22 March 2008

The Internet and Reality... A Perspective



Internet... switch on the CPU, turn on the modem and sit in front of the computer.

Reality... fresh air, outdoors, sun warming up your skin, etc...

Internet is something where you interact with the keyboard and the monitor. Reading, browsing, chatting, downloading... an intangible interaction. There are some people who perceive the internet as a threat. Some do it for fun. Others do it for business. All sort of things can be accomplished nowadays using the internet. It's one thing to be interacting with others online such as chatting, exchanging thoughts and opinions on message boards. The internet makes the world shrink just sitting in front of the computer. You can practically be communicating and exchanging words with somebody across the world! That's the beauty of the internet... the interaction with somebody who's also sitting infront of their computer at the same time as you are. Being online, you can never be sure who you're chatting or communicating on the other end. It's basically putting out your trust to a complete stranger! Though most handle the internet with skepticism especially when it comes to meeting people online. You can never tell if that person got an honest intent or whatever their motives are. That's the danger of internet.

Now, there are people who takes what goes on the internet seriously that they become paranoid and psychotic! They take exchanges that happens online as something that is actually REAL. As I've said, internet is just something you switch on and it's intangible. True, gossips or reality sometimes gets blurred by what goes on online that sometimes it's hard to tell where the truth really lies in all the 0000s and 11111s!

Some take it upon themselves that whatever was said online depicts their real life! Spats and squabbling are common in most message boards. It keeps the mundane cyber world interesting! Sure, I do have my own share of spats and squabbles but at the end of the day, the computer gets switched off. It's just words and numbers exchanged, nothing personal. It's completely a different scenario when the internet crosses over to reality. When exchanges get taken personally that personal privacy and life gets on stake just over some silly spats and squabbles.

People should have thicker skin and should lighten up especially when they're online! Certainly one can't reach through the monitor and wring the other's neck! lol But hey... since they can't do that, they'll do other means to do damage or harm. Such as threats... We've been subject to such scrutiny online just because of some "gossips".

Character assasinations, blackmails and threats are a few hurled along the way. Makes one wonder if they know themselves and know what's the REAL DEAL, why would they be disturbed or bothered by some silly "gossip"!? Why react to something that's not true!? Why let if affect your life and try to get even with others!? Those are few questions that spring into my mind why these people reacts to whatever they read online. Certainly their lives revolve around the "internet". Which is sad, coz they claim that they have a great life and yet it bugs them whatever they read online.

I'm no stranger when it comes to threat. I take it seriously. I keep evidences and track events that takes place. I'm privvy with our life and somebody who tries to invade our space won't be taken lightly. I know my place and I know I got nothing to hide. It will be exactly a year this coming April when it all started getting real... when it crosses over to reality. Phone ringing in the middle of the night... happened three times. It's alarming when the phone rings at such an ungodly hour!! You'd think there some sort of emergency or something important to be ringing someone at such an hour! Around 12 midnight and 3 a.m. I've been weary with callers that 2 years ago, I subscribed to our phone company's caller ID features. That's a good investment when it comes to screening incoming calls! Anyways, what our "midnight caller" doesn't know that I waited till he/she was done ringing the phone... after he/she hangs up, it's my turn to use the phone! Having the phone call verified by our phone company! I'm disappointed coz after the third phone call, he/she never called back! Just when I'm ready to answer the phone....

Oh well, just on the safe side, anything that transpired has been reported on our local police... I submitted a blotter for their record. Was advised by them to answer the phone and find out who and what they want. I guess he/she just chickened out in the end. *rolls eyes*

It's still a continuing saga a year later... *sighs*

No comments: