The Internet is a funny place. Perhaps funny isn’t the right word, but it will do for now. With the exception of people I’m met through Aikido and work (directly or via them), pretty much everyone else I know I met online. Technically, the net covers those too: I was contacted about my current job via e-mail and the person who told me about the dojo I go to was someone I learned about online.
I suppose some people might say this is sad. I would argue against that of course.
Because of my job and my little moonlightling work I spend a lot of time at a computer. I would not argue with anyone who said it’s too much time and that I do need strike a better balance, but this is the situation I’m currently in, so I think it’s rather nice that I have met these people online, and become friends, lovers, learned, collaborated, and so on.
What’s ‘funny’ about all this is in a way that is much magnified from meeting people offline you really never know who you will meet – or who is reading your blog.
Case in point, the last comment as of this writing in my previous entry is from someone from Norway. I’m pretty sure I don’t know this person (massive apologies if I do!). I am curious how he found me, though as he practices Budo I am guessing it was the ol’ martial arts connection.
This in and of itself isn’t very remarkable, I was far more touched by Kris’ comment itself than the circumstances of its author. But a connection exists now, however tenuous; who knows where it might lead, and it did give me something to ramble about in this post. 