Originally posted at Street Prophets
Consider this a "meta-diary", or at least a piece of self-reflection by "Meta-Mahanoy".
With that little caveat out of the way, let me get right to it...
For the last 6 weeks or so I have been on forced hiatus from the Daily Kos community, thanks in no small part to a computer company based in Texas whose name begins with D and ends with LL. Having washed my hands of said company and begun a new adventure with another company, I find myself back among the wired (or wireless, as the case may be).
Over these past 6 weeks I have had ample opportunity to reflect on my relationship to Daily Kos. The ideas and the comments just yearning to be expressed came to me as forcefully as ever, but I found myself lost for an appropriate outlet through which to express them. I longed to drop by Daily Kos, share my ideas and my comments, and participate in the warmth and camaraderie of this unique community.
When the email and chatroom phenomena exploded onto the scene over a decade ago, many predicted the end of "the community" as we then knew it. If instant communication is available from the privacy of one's home, what are the prospects for personal, physical interaction? What will become of us as a society if our relationships occur in "cyberspace"?
We know now, of course, that these apocalyptic predictions were, shall we say, a bit exaggerated. Society did not implode, nor did our children grow up to be terrified of personal interaction. We have adapted to life "online" without depriving ourselves of the basic human need to relate to others.
I submit that - contrary to those early predictions of doom - online entities such as Daily Kos have served to enhance our sense of community rather than threaten to destroy it. Many of us have told stories of feeling alone or isolated within our physical communities only to find a "home" in this community. I know I have shared with many of you how grateful I am to have the opportunity to participate in this community, where I find likeminded souls who share my commitment to progressive politics.
We are indeed fortunate to belong to this community. Weeks away from it have only reinforced my sense of belonging, and I hope each of us will pause to remember how fortunate we are to share the common bonds of progressive ideals, and, yes, even friendship.
Cheers, Kossacks.