Because I live in a rural area of Vermont, in a wee, tiny town, I can only get dial-up service for internet acess. So, in order ot do most of my schoolwork, I go to the bookstore internet cafe, buy a latte, get the password for the day and enter into the world of high-speed internet. I sometimes spend over 9 hours a day there. I see the breakfast meeting crowd, the lunch crowd, the afternoon shoppers, the Long Trail School kids who get off the bus at the bookstore for lacrosse practice or to be picked up later by parents who are still working. I watch the cafe slowly start to empty out about 5:30 or 6:00.
Inevitably, I see lots of folks I know - other lacrosse or hockey parents, my son sometimes meets me after school, business people I know. People say hello, chat awhile to catch up on any news, ask what's new. Total strangers help each other with the weird things that happen when the router blinks out. It's a really tempramental router but the regulars know it just has to be reset. These are my neighbors, friends and acquaintances. These are the folks with whom I share a little bit of the world.
At the same time, I'm logged into any number of on-line discussions or chats. I read the news from all over the world through all my RSS news feeds. I read the thoughts and writings of like-minded professionals and students through their blogs and participate in the larger "community of thought and contribution" through various wikis. Frequently, I'm emailing friends and associates as far away as the People's Republic of China or Long Island. I can click a photo of a friend having coffee with me and instantaneously show it to a friend in France. I'm here but I'm there. I'm sharing my little moment in time and space with these folks, too.
Right now, I'm sitting alone in the cafe. It's 5:45 and I'm the last of the die hards, today. The silver is clinking and rattling as it's being taken from the dishwasher and put away for tomorrow. The music is quietly playing in the bckground. I took a break earlier to go down the street to watch my son at lacrosse practice. It was sunny and cold. I was both warm in the sun shining on my face and cold in the wind that blew through my too light coat. It was wonderful to feel the world around me and hear the sounds of boys at practice, siblings play chase to pass the time and familiar parents discuss this year's team, coach, weather, whatever.
Then, I came back here to the digital world. I don't need a second life. I have many lives at any second of the day. They're all valid. They're all real. All these folks are my neighbors and I am dumbstruck with the wonder and reality that we, truly, have become a global village.
And then, the immediate next thought is, "How then, do we really create community in this global village? Or will it happen as naturally as just neighbors passing the time of day?"
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And then, the immediate next thought is, "How then, do we really create community in this global village? Or will it happen as naturally as just neighbors passing the time of day?"
Are you not doing it already? I think it does happen one person at time, who links up with another, who links up with another, who links up with another.....
So, in order ot do most of my schoolwork, I go to the bookstore internet cafe, buy a latte, get the password for the day and enter into the world of high-speed internet. I sometimes spend over 9 hours a day there. I see the breakfast meeting crowd, the lunch crowd, the afternoon shoppers, the Long Trail School kids who get off the bus at the bookstore for lacrosse practice or to be picked up later by parents who are still working. I watch the cafe slowly start to empty out about 5:30 or 6:00.
What a cool video this would be of you, rooted in your coffee shop, watching the day, being involved in your day over the hours. you know, kind of a time-lapse thing.
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