kindergarten?
After much brooding on the subject, I have come to the conclusion that the main problem with the Internet is that it is faceless. I stare at my kids, maybe somebody else has flames and red devils on their wallpapers. Think about it though: would we have so much to say (between blogs and posts), if each time instead of typing in the comfort of our homes, we'd be standing on a stage, mike in our hands, thousands of people staring us? But wait: the thousands of people ARE out there, even more, it's just that they are reading instead of staring (even worse: verba volant, scripta manent!!!), and I don't see their faces, and they don't see mine..... Ouch. Problem. Because you see, I think that this has a soporiferous effect on our frontal lobes, that part of the brain that prompts us not to snarl a F.O. when somebody steps on our toes in the street and grimace instead a pained, "It's OK..."
I think right now my lazy frontal lobes are telling me that I have been rambling long enough and it's time to quit. I wonder though if other people have been thinking about this, or if it's just me going through a philosophical stage in my life. As a disclaimer though, I will say that I had browsed a few literary forums before finding AW, and I have yet to find a more civilized, composed, and useful forum. Which is pretty amazing given how many members it has. So, thank you all!!
