Attack Of The Digital Zombies

“Have you guys ever thought about how we’re all turning into digital zombies?” Steve asked

“No, what does that even mean?” I asked

“Everything is digital now, everything is online, people can’t tell the difference anymore between the internet and real life.”

Arthur couldn’t help himself, “That might be the dumbest thing you’ve ever said. Technology and innovation are what got us out of the caves, the advances we are making today will lead us to bigger and better things, the internet is good.”

“Is it? Every time I go online it seems like everyone is mad about something, and accusing everyone of being Hitler.” Steve said.

“Well yeah that happens all the time,” Arthur couldn’t deny that fact, “But there are so many good things about the internet that a few angry people should be the reason we abandon it altogether.”

Steve looked at me, “What do you think?”

“I can see both sides, the internet could be used for good but it usually isn’t.”

“Exactly,” Steve said, “People are using it to spread hate and misinformation to make themselves feel better or just to make money, it’s a shame.”

“Again, you focusing on the wrong things.” Arthur was visibly distressed at this point. “The phone you use, and pretty much everything else we use is powered by the internet. If we got rid of it we would be back in the stone age. I don’t think you understand how ingrained the internet is in our daily lives.”

“I do understand, that’s why I’m so worried.”

These types of disputes are not uncommon between these two, but this one seemed to be getting more heated than usual.

“I mean you’re both kind of right in a way,” I said, in an effort to diffuse the situation.

“No, he’s not right,” Arthur said, he’s just a hippy loser who doesn’t do anything with his life so doesn’t need the internet. Some of us have jobs and things to do.”

“I have a job. Sometimes.” Steve replied.

Things were starting to get personal, I had to step in.

“Guys, one thing I know for sure is you two idiots arguing about this isn’t going to solve anything. The only way to improve the situation is to think more.”

They both seemed interested to hear what I had to say.

“One of the good things about the internet is also one of the worst, connecting people. Anyone can go online and find a group of people who think and believe the same things they do.

That’s good, everyone needs a community. The downside is once we have our group we look to attack anyone who doesn’t think like us. We allow anger and emotion to take over and just react to what we see and hear. That’s why thinking and listening are the keys to improving life.”

“How do we do that?” Steve asked

I paused for a second to think of an answer, none came.

“I don’t know.”

“Yeah because all this talk of feeling and emotion has no place in the digital age, we only care about innovation and making money; that is why the internet is the greatest invention we have ever created,” Arthur said. “It makes life easier and we can get rich.”

“Yeah, but, if all we care about is making more crap just to make more money we are missing the point of life. Maybe for some people, the meaning of life is having billions of dollars to blow on whatever they want. But there is more to life than money and things.

The more we fight and scratch to get more money and outdo others the farther we get from happiness and meaning in life. I’m not saying we should get rid of the internet, but people need to turn it off once in a while. The lack of human interaction makes it easier to hate others and say mean things to them because we don’t have to face any repercussions.

We’re all people trying to get by, doing the best we can, but we can never hate our way to happiness.”

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