Is it not strange...

...that people find safety in the anonymity of the Internet? I know many of the stories of people I've met through the Internet. Some of these stories concern details that these people might never want associated with them in "real life". My inner-psychologist finds it entertaining.

I know it has everything to do with being anonymous. One's inhibitions are lessoned when typing personal things onto a computer screen, rather like they are when writing into a diary or journal. The only difference being the accessibility of these thoughts: instead of worrying about a younger sibiling breaking the padlock on ones journal, the Internet brings global accessibility of information. From any internet cafe in the world, be it in Mali, Beijing, or Braidwood, public information can be accessed.

No doubt internet privacy is like the heavily encrypted transactions used in web-purchases: in theory, it could be cracked, but first someone needs to be listening for one thread out of a skein.