Internet Crazy

Now that the conference on Internet & Politics is over, I have time to sit back and collect some of my thoughts, at least those that I had not lost at the conference. There were a few good speakers, but I have to admit that toward the end I was happy it was over. It is a lot to digest, and especially in my case where I have to write up a quick report before the next day, there was some stress as well. In spite of all this, as I sum up everything that I have seen and heard, I am surprised to find that I did learn something. This bit of knowledge, however, I wouldn't classify as something directly related to the theme of Internet & Politics. Indirectly, maybe; rather, what I found I had learnt is something that helps me to understand Americans better, especially those who are so enthusiastic about the Internet.

The main person responsible for this bit of enlightenment is Mr. Israel Rosenfield, a speaker in the morning session on the last day of the conference. His psychological analysis of the Internet and its use was unique. Basically, what I learned from his talk is something that I have always felt deep inside, but have never been able to explore that much in depth: and this is, Americans are neurotic. This is something that many (both within and without North America) may have already noticed. The world is a scary place for the average American, and their insistence on having a McDonald's wherever they go is not only an expression of their neo-imperialism, but also of the fact that they need some of the trappings of home close at hand, otherwise they would breakdown completely.

The most noticeable attribute about Americans is that they don't listen. This has to do with the fact that only they exist, and no one else can be of any importance, with the exception of perhaps another American. Yet even then, the individual is a world unto him/herself. In Hungary, as in most other areas of Central/Eastern Europe (not to mention most of the world, for that matter) the peculiarity of Americans can be felt at the outset, with the first greetings. When asked "how do you do?", a Hungarian will tell you what s/he actually thinks. An American, meanwhile, would not have listened to a word you said. You can say how shit you feel, your dog died, your grandmother got pregnant, or whatever, and an American would just look at you and smile, "oh, that's nice." Conversely, don't expect to get anything out of an American. If you ask her/him how they are, they will just say "oh, fine" with a smile, despite the fact that their spouse had just ran away with your best friend and their house was burned to the ground. In America, everything is fine, and fine with a smile. At one point, this had got to such absurd levels that little smiley faces, with a "have a nice day" under it was found almost everywhere: on cars, shop windows, etc.

Americans are terribly individualistic; so much so, that it is hard to actually know what one thinks or feels. In order to do that, you have to have a to be a trained psychiatrist and charge them for the session. Personally, I prefer the Hungarian method of psychiatry: you go out with your friends and get pissed drunk. There is nothing like praying to the porcelain goddess to purge your inner soul of what is troubling you, not to mention any solid or liquid matter that can be found lingering in your stomach.

Ironically, the time when Americans are more communicative is when they shouldn't be. Sitting in a restaurant, your waitress or waiter will undoubtedly come up to you with a smile, tell you her/his name, and start chatting with you. Now, I can't for the life of me see why the hell I have to be so socialable in a situation which, under the rules and regulations of capitalism, is nothing more than a contractual period for services. I don't give a damn what his/her name is, and I'm certainly not going to give her/him mine.

At this point, some of you are quietly nodding your head in acknowledgment or, if you happen to be an average American, you wouldn't have got down to this part and most probably never will. Well, this is where the Internet comes in. We all hear the statistics about how many Americans are on-line, in what unique places computers are making an impact, and all that rubbish. Along with these impressive statistics is the explanation that America is an affluent country, hardwae and software is cheap, and so forth. Ok, fine. But I have an alternative explanation, which perhaps goes even deeper. Here it is: the Internet is popular in the America because it reinforces their insularity.

One thing that Mr. Rosenfield said which bears with it more than just a kernel of truth is that those who use the Internet - American and other forms of life - are self-centered. In the US, this is merely a reflection of their society. Americans love to hide behind masks, they are afraid of the world outside. As long as no-one can see them, they feel safe. Also, they don't have to worry about accidentally betraying their feelings, that is, showing themselves to be human, like the rest of us. Is it any wonder, then, that Americans are so optimistic about the Internet, thinking that it will break down barriers? For in a way, it has. Now Americans can travel and live safely in other countries, for they are not far away from home. In fact, they wouldn't even recognize the fact that they are living in a foreign country. The Internet helps to blur this distinction for them. Not only can they get American food abroad, they can now get American entertainment, news, conversation, etc. For them, it really is a global village - a global American village, that is.

Unfortunately for Americans, as they retreat further into their shell, the outside world becomes an even scarier place than before. Can you imagine an American on the plains of Mongolia? Even the food is so "un" American. This American neurosis was best expressed by Esther Dyson in her article in the Washington Post at the beginning of the year, where she wrote, referring to the US: "yes, we do have a great democracy one I appreciate all the more as I visit other countries." Ah yes, God bless America! But this is not all. The title of her article is further indicative of the presumptuous attitude of Americans: "And Now, a Word From Some Fellow Americans." By the way, Ms Dyson, have you never considered that other members of the human race may read the Washington Post once in a while?

While I'm on the subject of Ms Dyson, I have to bring up another point which is important and ties in with the end of this article. It also has some relevance to the theme of Internet & Politics. Her speech at the conference was full of the usual American breast-beating, so much so that it was hard to take anything she said seriously. Nevertheless, her speech was a dangerous one. Her dewy-eyed, romantic view of the East veils serious economic and political problems that people in the region are facing. Real wages have been continually falling, and the austerity measures have only just begun. Extremist, nationalist forces are encroaching upon the political scene, and if the west is not careful democracy might be in jepoardy. In fact, it already is. People love to mention the Serbian "revolution", as proof that all you need is the Internet and that dictators can't keep the genuine democratic aspirations of a people down. Yet whatever happened to Belarus? There, the president seized power for himself in such an authoritarian manner that it makes Milosovic look like a democrat. Where were the web sites?

Dyson's call for businesses to "go east" can only exacberate a situation in Central and Eastern Europe that can be best described as fragile. There is a growing ani-foreigner senitment throughout the region, for foreigners are being blamed, and in some cases justifiably, for the high rate of unemployment and the overall shattered state of the economy. They are bitter because the economic prosperity that was promised to them is nowhere in sight. Furthermore, they are beginning to see themselves as being exploited, and the idea of the Internet which is the backbone of the global economy can only have negative political consequences at this point in time.

Together with their sheltered view of the world outside, Americans are taking on attitudes that can only be seen as a threat to democracy. Their insularity prevents them from seeing what is happening in the real world. If the real world collapses they will simply retreat further into their shell, and subsequently express bewilderment and wonder at what went wrong.