What Would "Bloggers" Twain and Franklin Think of the Web?

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By Martha Rosenberg (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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Two years ago?

And the sellers of male enhancement drugs who pepper your mailbox daily because you explored--didn't even buy--getting your allergy pills over the Web?

And don't forget Amazon offering you books on toxic guilt because you searched for "Shane A Dog" but mistyped one letter?

And the "profiling" from so called friends who think you'd enjoy the blog and video links they send--not to mention photos of their nephews and new car?

Nice hobby, sending cyber minutia, if you don't have to work 50 hours a week.

What would Franklin and Twain have thought of "libraries" that make you divulge your name, address and other personal data--Register Now; It's Free--before you can read the information you're interested in?

Only to get advertisements for the next year for your one moment of lapsed anonymity?

What would Franklin and Twain have thought of the Web's literary democracy, or electronic town hall, in which people who differ with a posted article say--by way of disagreement--"blow it out your ass," "right here Buddy," and %$#*^ in Post hoc attacks, pun intended?

Finally, what would men who probably burned their fingers with candle wax reading late into the night have made of the Web's singular two paragraph "stories"?

Which make you click to a new page to read the second paragraph--if you still have the stamina and your lips aren't tired?

What would they think of a cyber wizard asking them after the two paragraphs, "Was this story useful"?

"How would you rate this story?"

And "Would you recommend this story to others?"

Would Twain say the same thing about reading "content" on the Web he did about telling the truth?

The main advantage is you don't have to remember anything?

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