The Internet: We help each other here.
Aug. 21st, 2013 11:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
algRecently, an image has been floating around the parts of Tumblr where I hang out. It's Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and at the very bottom (ie, where the most important, life-giving thing is supposed to be) someone has drawn an extra piece of the triangle and added "WI-FI". Every time I see it, someone is saying they relate to that, and that they're embarrassed to relate to it, or ashamed, or feel stupid.
So I reblogged it with some commentary, because that's a lot of bullshit right there. Here's the text of my Tumblr post, and the original Tumblr post I made (that's my fandom Tumblr, so clicking around it will likely be NSFW, fyi).
I have seen this a lot. And I want to say something: Stop.
For a lot of people, a connection to the internet is how they find food and shelter and warmth. A connection to the internet is how they find security, stability, and a freedom from fear — a place to live, people who will help protect them. Psychological and emotional support.
The internet connection is how we find belonging and love — for many of us, this is where our chosen family lives. It’s where we find self-esteem because it’s where we learn, where we share our mastery, where we get the recognition and respect that meatspace society doesn’t offer us. This is where we pursue our inner talents, find fulfillment.
I’m in the privileged position of never having needed (so far, knock wood) to post a request for help from strangers because I can’t pay my rent, because I need a safe place to stay where people won’t hurt my body — we’ve all seen the posts from people who need our help. Who helps them in meatspace? No one. Who helps them on the internet? WE DO. WE HELP EACH OTHER HERE.
Note: Yes, having the internet and devices to use it makes you privileged in some ways. But that doesn't make you less privileged in others. Intersectionality, baby.
So I reblogged it with some commentary, because that's a lot of bullshit right there. Here's the text of my Tumblr post, and the original Tumblr post I made (that's my fandom Tumblr, so clicking around it will likely be NSFW, fyi).
I have seen this a lot. And I want to say something: Stop.
For a lot of people, a connection to the internet is how they find food and shelter and warmth. A connection to the internet is how they find security, stability, and a freedom from fear — a place to live, people who will help protect them. Psychological and emotional support.
The internet connection is how we find belonging and love — for many of us, this is where our chosen family lives. It’s where we find self-esteem because it’s where we learn, where we share our mastery, where we get the recognition and respect that meatspace society doesn’t offer us. This is where we pursue our inner talents, find fulfillment.
I’m in the privileged position of never having needed (so far, knock wood) to post a request for help from strangers because I can’t pay my rent, because I need a safe place to stay where people won’t hurt my body — we’ve all seen the posts from people who need our help. Who helps them in meatspace? No one. Who helps them on the internet? WE DO. WE HELP EACH OTHER HERE.
Note: Yes, having the internet and devices to use it makes you privileged in some ways. But that doesn't make you less privileged in others. Intersectionality, baby.