Shelby Brown
Jack Hennes
English 191- 17
07 September 2012
Online Communication; A
Weapon Or A Tool?
I got my first computer when I was in 5th grade.
I remember parking myself in front of that illuminating screen for hours at a
time, anxiously waiting for a flashing orange box to pop up in the middle of
the screen, indicating that I had just received a new instant message. I think
my ears would still perk to this day at the sound of the high- pitched “ping”
that accompanied every message that flashed before me. By the time I received
my first computer, all of my friends were already familiar with and avid users
of an instant messaging devise called aim.
Aim was revolutionary in that it was the first way in which I could limitlessly
and indirectly communicate with all of my friends and peers. However, I soon
discovered that such unfiltered communication over the Internet could be
intimidating and dangerous. This realization has affected my writing over
electronic devises today and ultimately served the purpose of teaching me to
write with caution and civility when using the Internet.
When my first computer was set up, I could not wait to hop on and create my new
screen name so I could add all of my friends and begin chatting with them
whenever I wanted. Before receiving this computer, the only means of
communication I had access to was an old home phone that plugged into my
kitchen wall or simply stopping by the neighbor’s house and asking “Wanna
play?” Aim was easy to access, whereas you simply log onto your account, find
your friends who are online, double click on their personalized screen, name
neatly organized in alphabetical order in a long, rectangular box containing
your list of friends, and begin to chat. Writing to peers on a computer was an
enticing and new experience. Messages were kept brief and simple by using
abbreviated words and phrases such as “lol”, “brb”, “omg”, and “ttyl”, a cool
new language that every kid during those days seemed to effortlessly
understand. Instant messaging was also appealing in that there is a comfort in
concealing your words behind a computer screen. I could say absolutely anything
I desired on aim. Not only were my words hidden from those around me because I
did not have to speak them out loud over the phone or in person where my
parents could potentially over hear my conversation and judge or scold me, but
I could also take ease in the fact that communication through writing from
behind a computer screen was indirect. Therefore, I was able to be more confident
in my writing and what I said to others because I was not directly speaking to
them so I did not have to show my true emotions or witness the person’s on the
other end of that radiating square box containing our digital conversation.
This once alluring aspect of aim, however, soon proved to be a misleading and
jeopardous feature of Internet communication.
At first, I used aim instant messaging as a simple way to see what my friends
were up to and discuss the events of our day, however, in time it seemed that
aim was being used increasingly more as a means of confrontation. As I moved
onto middle school especially, I began to notice the language online becoming
increasingly filthier, more derogative, and more offensive due to the fact that
digital conversations over instant messaging were not monitored or filtered. It
was easy to attack someone over instant messaging because parents could not see
your written words and tell you that that is hurtful and not appropriate to say
to someone. Effrontery was also common over aim due to the fact that conflict
was not conducted face to face so it was easy to say disrespectful, insulting
things to others that you would not normally have the confidence to say to
someone in person. I still recall the burning sensation that radiated through
my chest and the way that I could almost feel a scarlet hue seizing my face as
a girl from school’s screen name flashed on my computer screen followed by a
small print line filled with a spiteful combination of words my mother had
always warned me against and tried to protect me from hearing aimed directly at
me. I can’t put all of the blame on other kids at school though. Being a
generally passive, non confrontational person my whole life, I found myself
writing things to people over aim that I would never possess the bravery to say
in real life. After several miserable middle school years being attacked and
attacking others concealed behind a computer screen, I did gain an essential
lesson in learning to conduct all of my future digital writing conscientiously
and congenially.
Communication through digital means is essential in modern society. In fact, it
is nearly impossible to live without. Though Aim’s popularity began to recede
over time, social networks such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter took its’
place as online means of communication and gained prominence in society. Unlike
Aim, however, conversations on social networking sites are broadcasted to all
friends and followers online, forcing me as well as other users to take caution
in what is said about one’s self and others over the Internet because online
words are now instantly publicized. While writing on the Internet is considered
to be a necessary and convenient tool today, it can also be used as a weapon.
Through my bad experience with Internet communication, I did gain the useful
lesson of filtering what I say online because what is posted on the Internet,
stays on the Internet so be cautious about what you write because it can come
back and haunt you.
