The duality of the Internet on the marginalized

Do you remember life before the internet?

On one hand, without the Internet, I wouldn’t have many of the experiences that I have had.  I wouldn’t have had work for as long as I have had, I wouldn’t be going to school right now, and I wouldn’t have had the opportunities to meet so many people who I vibe with.  I’m autistic, immunocompromised, and queer and nonbinary, after all, in Texas of all places, so it’s still not ideal for me to just meet people in person.

So my life before the Internet was lonely, closeted, and filled with me constantly falling ill, even as a child.  I had no friends in real life since I was always different without knowing why.  I had no sense of community as a result.  I had zero way of connecting with people as a kid, which may have contributed to my mental and physical health issues to this day.

If no Internet existed, I may not be on this earth, today, out of the sheer negative impacts of loneliness and not having the opportunity to get to know others like myself.  Although I remember the time before the Internet (though it existed at the time), I do not wish to go back for these very obvious reasons.