Will it get better?

When technology is provided for the masses it is not long before people say, “I can’t imagine my life without this.”  The Internet is one of those things.  I remember the first time I sat down with my brother logging onto AOL and creating my first screen name, richgal03.  I sat and waited for the three iconic sounds. Dial tone, a number dialing, a fax machine connecting and the famous words, “you’ve got mail.”  Of course I never got any mail worth reading.  I also remember the first time my best friend and I stayed up in the middle of the night flirting in chat rooms with little success given that we were naive 14 year old girls.

The Internet changed our lives.  It provided massive amounts of information at our fingertips and the creation of Google organized it.  Years later, Facebook created a way for people to interact globally in ways that other social network sites couldn’t imagine; while Youtube and blogging sites created an outlet for people to voice their opinions, ideas, and nonsense at any moment they please. Whenever something is created with the best intentions people can find a way to manipulate it.  Aaron Sorkin (creator and writer of West Wing) said, “I am all for everyone having a voice, I just don’t think everyone has earned the microphone.  And that’s what the Internet has done.”  Mr. Sorkin was probably referring to numerous negative, demeaning, and unconstructive reviews of his work posted by bloggers and random angry people.  But for this purpose, let’s say he was referring to cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying, “the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is indented to harm others.” (Cyberbullying.org) I was first introduced to the concept when watching an episode of MTV’s Made. A girl wanted to be made into class president and her platform was cyber bullying.  At first I laughed.  It was a concept I did not understand or knew existed.  Not until I watched various hurtful and obnoxious comments flood my nephew’s facebook page. 

Unable to help him through this troubling time I could only say, “Cyber bullies are cowards who hide behind their computers to make themselves feel better and to make other kids like them.  Their words have less to do with who you are and more to do with their own insecurities.  It will get better.”  But no matter how many times I tell him this I know he doesn’t feel it’s true.  Confidence is the only thing to stop the harassment. Unfortunately that is not something that can be given but has to be felt from within.  Time may heal wounds and maturity may bring perspective, but sometimes the damage is irreversible.  So here I stand, at a loss for words and ideas thinking, "Will things change?  Will things get better?"

Eat, Pray, Love

So here I am, in my bedroom, watching Eat, Pray, Love.  Twenty minutes in I wanted to turn the shit off, thinking, “I’m sure the book is great but this movie is awful and never ending.”  But here is this lady’s life on film because she took a year off and wrote about it.  She’s a writer.  What's the difference between a writer and someone who journals?  An editor.  Point being, if she can do it so can I.  So here it goes.

Watching this movie, I wondered, if i had the opportunity to travel alone where would I go?.  I wouldn’t go anywhere.  I don’t tend to venture out on my own and walk around by myself in foreign places.  I could be in the most beautiful city and never leave the hotel room.  Anxiety and fear of getting lost or making a fool of myself prohibits my ability to take action.  

I have always wanted to go to bar and have a glass of wine and read a book.  I never have though. Although going to a bar to drink and then driving back would prove problematic.  Plus my idea of going to the bar drinking and reading involves a cute guy interrupting me and starting a conversation that goes somewhere.  I know it’s ridiculous, but that’s what happens when you watch one too many chic flicks. Damn guilty pleasures.