^*Why the Internet is such a part of who I am*

   Such humble beginnings. 300 bps. 1988. First modem. Like giving
   sight to a blind person or waking up one day and suddenly you
   can fly into outerspace without a helmet and no one can stop
   you.

   ...a thin stream of noises streaming down copper wires to other
   computers far far away...

   For the first time, I could talk to people from around the
   world. I could make friends whose real names I never knew, I
   learned how to talk to anybody about anything from any
   background at any time online.

   I learned not to judge, how to understand a multitude of
   perspectives that were different from my own and embrace them;
   "Who is right" and "Who is wrong" became unimportant. What
   became important is the connection of minds in a realm that
   would have been impossible in any other time in the history of
   mankind.

   I'm grateful to have grown as the Internet grew, evolved as it
   evolves. I remember the world before and I got to be a part of
   its public beginnings... and have enjoyed it ever since. I've
   been able to appreciate the new - and also able to see when
   someone is repackaging the same old thing that was around years
   ago, just with a different name, a different interface, all with
   stickers with "New" all over it...

   Things that are *truly* new are rare. When they come along
   though, they are truly amazing and the change the face of
   reality for the whole population.

   This was one of those things. Such humble beginnings.^