Loneliness

Loneliness is something that most of us can chose to be but for different reasons. These reasons can be explained from Roger Ebert's perspective in his article, "All of the Lonely People." (Click Here to read and click here for the follow up article). Some of us choose to be alone with a good book or the internet even when we have the oppurtinity to go out and interact with the world. Why? Because it makes us happy and there isn't anything wrong with it. Ebert stated, "Just because you're afraid to go outside doesnt mean you're happy inside." Sometimes you have to take the risk of leaving your good comfort zone to reach a better place for you. I really liked that because it made me think of everything I could be if I just took the risk.

However, some people don't have it as easy. Their physical disabilities may cause them to constantly lay in bed all day alone. But they still find other ways to interact and not be lonely. They not only have the choice to be with friends and family but with strangers on the internet. In Ezra Klein's article, "Being 'fully human' online," he talks about Robbie Cooper using the internet as his way of being normal (click here to read). He can use his hands, fight monsters, and ride motorcycles. All of those are far from possible in his real life. Cooper describes the computer screen as being his window to the world.

When I first think about the internet, I think of people pretending to be someone else to fit in. But I never really thought about the millions of people on the internet being lonely. Personally, I treasure the alone time I have like Ebert. It gives me a chance to think, be myself, wander around and appreciate everything that I have. It really made me think when Ebert talked about comfort groups for lonely people. The quote, "When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone," by Williams Tennessee, came into my mind. Now there is one question I have to ask you, are you lonely?