Friendship, Love, Sex, Truth, Lies, Hope, Hate, and the Internet
The internet and the worldwide web have
opened up new worlds for everyone that has internet access. It has opened up new
possibilities for countless millions. But is everything possible? When
considering friendship, love, sex, the truth, lies, hope, hate, is everything
possible on the internet?
Many have asked about me about my online
friendships. “Are you really friends with these people?” I can tell you that
I have made friends through social media. Over time, some of my online contacts have truly become close friends. Some
I talk with occasionally; some I talk to more frequently than my friends who live five minutes away. Some of my friends offer hugs and kisses from afar; some even say “I Love You.” Is a genuine friendship on the internet possible? Absolutely.
I have made friends through social media. Over time, some of my online contacts have truly become close friends. Some
I talk with occasionally; some I talk to more frequently than my friends who live five minutes away. Some of my friends offer hugs and kisses from afar; some even say “I Love You.” Is a genuine friendship on the internet possible? Absolutely.
Love-now there is a topic. Is love
possible on the internet? Ask the countless thousands who have found a mate
online. Every day I see a commercial for a dating website on the internet. They
have dating websites now that cater to specific demographics-Christians, people
of a certain age, people of specific ethnicities, even farmers! I have a dear
friend who has used online dating cites, and has found a great match.
Connections can be made everywhere, even online.
Is it possible to fall in love on the
internet? Yes. I have a friend who dated a man online. They spoke many times a
day, through social media and personal e-mail. They had a friendship that
lasted years; over the course of their relationship, their friendship turned
into love. She had very little contact with this individual in person; they lived about 100 miles apart from one
another. The majority of their time together was online. Their love grew, and
they were engaged to be married. Unfortunately, their relationship did not
last. Yes love is possible. Even on the internet. Love is everywhere.
That of course leads us to the topic of
sex on the internet. People go online for pornography, to meet people online,
to find a group or person to fulfill their need. Some go with good intentions;
others end up committing adultery. In addition, there is a current trend in the
U.S. in which young men, in their teen and college years, solicit young women
for sex, through text messages and e-mail. Young men think that this is how to
meet women. Young women think that accepting these advances from young men is
the way to get the young man to like her. We are in what is called a “super
sexualized culture.” It is in our movies, television, media. It is no wonder
that these young men think this is an acceptable way to meet women.
Now let me tell you something that actually happened, to me. One night I was chatting with one of my
online friends. During the course of our conversation, this friend tried to
initiate cyber-sex with me. I had never been flirtatious with him and I
did not have feelings for him. His trying to initiate cyber-sex with me made me
quite uncomfortable. I instantly ended the conversation, and the friendship. I
thought he was being friendly with me; in reality, he was being flirtatious.
Even though we were thousands of miles away from one another, he was looking
for one thing from me; I however was not.
This naturally then brings us to the
topic of the truth and lies. I was told once that “everyone lies.” The person
that told me that turned out to be a pathological liar. However, in some ways,
I believe that is true. We often lie to one another to protect someone’s
feelings. However, there is a growing trend online to pretend you are someone
you are not. People load a photo online, pose as that person, and manipulate
people into believing that is who they are. Sexual predators have done this
online for years. But simpler, less devastating lies happen online all the
time. People pretend to be something they are not. People tell you they are
single when they are in fact married. We tell people we feel one thing when we
feel another. People tell you they love you when in fact they feel nothing of
the sort.
Is hope possible on the
internet? Undeniably. There are many initiatives and causes on the internet
that cannot but fill a person with hope. Pages on every social media entity are
filled with uplifting images of positivity, peace and hope. I recently saw a
wonderful website that raises funds by selling cookies for children who have
cancer. www.cookiesforkidscancer.org
A new online app donates a
dollar every day that you upload one of your photos to support a cause. http://www.donateaphoto.com/
I have seen countless examples of hope on
the internet. Do not doubt it.
Is hate possible on the internet? Like
love, hate seems to be everywhere. Since the invention of the internet, hate
has had a place on it. Lately, hate has found a home in social media. Anyone
can hide behind a profile photo, post a comment and create a feeling of
negativity. This negativity can also be construed as hate.
I recently wrote a piece that discussed the topic of
racism in America. You can find the piece here:
When I had finished writing the piece, I
shared it on Facebook and Twitter and Google+, as I always do. After posting
the above piece, I saw numerous comments to the post. The piece definitely
struck a nerve.
Several people posted comments, which
later resulted in them being verbally attacked for their point of view. As
I continued to read, I saw that I myself was under attack. Some comments questioned me, my point of view, my motives for writing such a piece, for sharing the piece, and even my level of intellect. Every other comment was filled with hatred. I deleted the post immediately. I do not mind if someone does not share my opinion; however I will not be a party to negativity and hatred.
I continued to read, I saw that I myself was under attack. Some comments questioned me, my point of view, my motives for writing such a piece, for sharing the piece, and even my level of intellect. Every other comment was filled with hatred. I deleted the post immediately. I do not mind if someone does not share my opinion; however I will not be a party to negativity and hatred.
Slain civil rights leader
Medgar Evers once said, “Hate is a wasteful emotion, most
of the people you hate don't know you hate them and the rest don't care.” Hate is a weapon that should never be
aimed at anyone. Hate is a parasite; much like a tick, it has to have a host to
survive. I refuse to be a host to such a parasite.
The internet is a wonderful tool. It can
bring us employment, give us learning opportunities; it can be showcase for
art, can be a place of personal growth It is also a home for friendship, love, sex,
truth, lies, hope, and hate. Anything and everything under the moon can be
found on the internet. Sometimes we go seeking these things; sometimes, these
things find us. I choose to seek out friendship, and the truth. What do you seek out?
“I have decided to stick with love. Hate
is too great a burden to bear.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
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