The Internet by Nannette Croce

Recently, I was contacted by someone who read an old book review of mine on Amazon. We’ve continued a correspondence on our common interest, late 19th century American History. In his most recent email my cyberfriend expressed something I’ve felt for a long time.

Isn’t the Internet wonderful?

It is common these days for older writers, as well as many others, to condemn the Internet for a decline in reading among young adults. The Internet does have its drawbacks, but while the last half of the 20th century––most of which I lived through––brought any number of new technologies into our homes, I can’t think of anything, including TV, that rocked my world like the personal computer and the Internet.

It’s easy to forget that as recently as ten years ago book reviews were the purview of the elite. There was no venue for the average reader to express opinions.

My interest in late 19th century history would have dwindled, like my interest in other periods before, along with the limited number of books available in my local bookstores and libraries. I now have access, not just to every new book on the subject, but out of print books as well. I’ve read the original letters of General Sherman archived online, viewed old photos from the Library of Congress and used historical maps to assist my understanding of a battle.

I have engaged in stimulating correspondence with people who share my interests whom I would never have met in my suburban community. My writing has reached people in many different parts of the world, and I number among my closest friends people I’ve never met face to face, like the special women with whom I am sharing this Year of Gratitude

The Case Against Pollyanna by Nannette Croce

These days if you call someone a Pollyanna, it’s not a good thing. Someone who insists on highlighting the good in even the darkest situations grates on people’s nerves.

As I recall from the Disney movie starring Hayley Mills, whenever anyone complained, Pollyanna responded with, “We should be glad though.” The story was meant to be a lesson in positive thinking. So how did the meaning get so turned around?

The truth is, Pollyannas don’t make very good friends, because friends don’t stop friends from venting.

Encouraging a good whine may seem strange in the context of A Year of Gratitude, but it’s one thing to look within ourselves to find what is good in our lives and encourage others to do the same. It’s another to shut down a friend’s healthy vent by reminding her she should be grateful to have kids, a spouse, parents or siblings still living, a job.

Venting may not solve problems, but as the term suggests, an escape valve for pent up frustrations helps us soldier on in circumstances we cannot or would not change, like caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dealing with the stresses of single parenthood.

I am grateful for my friends, both the ones I know in the real world and the ones I know only in my cyber-world, who allow me to vent from time to time, empathizing even when they cannot sympathize. I try to express my gratitude by returning the favor.