A series of tubes

“The World Web Internets is a series of tubes (not a big truck which you just dump something into), used to transfer important information (porn) worldwide. It has, in recent years, evolved into the greatest MMORPG of all time, where players choose one of two factions and compete for either lulz or anti-lulz respectively. This of course divides into many smaller classes and such, each with their own culture, ideas, and often language. In fact, the internets is basically an electronic version of Earth–who woulda thunk it?”

Encyclopedia Dramatica

Oh yes, and it has it’s eyes on all of us.  The mundane actions are thrust into full view and made public.  A record is stored of every single event and filed away to be recalled in the future. It has been asked if perhaps the internet (and the exposure it provides) causes or influences youth to be more violent.  I don’t believe this.  I can recall the cruelty and violence of youth in my own experience from elementary school…it only go worse as time progressed.  We were learning.  From actual physical assault to something as simple, yet possibly more effective, as ridicule - methods varied.  Even as an adult one cannot escape.  The aggression just has new forums.  Most of the methods remain the same.  Spreading rumors, shunning and even violent acts.  The real difference is how many people learn to avoid reprisal or looking negatively in the eyes of others.  Incidents like the cheerleader beating and the school beating would have only come to light through the internet.  I’ve read discussions on the ability to ferret out videos like these on You-Tube…and I think it’s a bad idea.  Let us all see.  Let everyone click their way to witness our ugly side.  I can think of kids I went to school with who could have become murders of their classmates…and I can justify it.  How does a kid get beat up every year from middle school to high school graduation?  Is it because no one knows?  I would say it’s because no one does anything.  Once a video is on the internet, everyone can say it.  Including the people incidents were not reported to. 

 She said she’s been complaining to system officials all year about assaults on teachers. “What I said, you now see on video”

Marietta English may not have been trying to advocate my point, but the proof is in the pudding and the internet has more than Bill Cosby.  The internet hasn’t promoted violence…it has exposed it.  Frankly I’m glad it has.  I’ve seen the most vicious acts commited before I completed the 12th grade and have never seen any as bad amongst adults.  Most went unpunished or unavenged.  I don’t think violence has increased…not at all.  It’s just our awarness of it.  My question is: Did all of these adults forget?  Most likely…these are the same people that gave suggestions like, “If you ignore a bully they’ll go away.”  Even if you achieve a level of Zen that allows you to disregard a fist pounding your flesh…it’s doesn’t stop it from happening.  My real concern is the response.  Do we start locking away childen younger?  How many people as adults would offer some brittle explanation of the violence they commited as a youngster?  How many would break down at the realization of what they have done? How many remember well and revel in it?  Don’t blame the internet, all it does is watch and record.