The Man Without a Face(book)

I finally did it, cut loose from at least part of the internet. I didn't realize how long I had been posting to Facebook, or how little attention I had paid to it lately. Found a few old friends, one found me, shared photos, generally kept up with a small but steady circle of acquaintances.

Now we're through. This latest batch of news about data-mining was the proverbial final straw. Not that I am under any real illusion that I can crawl back under my rock -- my spoor is everywhere, every place I go on line, probably every transaction is being eyed by someone. Still, it's a start. And, like I said, I didn't pay it much mind anymore. Most of the savvy people have moved on to things I really don't know much about.

In fact, I actually remember days in which if one wished to be alone one got in the car. Or went for a walk. In fact, for a year or so I had no television, no telephone even -- the operant theory then was if someone wanted to get in touch with you, they would come see you. Didn't work all that well, maybe I just didn't have the friends I thought I did. But it was quiet at least. And I had my turntable and FM radio for company.

And when I was in the mountains of the Hindu Kush, the idea of being in instant touch with anyone was absurd -- now people can call or google map from Mt. Everest (or whatever its less-colonial name may be). I spent a whole summer in Afghanistan in its halcyon, pre-invasion days, and my only contact with home was a letter or few that took a week to get home and a week to get a reply. If it were an emergency the Embassy might be able to establish radio contact.

This is not tirade against the internet age. Far from it. This very blog proves otherwise. But it is fascinating to me how much life has changed so quickly and subtly. I have a really nice 35-mm camera gathering dust in my closet; my android takes photos that are just as sharp, and is far easier to use. And the idea of dropping film off to be developed is quaint, even to me.

To coin a phrase, it's a brave new world. I'm not sure I totally approve, but then no one asked me.