efore you decide one way assessment of a relatively new
or the other if the invention in his day.
Internet is straight from
the pit of hell and something to Hopefully we're not similarly
be feared, consider the following missing the boat when it comes to
quote that does an excellent job our assessment of the Internet.
of reminding us to use a little But what is our assessment of the
forethought when confronted with Internet? Here's a few questions
new ideas and inventions: that might help:
"The aeroplane is an invention of How many of us unconsciously hear
the devil and will never play any the terms "the Web" or "the Net,"
part in such a serious business only to notice that webs and nets
as the defence of the nation, my are things used to catch
boy!" unsuspecting prey just before
-- Sir Sam Hughes, Canadian they're killed and eaten?
Minister of Militia and Defense,
to J.A.D. McCurdy, who had How many of us are secretly
approached the minister with the hoping "the Web" won't keep
idea of starting an air service, getting bigger and more
August 1914 important, so we can squeak
through the rest of our lives
Now, it's impossible to know how without having to really learn
influential the narrow-minded about it?
perspective of Sir Sam Hughes was
in shaping the present-day How many of us are still too
Canadian air force. But one fearful to buy anything online,
thing's for sure -- poor old Mr. but will gladly give our credit
Hughes really missed the boat (or card to an eighteen-year-old
plane) when it came to his waiter at any given restaurant,
then watch him walk away with it inventions. Yes, that argument
for minutes on end knowing full can be made very easily.
well he could easily copy the
number/expiry date/confirmation But I don't agree with that
number on the back? (Not to say argument, and here's why. It's
your waiter's going to do this. based on fear, and fear always
But hey, you know he could.) chokes at the throat of the
ever-expanding life all around
Heck, how many of us haven't ever us. Sure, we can take a stance
even used the Internet? (If like Sir Sam Hughes, where we
you're reading this article fear this new thing called the
online, then this last question Internet as being evil, and then
doesn't apply to you. Excellent!) try to stop its natural progress.
Now, I can already hear some of Or we can welcome and embrace
you asking, "Are you saying that what's new, what's unknown, even
just because the airplane turned when we're not yet sure what it
out all right, the Internet will will become. And although it's
too, and so we should blindly impossible to know how
welcome this monstrosity into our influential we will be in shaping
quiet lives?" the ever-changing Internet, at
least we get to play a role in
No, I'm not saying that at all. what it does become. When we jump
In fact, the argument could be in and join the process of
made that the airplane has led to development, we can influence
some of the most horrific acts in what happens. And who knows, we
human history -- Hiroshima, might even enjoy ourselves.
Nagasaki, and 9-11 to name but a
few - and so the lesson to be So what I'm saying is this: Get
learned is to fear new on the Net, surf the Web, make a
difference, and have some fun.
About the Author:
Grant Pasay is a writer, musician, moviemaker, and author of the new eBook, "The Internet Is Like A Refrigerator: And Other Weird Comparisons That Make it Easy to Understand Everything From AOL to Zip Files." http://www.grantpasay.com/refrigerator/
Read more articles by:
Grant Pasay
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
