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17/f/Cali: A Love Letter To The Internet
People think of the internet as a depressing and scary place. But I remember it differently
A few weeks ago, I became furious while at brunch due to my brother ranting about how “the internet is bad” and “genuine human interaction is good.” My brother is a 6’4” straight man with big green eyes and an athletic figure. People love to hear him speak and everyone is obsessed with how nice he is. I’m sure if I were him, I’d love human interaction too.
I knew that if I tried to rebut, my emotions would take over and I would quickly morph into the angry lesbian berating the golden boy. So, I pulled out my phone and started texting my best friend about unrelated and less enraging subject matter.
Later, in a calmer state, I started thinking about why my brother’s commentary got me so riled. It was hackneyed and reductive, sure, but it was more than that. It also felt personal, like he was attacking my lover.
I’ve read the articles. The internet causes depression and fosters isolation. It’s a breeding ground for harassment and encourages detachment from reality. It got Trump elected. But political corruption, depression, bullying, and escapism all existed before the internet. Let’s not project the full blame for human failures onto the technology…
