As I wastch the growing hysteria (which may be justified) about the Swine Flu I have been pondering about how while the internet has been a boon for information junkies like myself, it has introduced new levels of anxiety for others.
The average internet user is not some boffin locked away in their ivory tower, but the average Joe(sephine). These people are as children, with no filter mechinism between themselves and the information being provided. When big media was King, that was mostly managed under by judicious(?) release of “news” under the watchful eye of governmental controls. Not so the internet.
Before anyone freaks out and thinks I am advocating censorship, I will state categorically that is NOT what I am saying. I am musing on how those that swallow everything the internet says and treats it as gospel truth. At the moment these people think the sky is falling, because a million uninformed people say it is. Education is the key (and always is), though for this generation of internet users…it’s probably too late. Time to start teaching mental self protection in schools. “Grain of Salt” thinking.
Planned and executed my exit from the corporate world. Walked away with a 6 figure payment to boot.