Are we as a race mature enough for the internet?

 

This morning like so many Sunday mornings, I had my first cup of coffee while walking my dog. Next, I settled down at my computer to do a morning jog through the internet. To no surprise the internet was kinda like I left it the night before. Angry and chaotic. Welcome to this new generations normal.

 

I remember many years ago when we began reading about this new thing coming called the internet. The internet would let people travel the world, explore new places, and learn great things, all from the comfort of our homes. And you know what…all that came to pass. The internet also exceeded every expectation we had. Knowledge from all corners of the earth is at our fingertips. Communication is instant across the globe. But were we as a race mature enough for all this technology?

 

In the time of our grandparents, news came from good reliable sources. The news came on TV in the evenings and was watched by millions of families across the nation. Families would often discuss current events while having their evening meal. Families would form opinions before they left the house for work the next day. Is this as a nation where we are going wrong? Quite possibly.

 

These days news doesn’t often come from good reliable sources. It comes instantly from thousands of sources across the internet. We are bombarded by some type of “news” story 24 hrs. a day. These days two turtles crossing the road classifies as “Breaking News.” Everyone has an opinion and they are quick to share. Most don’t bother thinking about it first, researching it, or even caring if it is based on fact.

 

Now don’t get me wrong, I still think the internet is a wonderful thing. Much good has been done through the wealth of knowledge we now have access to. But, on a daily basis, we as a race continually tear each other down using this most awesome platform. Accountability is lacking in todays society. News anchors, bloggers, and journalist of all kind should be re-taught their craft. News stories should be based on facts, not opinions.

 

Readers have a stake in this platform as well. How many times have you commented on an article based on the title alone? As a writer I notice this every day. So many times the main Idea of an article isn’t even what the title referred to. When you make a comment on something you didn’t read, you often just look silly. Sometimes it’s in our best interest to slow down, take a step back and think before we act.

 

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Saturday Morning Small Town Alabama :The answer is here.

 

Its Saturday morning here in beautiful rural, small town, Alabama. With coffee in hand I walk my dog with my weird ass cat following. As I look around my neighborhood, I realize we are a fairly, diverse area. Not only do we have Hispanics, blacks, and whites all living next door to each other we have much more diversity than that.

 

On my walk I pass by the rich man’s house, a possible crack house, a red neck’s house, a few middle class households, and some college age kids house. All these different people, lifestyles, races, and cultures…living together. What I see on my morning stroll would amaze some people in this country. They are all doing normal American things. Some are washing their cars, one working on a car, some doing yard work, one gathering tomatoes, and the kicker, all being neighbors.

 

Here in our neighborhood I have noticed that we still wave at each other as we pass or from across the street. We check on each other during emergencies (such as fires or bad weather.) Sure, we still bitch occasionally, but about normal things like teenagers driving too fast up and down the street or dogs in the trash. Is it some sort of privilege to live in our hood. Damn right it is. But, anyone with the right qualifications could live here too.

 

If you want to live here or a place like ours here is what you have to do. Respect your neighbors, be nice and polite, and simply treat each other as you would like to be treated. The rest seems to work itself out all by itself.

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