EDITORIAL: A double edged butter knife
by Brandon Mayer
People used to think the Internet was just a passing fad. It was a cool thing to play on, but only tech industry people realized its potential at first. The rest of us – especially those of us who were kids at the time that home Internet connections were becoming commonplace – were happy to just spend 10 minutes listening to funky dial up noises, only to spend 5 minutes on a very basic online game, website, or instant messaging chat before being told to log off.
Anyone born after the year 2000 likely doesn’t remember these early days of the Internet. Back then, it wasn’t a tool that was all around us like it is today. Home computers served their purpose as word processors, data storers, and game consoles that worked with compact discs. Connecting to the Internet was its own separate event, and the connection was metered. Parents were very aware of how much time their kids were spending on the Internet, not only because too much time would rack up a hefty bill, but also because the home phone wouldn’t work while someone was using the Internet. This latter point was a problem because, although cellphones existed back then, they had very little functionality and were typically powered off when at home.
Times have certainly changed. The Internet is not only here to stay, but is now recognized as critical infrastructure. Once a luxury, it is now seen as a basic necessity, just as electricity and running water. The “why” is obvious – save for those who choose to live a simple life, the Internet is ingrained in the lives of most. The internet brings media content to our TVs. It can run smart devices in our homes. It can play music and answer questions for us through our vehicle speakers while we’re driving. It plays a part in most users’ text messages with the rollout of RCS chats, allowing us to see when our chat partner is typing, or when they’ve seen our message. The Internet even runs our workplaces. As I write this editorial, all I have to do is hit “save” on the document file, and each of my 3 employees will instantly have access to it, even though I’m working in the actual installed Microsoft Word software on my computer (thanks Google Drive!).
The Internet has become so important that cellphones now have their own Internet. A few years ago, during a power outage, I reminded my younger son to only flush the toilet for a number 2, not a number 1, since we are on well water. His response was “I know, I know – it uses the Internet!” Hilarity aside, I don’t blame him for his logic, given how critical the Internet has become in everything we do. For kids today, it really is as important as electricity.
Circling to the point, these musings are not just a trip down memory lane, but rather a set up for an important question: Has the Internet changed people? The obvious answer is “yes”. People are not as socially capable as they once were. More importantly is the fact that the Internet offers very little in the way of consequences for those who act like jerks. “Keyboard warriors” are a real thing, and we’ve all seen them at work on online forums right here in North Dundas. It’s a lot easier to, for lack of a better phrase, “run your mouth” when you’re looking at a screen inside your own home, rather than at the face of the person you’re insulting. I don’t condone violence, but I will note that people used to get punched for some of the stuff that gets spewed online these days.
On the more positive side, the Internet can do a lot of good, especially in a small community like North Dundas. It allows us to connect with each other in ways that were not previously possible, allowing us to achieve so much through networking. The Internet is kind of like a Township-wide PA system some days, allowing us to all be in the know in real time about things such as road closures and flash sales at local businesses. A couple of weeks ago, an anonymous post in a local group also united dozens of parents who were having similar problems with the same person of authority. While that story will not be covered in the Times for various reasons, it still shows that the power of the Internet lies in the fact that people don’t know about these hidden commonalities until connections are made by the information superhighway.
One thing we must remember in our continued reliance on the Internet is that it is more of a double edged butter knife than a double edged sword. It has major benefits and drawbacks, but it also doesn’t have the same teeth to get the job done as good old fashioned face to face conversation and leg work. This is becoming obvious as the election looms closer: many people are making posts on their private Facebook pages highlighting their strong political opinions. Such posts might, in a perfect world, change one or two voters’ minds, but certainly aren’t redirecting the course of the election. These posts do, however, allow ordinary people to safely vent their feelings while home alone in their pajamas, where a fistfight is far less likely.
As it becomes more common for laundry – both dirty and clean – to be aired on social media, let us all be thankful for the sense of community connectedness that the Internet brings, but also cautious and smart about what we see and read. A tool is only as handy as the person using it.