[Prev|Next|Index]2/22/96, beisner@iti2.net, Grand Junction, Colorado



Being A Netizen

     By Barbara Eisner

     My name is Barbara. I'm an addict. There, I've finally admitted
     it. Yes, I'm an Internet addict, a netaholic. I got my highs on
     Prodigy and America On Line for a few years; but, now I get the
     primo stuff direct. :) Seriously, I signed up with ITI2, a local
     Internet Service Provider at the beginning of this last July and
     haven't regretted it one moment since.

     I've been doing all sorts of things, some almost unbelievable.
     I've been running Internet Phone since August, and playing around
     with other similar applications, such as Web Phone and Cyberphone
     the last month or so. I've found that each has its positive as
     well as negative aspects. But please don't ask me to compare yet.

     I've also gone into Alpha World, a 3-D virtual reality chat
     program, where you can actually "own" property and build upon it.

     Now, I haven't even mentioned the World Wide Web which is one of
     the most fantastic things of all. It enables you to access the
     net easily and takes you all over the world. You can find
     information, games, or anything about any subject.

     But there's one thing I've come to believe in the last seven
     months. I believe that the Internet (more specifically,
     applications such as Iphone) will be responsible for people to
     start thinking of themselves as citizens of the world or planet,
     rather than a citizen of a particular nation.

     I've spoken to so many people on the Iphone from all over the
     world, not to mention the United States: Israel, Britian, Borneo,
     South Africa, Bejing, Russia, Korea, Japan, Canada, Brazil,
     Germany, to name just a few. We talk as though we're just across
     town from each other! I think this kind of application is the
     most gratifying all!

     When I think that all we have accomplished on the Net and our
     Freedom of Speech that we have cherished so for the last one
     hundred-twenty years is in jeopardy at this very moment, it makes
     me sad and, frankly horrifies me. I do hope that this moment in
     history will remain just a moment in history; and, that we will
     continue to be proud of this one special freedom which we hold
     dear.

     Barbara beisner@iti2.net