Raison D'être

As I start to gather and arrange my thoughts for an anticipated online audience, I wanted to share my reasons for starting this blog. Over the past several years, I've become a fan of this format of 'digital disclosure'. I felt this to be a realization of one of the most popular selling points for the Internet given 'so many moons ago': anyone with access to a computer and a modem could craft and post their opinions to the entire world--no matter how trite or non-conformist they might be--without threat of censure.

This modern method of informal and impromptu communications reminds me of similar activities I used to see in London's Hyde Park back in the pre-'web' 1980s. On any given day, you could find a wide range of people engaging in the exercising of free speech within its boundaries. Communists and anarchists might be seen just a few feet away from monarchists or fascists; athiests were often within audible range of doomsday prognosticators. The only tools they needed were a milk crate to stand on, a sign to advertise their support or opposition to a cause or action, and perhaps a little flask of 'liquid confidence' to reduce any public speaking fears.

This practice still continues today, although I cannot see the allure of standing outside in the rain or cold when you could the same kind of thing in the provacy of your own home--robe and slippers are optional.