Reading 3: Nobody Knows You're a Dog

I've been reading a lot of articles lately that talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of internet communication. On one hand the internet has the ability to bring like minds together from the far reaches treat topics of interest. On the other, people seem to check their manners at the door when they enter into a conversation saying things that they would never dare, nor probably want to, say to a persons face.

Leaving aside the elephant in the room issue of internet predators masquerading about online and other morality-issue problems, there is a breakdown of human communication when online, nobody really knows that you're a dog.

The slightest dissagrement in the blogosphere will unleash a hailstorm of insults and profanity that would never be said in actual conversation. Neighborhood watch PTA member mothers of three will curse heritage and class when their opinion on the latest installment of the Twilight series clashes with another user's.

Then of course there is the complete fabrication of identity. People who create a persona for the mere entertainment of living the virtual world in someone else's shoes.

"On the internet, nobody knows you're a dog."

In my opinion, on the internet EVERYONE is a dog.