Laura, thank you for your thought-provoking piece.
I awake frequently to wonder and to check if the internet is down. Because if the internet is down, it could be the beginning of the end of life as we know it. Our weakest link—the first target of an attack against everything we know.
I almost never use credit cards any more. I haven’t carried cash for years (except for tips—which is another social/economic weakness altogether), and rarely buy anything anywhere I can’t use ApplePay—on my Apple Watch! When was the last time you wrote a check?! How much of our social exchange takes place on line? I shop on line. Order and pay for fast food and coffee on line, even if it’s to be picked up. We are indeed vulnerable and you are wise to point it out.
Finally, inasmuch as the internet is to society as the great highway system is to transportation, think about REGULATION. Highway speed, direction, weights, dangerous cargo, driver age, training according to vehicle type, stop signs, distractions, and even convenience signage are REGULATED!
Let’s don’t even talk about GUNS. If a society cannot regulate guns—weapons—how in the name of all that is good, can we expect to regulate our next biggest lifeline, the INTERNET? Not until Congress can begin to work for the common good instead of power mongering, and SCOTUS begins to rule for the good of all the people, and we maintain an executive branch for the people, will we make progress.
I worry about the toxic blend of guns everywhere in the U.S. and the overwhelming conspiracy theories on the internet. So much of what I thought I knew about reason, common sense, and civic responsibilities has been turned upside down, and I think the spread of misinformation and disinformation that overwhelms us now may be the beginning of the end of our democracy. God help us!
Such an interesting story. When we go to Tanzania, there is very little wifi. There is one place in the “town” where a few people come and get their “internet fix” and then go on. Electricity is sketchy (at best) so not having wifi is not the main concern. It’s foreign, strange and wonderful. It sure is quiet! ❤️❤️
Laura - I think I was the librarian who introduced you to the Internet. I first learned about it from my sister and I put together "Around the World with the Internet". Yes, it changed the world for better and worse. Barbara Wymer
Amen! Thank you for reading!
Laura, thank you for your thought-provoking piece.
I awake frequently to wonder and to check if the internet is down. Because if the internet is down, it could be the beginning of the end of life as we know it. Our weakest link—the first target of an attack against everything we know.
I almost never use credit cards any more. I haven’t carried cash for years (except for tips—which is another social/economic weakness altogether), and rarely buy anything anywhere I can’t use ApplePay—on my Apple Watch! When was the last time you wrote a check?! How much of our social exchange takes place on line? I shop on line. Order and pay for fast food and coffee on line, even if it’s to be picked up. We are indeed vulnerable and you are wise to point it out.
Finally, inasmuch as the internet is to society as the great highway system is to transportation, think about REGULATION. Highway speed, direction, weights, dangerous cargo, driver age, training according to vehicle type, stop signs, distractions, and even convenience signage are REGULATED!
Let’s don’t even talk about GUNS. If a society cannot regulate guns—weapons—how in the name of all that is good, can we expect to regulate our next biggest lifeline, the INTERNET? Not until Congress can begin to work for the common good instead of power mongering, and SCOTUS begins to rule for the good of all the people, and we maintain an executive branch for the people, will we make progress.
I worry about the toxic blend of guns everywhere in the U.S. and the overwhelming conspiracy theories on the internet. So much of what I thought I knew about reason, common sense, and civic responsibilities has been turned upside down, and I think the spread of misinformation and disinformation that overwhelms us now may be the beginning of the end of our democracy. God help us!
I used the term overwhelmed twice in that post. Can you tell that I feel overwhelmed? Yep, and I don't like it one bit.
Such an interesting story. When we go to Tanzania, there is very little wifi. There is one place in the “town” where a few people come and get their “internet fix” and then go on. Electricity is sketchy (at best) so not having wifi is not the main concern. It’s foreign, strange and wonderful. It sure is quiet! ❤️❤️
Laura - I think I was the librarian who introduced you to the Internet. I first learned about it from my sister and I put together "Around the World with the Internet". Yes, it changed the world for better and worse. Barbara Wymer