Do you remember back in the day, when we told each other everything and social media didn’t exist? When our journals were public and no one knew where to look for them? Where entries were frequent, and long, and we read them?

Do you remember how we used to write, before the limitations of status updates and 140 characters? Do you remember when we were younger and sharing wasn’t so scary? When the Internet wasn’t somewhere your boss would look for you? And the Internet was a different place entirely, separate from the Real World? Do you remember how free it felt? Do you remember finding each other, complete strangers, and creating bonds that by now have lasted 5, 10, 12 years?

Do you remember when it was all new and exciting? It’s not that Internet any longer. It’s information overload and comments – comments everywhere that make me lose faith in humanity’s ability to not only comprehend the written word, but more importantly the lack of empathy leaves me cold and worried. The Internet – which I loved for the joy and adventure we shared, more than ever it’s gut reaction and taking great pleasure in condemning complete strangers who may have made a mistake. The Internet takes the worst of humanity and combines it with news articles, as if allowing the Great Public to lower the tone is furthering the conversation.

Maybe it was always like this. Maybe I’m becoming bitter and old. Maybe I’ve changed more than the Internet. But it’s not my Internet any longer, it’s not my playground like it used to be. And it feels like I’ve lost something.