Maybe it’s a shortsided response on my part, but it’s still jarring to be reminded there are plenty of people who doubt the extent of community online or at best qualify its existence as some kind of cold flat reflection of “real life.”
I look back at just this past week:
coming together in the Crack Van and on Twitter to bear witness toDADT repeal,
the pain of finding out I havetwo more deadfriends in my Facebook list, and another reeling in griefbecause how do you go on when half of you is gone?
And then there was yet another story about yet anotherfoul-mouthed hippie blogger who had a crazy notion that people would maybe find a way to help other people
Over 900 gift cards were sent out by 689 people who were so thrilled to help. 450 people who needed small Christmas miracles received donations for medicine, food, or presents under the tree for their children. No large corporations got involved. No one only offered to donate if they got something out of it themselves. With no sponsorships, no ulterior motives and with only a simple need to reach out and help a perfect stranger, 689 everyday, normal people (Jewish, Christians, Atheists, Muslims and more) sent out over $40,000 worth of donations to make sure Christmas came.
I dunno, it all feels pretty real to me.
Five people I know have died since Thanksgiving. After yet another funeral, you begin to not think in any way that makes sense. If you call it thinking at all. And Facebook asks me if I’d like to write on the wall of, to reconnect with, another dead friend. Impersonal piece of shit, don’t claim to know anything about my friends.
Even if it’s a comment here or a crack van remark there, I speak to you guys like very few I do in real life. Thanks, FD, for this wonderful support system.
I have a whole life I wouldn’t have dreamed without all of you on the Internets. I’m glad this place has value for people. I’m glad we can talk to each other, even after everything.
A.
Ah, crap. I just found out that the father of a friend died and I didn’t know because I’ve become so isolated. It makes me want to get out more.