Almost all of us have access to the Internet. The majority of us also have a Facebook. It’s no biggie. I have one myself along with a Myspace, AIM messenger, MSN messenger, Yahoo messenger, and I wear out Youtube. I have a weakness for Internet trends. The insanity is endless and the mania addictive.
While trudging through the pop-ups and porn don’t forget that anything and everything is available for a price, a zip code or your soul … what’s a little eternity in hell for a winning bid on eBay? Because of us, the tool of the future keeps growing and growing.
There’s something for everyone on the Internet. You don’t believe me? What do you need? A gift for a friend, perhaps? No, no, don’t leave home. Shop online! College work too much to handle? There are too many great essays floating around in cyberspace to let you fail. Take a gander. Lonely? Webcams and microphones weren’t invented for nothing – virtual love is at your fingertips, just ask Foley. Oh, what a tool it has become.
My mind has been caressed and dulled so that I am eased into a feeling of happiness when I am chatting, writing blogs and browsing through bulletins. So little of my time is spent making use of this instrument of genius. Instead of galloping through the pages and pages of history, facts and feeding my brain, I find myself sitting here, clueless.
Possibly I am crazy, or maybe I’ve just allowed myself to become desensitized by this magnificent entertainment. All hail the Internet!
I know I am not the only person who suffers. You may think you have somehow won the fight and overcome the greater force of technology.
Don’t let your pride show yet because a little pop quiz might prove otherwise. How many of you have found yourself unfamiliar with every Internet term I have mentioned thus far? Did I lose you at Youtube? What about Google? If I threw in my own personal “LOL,” would you be at a loss for understanding? I highly doubt it.
On the contrary, how many use the Internet for practical purposes and stretch the potential of a limitless resource to the max? I will guess that it isn’t many of you.
Instead, we are too busy hiding behind our Internet identities. It’s where we can be as cruel as we like, insulting everyone on the shallowest level, but still have the sweet satisfaction of knowing our computers will keep our secret.
Communication has been replaced by chat rooms full of people worthy of, if nothing else, “The Jerry Springer Show.” Our screen names allow us to be someone we aren’t, our font colors express our moods and our grammar signifies intelligence. Comic Sans, vomit inducing as it is, might create a crayon-like, cutesy facade for your insults but keep in mind that your “OMG” and “LMAO” make up a mask of ignorance.
On Youtube there is a discussion on how the site might change the world for the better and the difference it can make in relaying worlds of information. It’s such a positive outlook that even I sometimes have hope.
This global phenomenon, the wonderful World Wide Web, offers us so much neglected knowledge.
The ability to interact with people from all over the world and break our stereotypes is one of the greatest possibilities. Stop taking it for granted.
Until we decide to change our way, I guess I’ll slip back into my good ‘ole routine. Only, every now and then I will minimize Myspace or Facebook to do something useful such as glance at the world’s recent news.
All I can ask is that you do the same – come up for air from that deep, dark technological black hole and put on a different mask from time to time. WTF?!
Agree? Disagree? Just tired of me seeing the light of print? Write me at dontpanicds@gmail.com with your opinion.

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