Opinion

Earlier today I made a statement on IRC on a matter which I hadn't really given much thought, and had only read about sketchily in some on-line forum debates.  I didn't think much about the statement as it didn't really directly effect any one person and was definitely not a "hot" topic on the specific channel either.  As soon as it was out though I was questioned on it, asked to explain it, defend it... I soon realized I could not, and without much struggle I conceded that I was in error, and life on the Internet went on as normal.

The experience however has lingered with me the whole time.  Sure, it wasn't nice being shown up like that, but more over, I realized I didn't like the fact that I had made up my mind based on so little information and giving a subject so little thought.

This is definitely a danger of life on-line.  A danger of the anonymous fast pace Cyber World in which millions find themselves each and every day.  There are those spewing malice on-line, having made up there minds without any thought, safe behind there LCD monitors and there beliefs.  Hundreds if not thousand of fan-boys on just about any subject out there... there only criteria for their opinion being who seems to have the same one.  Log into just about any on-line forum and have a look.  Their are even those who unfortunately go to great lengths to enlighten themselves and form a sound opinion on a matter just to have been deceived by the sources they used.

Now the paragraph above was not my attempt to list all the various methods that someone can derive at an opinion, it was just some thoughts on the matter I just had, as I am reserving any opinion on this topic (and on many others to come in the future I am sure).  I will however try and ensure that any thing I say, stems from thorough forethought on the matter at hand, and doubly so on-line where the dangers of not engaging ones mind before ones... "keyboard" ... is so very great.

... and thanks for all the fish...

How many monkeys would it take to write Shakespeare?  Well, I am pretty sure there has been more than enough blog entries in the world by now to dispel the rumor that there are enough monkeys on the Internet to ever accomplish that feat.

So why oh why would I add to the plethora of badly written, highly opinionated, (mostly) rubbish out here in Internet land?  Well, because I am selfish to be honest (if you are confused by that answer then good, you should be).


Explanation follows:

• I want to assist my lazy procrastinating self to get more done (and this way I can reward myself for all the awesome things I get done... if I get myself so far to do something and/or get so far to blog about it...);
• I want to enhance my writing skills, and my analytical thinking too;
• Heck, maybe, just maybe I have something that needs saying and there is somebody out there that needs to hear it. :)

So yes, I hope to use this experience to enhance who I am, because looking back at many years of dreaming and comparing it to my current situation shocked me into realization (finally) that something needs to be done.

So my dear reader... if you have made it this far I will stop torturing you with this sub-par piece of literature but leave you with something to ponder:

“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790), ‘Poor Richard’s Almanack,’ June 1746



Cheers
Neil