by Elizabeth M Young

Created on: January 22, 2010   Last Updated: May 11, 2012

It is too easy to focus on the dark side of internet relationships and interactions. The scandals and schemes that abound have served as warning to the gullible or the unwary. But the positive aspects of internet as a way for people from around the world to communicate, establish friendships, see photos of places that they may never be able to visit, and to learn about the realities of life in other places are aspects that never seem to recieve enough attention.

When a fellow writer who lives in Scotland writes about his mother's death, posts videos, pictures and writings about his church and does the same for local events, we can feel as if we have been to his country and that we have supported him in a way that no vacation package or tour could provide for us. No one can get to all of the little villages in Italy, let alone keep track of all of the battles and rulers and counts and contessas.

We come together during times of personal, local, national and global troubles, and we read what others have to say from a vastly different set of perspectives than our local friends and family can provide. We can express ourselves in ways that we cannot express ourselves at work, or when providing the attention that the children require. Bad information is dealt with in forums where there is always someone to challenge the factuality of the reports, counts, and events that are unfolding.

We read and write, rarely meeting in person, yet we can tell one "voice" from another. We have seen the photos and know that we would recognize our good on line friends the minute that we see them at any airport or restaurant. We know who the cranks, cliques, and fun people are. We get to know a lot about them when we read their work over the course of a few months or a year.

In some cases, people are suffering terrible physical or mental illnesses, or are the caregivers for sick and elderly relations and children. It is a way for them to find others who are either going through, have been through, or just want to get ready for the possibility of having serious illnesses. Many are generous with their support.

The art of reading and writing to communicate with distant people over the days and weeks and years is returned to us through the internet, and the historical times of staying in touch, by mail, with friends, lovers, and families who we might never see again or never see at all in the real world is no different than now.

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