I almost trashed this post before hitting publish but decided it could be useful to someone, so I said “what the heck?” just put it out there.
Do you know what the internet is?
The Interconnected Network
What kind of stupid question is that? Really, humor me, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “internet” ? Facebook? Twitter? Apps?
The internet is a NETWORK. Things connected to other things. Just as important as the things is that there are connections in between. Yes there are some big important things, like Facebook. But without the connections to other things, like little web sites, there is no network.
There is a generation emerging that is simply unaware that anyone can control a node on this network. They’re ignorant of the fact that you can use this network to make your life and the lives of other better without ever tweeting or ‘liking’ anything.
The big things that the emerging ignorant generation equate with the internet are like walled gardens. But guess what? There is a whole world outside the garden walls. It’s a free world where you can express yourself without first getting the approval of someone else’s terms and conditions. It’s a world in which you can create and produce rather than promote and consume the output of others.
It get’s even more scandalous. Did you know that you can use the internet without touching the World Wide Web? The WWW, itself becoming a bit of an obscure notion, is something that exists on top of the internet but it is not the internet.
So what? So, don’t limit yourself to thinking the internet is limited to just one place, idea, one technique. Remember that it is a network and don’t overlook any part of the network as a way to serve people or make your life better.
This is the point I was at where I decided to trash the post. I guess I lost my train of thought. So I am going to wrap up with a few simple reminders:
- There is more to the internet than Facebook and Twitter. Try searching Google to find millions of independent web sites that your can connect with.
- The web is not the only way to use the internet, don’t forget email, IRC and other protocols.
- The internet is a direct medium for connecting people. No matter how different it looks, there is nothing really new here. From a media perspective, you are communicating one on one with other real people with needs, desires and passions.
Okay, that’s it. Now I am going to hit publish.
P.S. one more thing, if you want to experience the freedom of running a microbusiness then sign up for my daily email. I will not sell, lend, or rent your info to anybody.