I think the real reason we tweet, blog and compulsively update our status is that we are looking for a response. We crave even the simple acknowledgment of people “LOL”ing at a link or a throwaway comment. And we need to complain, too. We need to vent. The internet lets us say “out loud” things for which we have no conversational context in regular old analog life.

Right now, I am sitting at my desk, and the office is silent except for the sound of my typing and the faint mumble of newscasters coming from the TV in the break room. It would be awkward, at best, to start spouting all the things on my mind: I’m kindof hungry. I just talked to my mom, and she told me my dad is in the hospital, but she says not to worry. I really like the way NPR is reporting on the Wikileaks story. I have mixed feelings about Julian Assange. I’m worried about my dad, now. Last week was really hard, and I want this week to be better. Yesterday, I totally cried in my boss’s office because I was overwhelmed. I felt stupid. I’m excited about the goat cheese I found at the farmers’ market this weekend. Really looking forward to freezing some local summer produce to save for this winter.

Perhaps this is not what the internet was meant to be, but I do believe it gives us a context for reaching out to people, making connections, and sharing thoughts that sometimes weigh on us or overwhelm us or excite us. Some people will say that our fast-paced, high-tech lifestyle leaves us less connected than ever before, yet I feel more connected in many ways.

Right now, I am really grateful for that connection.

Photo Credit: "Tweet up" by Toni Barros

Tags: blog | gratitude | internet | social media | tweet | twitter

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