I don’t like to get too opinionated on my blog. It’s just a little to early to ruffle any feathers. Besides I’m not up for any cyber fighting. However, I read a tweet the other day cyber-begging for money for a new laptop. Not any laptop mind you, but specifically a Mac laptop because a cheaper option just wouldn’t do. After following little Layla Grace and her final fight with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma cancer, this tweet just rubbed me the wrong way. Now I know, live and let live. You’re probably saying, “it ain’t nunya bizness.” And, in fact, it isn’t. But the appeal for this laptop (remember gotta be a Mac), which was elaborated on the person’s site, was so lame I almost lost my lunch. Yes, I did click through the link in the tweet. I admit I was curious about someone begging for money for a personal laptop. I thought there must be a legitimate reason – some life threatening crisis that only a tricked out Mac Pro would ease. But alas, it was simply a case of two young lovers, separated by the Atlantic, not being able to Skype because of a failing computer. I’m no stranger to long distance relationships and the inherent difficulties in maintaining them. I’d like to think most people would be a little more industrious and creative when faced with an uncomfortable situation like this. After all, back in pre-historic times, circa 2005 A.D., we didn’t have free phone calls with video, much less free calls to another country. But I wax nostalgic. This is 2010. Things have changed. There are traditional land line phones and cell phones with international calling, but I suppose those costs are prohibitive compared to the cost of a Mac Pro. It appears searching for a library or a cyber cafe and settling for the instantaneous email is just too much of an uphill battle. Maybe beg for a netbook instead? And I know I cross the line here, but what about that arcane manner of communication called snail mail? Last I heard it still works. Now here’s the clincher on that. You have to actually sit down with pen and paper, compose your thoughts, write them down and put them in a mail box. Then, Oh God, you have to wait. Sometimes days, even weeks before you get a response. No instant gratification with a letter. How did people do that back in the day? Were lovers less passionate then? No, I think not. Consider for a moment, the anticipation, probably coupled with anxiety, a young girl must have experienced as she waited daily for the post man to deliver a letter from her beau fighting a war in some far off land. Can you imagine the immense pleasure, no utter rapture, that was experienced when she finally fondled that anticipated letter in her trembling hands, only moments away from sitting and reading her lover’s words? Wow, just imagine. Ok, so that was then, this now you say. It is the digital age. But will the world stop, will love fade for the lack of a Skype connection via Mac Pro? When the first line of communication fails is it really all that painful to explore the alternatives? Get used to what really is only a minor inconvenience? Wouldn’t it be better to leave the cyber begging for more worthy causes like helping a dying baby’s family with medical costs? Or sending relief to Haiti or Chili? We do not lack for serious life threatening causes that the power of twitter can help alleviate. Am I being too opinionated? What do you think? And if you do disagree with me, I’ve had my eye on that 27″ screen iMac, a 3000 square foot house on a hill, and a really cute Mercedes Roadster I just don’t think can I live without. Can I count on you to help me out?
