The Internet is Serious Business

A Guide to Not Taking the Internet so Seriously

The internet is your friend. A dear, dear friend with whom you have struggled through life's various challenges with. The internet has always been there, through your darkest indiscretions and your most triumphant triumphs. It even remembers those Saturday nights when you came home from the bar and pulled a PUI. Did I mention the internet remembers everything, all your deep secrets you told it that everyone else can now see for eternity.

I'm starting to think the internet started out as a good idea and evolved into a place where people want to have serious conversations that come off looking funny to everyone else around them. There is even a website out there I like to email from time to time to friends. Usually after a heated debate to show them how serious the everyday business of the internet really isn't.

Sometimes I find myself laughing at how heated people can get, especially on the internet. Every Joe who can press a button and look into a box has a portal into the outside world. Anonymous fighting behind a keyboard, and people in Government want to make everyone use their names. For shame.

At least it will get I. P. Freely and Ben Dover to participate more often. Haven't seen them around in a while.

But some people take 'flame wars' seriously, and that's just wrong. These are the people who need to just realize it's time to move on to greener pastures on another website. Those people who you think like you probably don't.

Another thing to remember about people on the internet is what information you really want to tell people. Sure a few embarrassing moments will get you in the door but don't over do it with anything like the time you pushed your sister down the stairs and blamed it on the dog or stuff that might make people look at you like, 'ok then.' That's a little over doing it.

And try not to exaggerate on forums where you will have to meet people in real life. Nobody hates it more then a guy who claims to be Fabio but is actually Jaba.