Frank's Musings

Reading and the Web

The real weakness of literacy on the Internet is the lack of professional editing and criticism. The narratives one reads on the Web, often supplied by undisclosed authors, are not vetted for spelling, grammar, syntax, accuracy or authoritativeness. Moreover, instant reactions are invited that may be checked only for decency. This is little better than street-corner palaver and certainly does not foster intellectual rigor or refined standards of analysis.

The Internet demonstrates that you get what you pay for. Society is paying the price for allowing its youth to linger in electronic hangouts where fantasy and self-indulgence can be enjoyed because parents and guardians believe there is no danger of immediate physical harm. If discipline is not imposed on this behavior to limit it as an escape from the painful work of learning and skill development, the Internet may end up creating more human targets for criminal exploitation than intelligent leaders enriched by easily accessible information and opinion.