My father was an early adopter in home computers, dial-up internet, and IRC communities. While we weren’t poor, our lives weren’t exactly laden with many luxuries. My father saw computers as something to learn from and use as an advantage that other people in our income bracket didn’t have.<p>And so I grew up with the internet, chatting on forums, instant messengers, and even MMORPGs. Aside from a few friends from school, my social network was online. People like me who grew up in communities that didn’t understand them whether they were nerdy, queer, or just non religious.<p>In my opinion, the Midwest is a cold, lonely place to grow up without the internet. I’m a queer agnostic narcoleptic without a drivers license —- AKA absolutely screwed for social connections in the Midwest.<p>I’m sure the author is speaking his truth. I just don’t think he can appreciate what technology has done for people that weren't served by traditional societies. The silence of an open field reminds me of how alone my home town made me feel. The silence of a church weighs heavy on the person considered most sinful. Some of us were born on the internet and our lives are better for it.