Advice from Neil LaBute, writer/director, to JWD members

by Phantom Stranger 6 Replies latest jw friends

  • Phantom Stranger
    Phantom Stranger

    Well, not really to JWD members, but it works, so what the heck. This is from the final day of his online diary for Slate.

    Actually, I'm kind of fascinated by this whole Internet thing?why we like it, what good or ill it's done for us as a people, that kind of deal. Experts want us to believe that it has brought the world together, and maybe that's true. But it seems to have brought us together in the dark, sitting alone in a backroom somewhere in our underwear, talking to others without the simple graces that 5-year-olds learn on their first day of kindergarten. The world can be an even bigger, more mischievous oyster when it's hidden away, done in private, behind closed doors. Yeah, yeah, I know, this whole computer thing has been great for research and term papers and made it much easier to get the new John Grisham novel delivered right to your doorstep, but I can't help feeling that it casts a certain shadow over us, a darkness that makes it just that much simpler to be as grim or bad or alone as we want to be. Hey, but that's probably just me talking. I should get some breakfast?don't worry, it'll be very healthy and sensible?and I'll feel much better. But really, you folks should get out more.

  • Gretchen956
    Gretchen956

    There is some truth to this, but it is a generality. The people I think it has helped most are the chronically shy or the disabled. A lot of my internet friends fall into one of those two categories. In my own case, I get about an hour online a day and the rest of the time I'm too busy. If it takes over your whole life and you have no other social contact, yes it is a problem. Maybe they should start a CA meeting for Computerusers Anonymous.

    Gretchen

  • SixofNine
    SixofNine

    The world can be an even bigger, more mischievous oyster when it's hidden away, done in private, behind closed doors.

    Just thought I'd highlight this very sage advice for anyone who might think it a good idea to give "Caspian" any personal information.

    Actually, PS, it does seem written just for JWD, and all the oddities and wars and gossip and strife that seem to come with the territory. Maybe it's time to check out a couple of new territory cards, lol.

  • logansrun
    logansrun

    Hey, I resemble that remark!

  • Phantom Stranger
    Phantom Stranger

    As far as the internet goes, the tiffs other places often make JWD look like the Little Sisters of the Poor.

    If we treat others the way we want to be treated, and remember that the argument is not the arguer, we'll be fine.

  • RunningMan
    RunningMan
    who might think it a good idea to give "Caspian" any personal information

    Did I miss something?

  • Nosferatu
    Nosferatu

    The message I get from this is the internet is conditioning us to resort to meeting others without personal confrontation. Real life interaction is becoming rare, and any real life interaction has the internet backing it.

    The way I see it, people need to get out and take the risk of meeting someone new without using the internet. Doing this will equip us much better in our real life transactions with other people.

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