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One for Community

Oh bugga, I've just split my colostomy bag again. It's the second time this morning - and it's only 7am - and I lay the fault entirely at the feet of society.

Yup, I was having a read about a new high-tech housing development in which all the dwellings will be "connected", to use the buzz word, and residents can get in touch with each other via an intranet.

That's handy, thought I, fast internet connection, have a chat with a mate, great stuff.

Then I read a really quite absurd - not to mention chilling - thing. According to those associated with the development, the intranet connections would make it easier to talk to your neighbours (!?!) and would foster a feeling of community (!?!).

Just in case you missed it I'll repeat them.

The intranet connections would make it easier to talk to your neighbours (!?!) and would foster a feeling of community (!?!).

Now I don't know about you guys but there are times I don't want to talk to my neighbours. Some of them are a horrible lot and I wince everytime we pass in the corridor because they'll want to bore me poopless over their in-grown toenail, or haemorrhoids, or itchy-crotch syndrom or... well, you get the picture.

More importantly, however, when I do want to chat and be sociable I have always found it best to speak to people face to face. It's polite, it's pleasant and it builds friendships as you get to know and feel comfortable with each other.

The very idea that a community can be built on talking electronically - and not over a cuppa or a brew - is ludicrous and if we sit back and let people come out with such tripe we deserve the insular and soulless society we are living in.

We've got to put a bit of effort in and get back into the community. That could be coaching junior footy, tidying up the local park, doing lollipop duty at school crossings, cutting the grass at the old chap's on the corner, saying hello and smiling to people at the shops.

Well, okay, the smiling bit may be a bit rich - and yes, saying hello to some smelly git may bring unwanted attention and a decent whiff of halitosis - but at least it has us dealing with people and not some screen.

Even thinking about it now is stretching my bag to the limit.

If there is something that has really got up your nose, let Grumpy Old Coot know at grumpy@webwombat.com