Wrestling Angels Column by Mark Antony Rossi ---- Invisible Internet Isn't Always a Blessing

Invisible Internet Isn't Always A Blessing


As much as I and millions of other writers, tinkers, sailors, soldiers and spies are grateful for the accessibility and nearly instantaneous digital transmissions of the World Wide Web I've always noticed a few things that our devotion to the Internet has taken from life as we knew it:

Blessing

1. Photography --- the digitalization of photography has allowed us to be free of expensive film and developing. Free of plastic albums and acid-induced paper easily flammable in the house fires and easily ruined in disasters and floods. Can store thousands of photographs in a smart phone, computer, table or memory stick. 

Not a Blessing

1. Every idiot with an Iphone thinks he's Ansel Adams. The cheapening of the photographic progress means better pic shots than ever before in the history of consumer photography but the experience so common no one actually cares anymore. They've seen it before. Believe can do better than you. Have 17 million in their phone. And would rather talk about using a pogo stick in a minefield than seeing another kid with birthday cake on her face. 

Blessing

2. Postal Service -- we used to sing songs about it's invincibility, incredible reliability and general friendliness as the world's greatest postal service. Technology was supposed to help the postal service enter into the 21st century with more mechanical productiveness and reduced costs.

Not a Blessing

2. Email has damaged the postal stamp sales. Couple that with the overabundance of direct and junk mail in the 1990's no one wants mail anymore and often throw it in the garbage thus reducing its impact each year. Couple that again with a bloated postal system saddled with overpaid workers, generous pensions, wasteful practices, losing ground against three competing private package carriers and often depending on government bailouts -- you have a system ripe for future privatization.  

Blessing

3. Website. Instant Communication. Digital Dictionaries and Encyclopedias. Dating Services. Adoption Services. Education Courses. Remote Employment. Telemedicine. Nearly all performed without ever having to physically meet a person, a teacher, a supervisor, a social worker or a doctor. 

Not a Blessing

3.  The convenience of the Internet is also its greatest danger with invisibility and anonymity the calling cards for cyber bullies, terrorists, terrorist recruiters, digi-bigots and even creative individuals who hide their identity to escape responsibility for their words, ideas and art. There's nothing noble about shouting from the shadows regardless of your cause or intentions. 

If we are going to remain free it must be based on our visible presence in the daylight that helps earn that liberty while under the very skies our Creator views down on. Freedom has responsibilities that cannot be carried out in secret courts, behind facial masks or in a land that is afraid of candor. 


Mark Antony Rossi


Marl Antony Rossi is a poet, playwright, writer, author of 15 titles and host of the literary podcast "Strength To Be Human"  Literary Podcast Link  His column Ethical Strangers is published weekly by Indian Periodical.