A couple weeks ago, I was driving down the road and what did I see? I saw a Chick-fil-A, and I nearly drove off the road craning my neck to be sure my eyes hadn’t deceived me. This is significant, because up until a couple years ago, I’d never heard of Chik-fil-A, and up until that night a few weeks ago, I’d never seen one. I only know the place exists because people on the internet are always talking about it.
After I spotted the Chik-fil-A, I continued on down the road, thinking that the internet has done strange things to my life.
I am not so young that I don’t sometimes look at my computer and think, “you are amazing!” When I stop and think about it, I still can’t believe that the internet allows us to talk to people around the world. Not just that, but it’s instant communication. After both of the last two California earthquakes, I got my confirmation–you know, that I wasn’t crazy–from twitter before the news was running anything.
In my real life, I know very few people who don’t live on the west coast. Yet, I every day talk to people from all over the country, and even when I don’t talk to them directly, I hear their voices through twitter and message boards and blogs.
There’s the good: I get to hear from people outside of my tiny little bubble. I’m constantly aware of my location in the world in relation to others.
There’s the bad: I can ignore the people in my little bubble for the people I know online. I’m constantly inundated with information, whether it’s everyone’s opinion of The Office three hours before it’s aired here or news exactly when it breaks.
You can read the news and be globally aware, but hearing from real people all over the country–all over the world–is crazy. My grandparents didn’t get this. My parents didn’t get this. This is so new.
For another take on The Internet, watch this. It’s one of my YouTube favorites.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Agreed! It sometimes shocks me that I can instantly communicate with people from other countries. I remember distinctly being shocked by it when I was iming my friend who was in London. Another time when I was texting someone in the US from Germany.
I agree with the bad too. I feel like I give less face time to the people I know in real life. Rather than calling someone or meeting up with them I tend to email or IM. It’s sad. Last night I was thinking about how I want to limit the amount of time I spend online. I’m afraid I might start drifting from reality. The blogsphere doesn’t help.
Anyway, I like this post. My parents don’t get it either. My grandma (before she passed away) didn’t even understand homosexuality, let alone the internet. It weird to think about what different worlds previous generations lived in.
I’m sorry…still stuck on Chick-fil-a. There’s one in Southern California? The last time I had one, I was in freaking Australia!
That absolutely hits me sometimes.
And I’m older than you, so I think that makes it even more trippy to me. I was in college when I got my first e-mail account, and most people had no idea what I was talking about.
The other day my cousin told me I was old because I was born in the 1900′s granted shes only 7 but still. Its crazy to think that my younger cousins have never known what its like to not be with out the internet. I was 14 before we were “connected” to the internet, and then if the phone rang, it disconnected us. Amazing what technology can do and how it changes things.
Over here in Texas, Chick-fil-a’s are pretty much everywhere.
And after everything you’ve heard about them, you didn’t stop to see what all the fuss was about?! Their nuggets and samwiches are amazing! And waffle fries? omg!
I love the internet! I honestly believe that I would be an entirely boring person without it, because pretty much all of my interests have grown from being able to connect and communicate with different people and cultures all over the world!
So, you’ve solved my problem of the day: “What’s for lunch?”
Chick-Fil-A! :)
Oh yes the internet is amazing. I get frustrated when I hear in advance what people thought of the new Grey’s episode and Desperate Housewives…eff you west coast and your 3 hour time delay :) I really don’t think I could live without the internet. You can learn so much!
I love that you were shocked by seeing Chick-Fil-A. I guess I’ve been in this part of the country so long that I’m used to them.
The internet is definitely a give and take thing. It is such an amazing thing yet it often diverts us from “real” life. You even see this give and take in news/media related things. On the one hand, we get so much more information and viewpoints we can see things in totally different lights. But there can be oversaturation and we can often be misled by those who are not “qualified” as those in older media forms are.
The moral of the story is- the internet: it’s a game of give and take.
Just imagine how things will be 30 years from now! I hope I’ll still be able to keep up…I can’t imagine that there will be a technological plateau anytime soon.
the important question is… did you stop at this chick fil a that you found? the closest one to me is 45 minutes and it’s in a mall. ive been known to make the drive just for the sandwich and waffle fries. heaven.
I think I said something really similar to Eric recently. The web is amazing, but it can be deceptively dangerous–for a while, I was letting it hold my attention four hours at a time, and the iPhone didn’t help! I’ve definitely cut back somewhat, but it isn’t easy!
I’m not the biggest fan of Chick Fil A. I don’t really think its anything special.
Okay, so that video was awesome. I really enjoyed it, and it’s so true!
Also, I always feel bad for people on the West Coast because I feel like us people on the East Coast always find out things first…is this true? I mean, especially when it comes to TV! Like for instance, were the Golden Globes on live for you? Or did they replay them later?
I don’t know anyone from the West Coast in real life, so I love hearing about it! Haha.
what in the wide world is a Chick-fil-A?
i feel very out of the know right now…
Okay you seriously need some Chick-fil-a in your life! That’s always the first place I go eat when I’m home in Texas. They have the most delicious nuggets and waffle fries. Mmmm!!
As a recovering Chick-Fil-A addict transplanted from the West Coast, I’m so impressed with your restraint! I gave in to the peer pressure of delicious chikin and waffle fries and now just thinking about it makes my mouth water….