First impressions

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First impressions

by barradarcy · #greetings
posted 350 days ago · shared by: 7

Everyone these days runs around the internet snatching bits of this and bits of that....they talk; to those they know....and those they know for mere minutes.. and unless they are adventurous; they will be hooked into facebook style sites, taking a grab at whatever google or wikipedia serve to them on a plate.

They go into a website and know it, first post, first profile...they are there and seem to have always been there...

but it must cross your mind that there is more; past the google and interlinked with the real world. Those five minutes you spend laughing with a man from India just to kill some time, or talking to a random American about some issue....are also their five minutes.

Doesn't it even trouble you that when you log out; they will never know you again (unless invited to) and while in conversation, only barely know you....in short; neither the twain shall meet.

Does that not bother you, my friend? That you will never know me and I will never know you and there are things we will never know and places we will never see? There are countless dead we will never miss nor mourne and a million born who we will never welcome nor celebrate?

So, this, this is MY first impression on this strange new corner of the internet. Hello and how is the world from your side?

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by sounds_sound 349 days ago · link

I love that our twains shall never meet. It's like I have 100 pen pals. Welcome to our strange little universe.

by yotta 331 days ago · link

That is a perfect comparison. It makes the idea of "internet conversations" seem much more natural.

by barradarcy 348 days ago · link

thank you:) and welcome to my speel:P

by b_b 348 days ago · link

I like the anonymity. I like to have in depth conversations, but I'm pretty introverted in the brick and mortar world, for lack of a better term (I hate saying the "real" world; we all exist). I'm not timid or shy; I just think that most people I meet aren't that interested in having long conversations about diverse topics. Here, I'm pretty sure that's all anyone wants. I think its entirely possible to develop a certain type of friendship with anonymous people on the internet. They learn my personality, likes, dislikes, interests, writing style, and I theirs. It certainly isn't a substitute for having friends and family, but for me it fulfills an entirely different type of desire, I guess.

by ecib 348 days ago · link

I remember years ago I used to hang out in the AOL chat rooms for hours taking to strangers. I had a lot of great conversation, both humorous and intelligent (as well as not so intelligent of course). There was something amazingly cool about the ephemeral nature of those meetings, centered around room topics. Hanging out in rooms with titles like 'philosophy" or 'the dragon's den' etc. You never knew what you would find.

I also remember seeing an art exhibit at my local museum. Over the period of a week, all day every day, a group of Buddhist monks hunched over a large stone disk used stylus filled with colored sand to cover the disk in the most amazing, beautiful, and intricate pattern. It reminded me of a stained glass window pane, but infinitely more detailed.

At the end of the week, they transported it to the river outside the grounds and scattered it into the water.

That taught me a lot about appreciating the moment you have in front of you, and not trying so hard to coral it and keep it past it's time. It taught me not to mourn change or be too attached to beauty in the moment, since change is inevitable.

by thenewgreen 349 days ago · link

I think that meeting in person is nice but it's not necessary to have a relationship. I like that I have no idea what the friends and acquaintances I've met through Hubski look like but that I do have an understanding of what it is they are passionate about. That said, I would welcome the opportunity to meet my fellow Hubskiers and have met some on occasion. But here, "in this strange corner of the Internet" it doesn't bother me when I log out because it's likely that the person I was communicating with will return and we will have another dialog about something that interests us.

To answer your direct question, my side of the world is wonderful. I ran my very first 1/2 marathon today and it was great.

Welcome to Hubski barradarcy, I look forward to future conversations.

by barradarcy 348 days ago · link

yes, sometimes not knowing what they look like is good. On a different site nobody posted any photos up and my mind used to make up what ppl looked like from what they said (kind of like reading a book...which is why movies ruin everything!) but then somebody did so that put an end to that! As for logging out and knowing you'll see them again...well, I ment, just in the general sence of the internet...especially in chatrooms and boards though:) Some-day, 'your' account will be gone and unless you keep an eye on the site it was on....all the people you never asked about will be just little memories...you'll know what they said but that will be that:-/

Also.....:).....You ran a marathon? :D:D that's awesome! Are you in practice for one or did you run and win one? :) Thank you:) I look forward to all of everything too:)

by thenewgreen 348 days ago · link

I guess I've never used any chat-rooms or message boards other than Hubski, so this is really my first go at it. I do appreciate your comparison to books/movies though. Last night my wife and I watched the Masterpiece Theater version of Wuthering Heights and while it was a nice production, my first thought was "That's not what Heathcliff looks like"!

I should clarify that I ran a half marathon which is 13.1 miles. I certainly did not "win", but I did accomplish my goal which was to run and finish. It is a pretty remarkable thing giving the fact that only 3 or 4 months ago I could not have ran more than 3 miles without stopping. I've been training pretty regularly. I used to loathe the idea of running but now I actually crave it. It all started with this declaration.

Some-day, 'your' account will be gone and unless you keep an eye on the site it was on....all the people you never asked about will be just little memories -Life outside of the Internet is no different really. I have moved through life making new friends and acquaintances, some that stay in my life and others that fade off in to memory. There are people that I have met through Hubski that I hope to know beyond this experience. But even if that doesn't happen and they fade off in to memory, I'm glad to have had their impact on my life.

I wanted to let you know that I read your poem the morning before I ran and I really enjoyed it. I thought about it while on the trail. You're a gifted writer, I look forward to reading more.

Have a great day.

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