Peace be with you, and also with you.
Although I didn’t grow up Catholic, I have attended many a Sunday mass while visiting my grandparents when I was young.
I sang the songs, said the chants, did the whole stand-sit-kneel thing for years.
Yet, I never understood why I was doing it — probably because I never went through Catholic studies and confirmation.
I always felt left out when it came to the eating and drinking part. But I digress.
While I may not fully understand Catholicism, I do fully understand the Internet.
The Internet can be a wonderful place full of knowledge, insight and fun. Yet, the use of anonymity on the Web is a powerful and dangerous tool.
Some people create a whole new persona for themselves on the Internet, while some use it to speak their mind or blast others’ opinions while keeping their identity secret.
Some “trolls” just like to stir up trouble for the sake of upsetting as many people as possible.
Fellow Columnist Kelly Hotard wrote a terrific piece last semester challenging people to express their own opinion while not hiding behind this facade.
And I agree — to an extent.
Yet, I don’t think the words of two columnists reach out very far in the vast expanse of the Internet.
Luckily for us, the Pope decided to chime in on the debate in an address given last Monday titled “Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age.”
In the address, Pope Benedict XVI warned against “excessive exposure to the virtual world” and advised against giving “in to the illusion of constructing an artificial persona for oneself.”
Obviously, the Pope has never visited 4chan — a site based on the foundation of anonymity.
I can see where the Pope is coming from, but it almost seems he’s simply grasping at straws.
I’m sure many of his devout followers will take great heed to his words, but, then again, they most likely aren’t the people with which he should be concerned.
Personally, I try to be myself on the Internet because I have no problem with who I am.
Unfortunately, it seems many other people can’t say the same thing.
Aside from all the fake Facebook, MySpace (if anyone uses it anymore) and Twitter accounts, there are also the millions of people posting to forums and news sites.
While it would seem like a great idea to be able to match a name with a forum post, one would have to assume the Internet is only filled with civil, philosophical debates.
News flash: It isn’t.
The Pope should stick to his whole stand-sit-kneel thing and leave the Internet to the trolls.
So what if someone’s life is so awesome they feel the need to create another one in “Second Life” and have it consume their life?
Is it the best thing for them? Probably not, but any addiction — cigarettes,
alcohol, video games, porn, even religion — can be dangerous to people in excess.
While the Pope may not see the Internet as a whole as bad, anyone can see the dangers lurking around the corner.
Sure, the Internet hasn’t been around as long as the Catholic church, but both seem to be
thriving just fine.
The Pope and the Vatican should go back to OK’ing condoms and glorifying Homer Simpson, and let me get back to my Facebook and Twitter, my way.
So peace be with you, and also with you, and also with the digital you.
Adam Arinder is a 21-year-old communication studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
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Contact Adam Arinder at
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