[lighthead2toe]

This topic has obviously sparked some serious controversy about the way things can go awry on the internet and create possible unnecessary bad feelings about others without having an opportunity to meet them in person and I say this because of an experience that really opened my mind to the way the wired world is going that I want to to share.
Jennifer I hope you read this because being a Gordon Lightfoot fan as the rest of us I sincerely wish you no ill will as it's his music that's built this wonderful network of fans and once again I extend the hand to you join us in person at the earliest opportunity so we all can feel much happier.
So, on with the story:

When my son was twelve years old I took him to a comic convention in downtown Toronto as he was an aspiring artist and into comic art at that time.
The convention was being held in the Westin Hotel and on the main floor there was a room where the latest thing in comic art was about to be shown on a big screen and we took seats in the room.
My interest was drawn more to the way comments were being thrown around the room by several of the folks watching, most of who were much younger that me, and my son was also watching and threw in his two cents also. There was a serious conversation going on there but nobody really knew just exactly who they were talking to.
After about twenty minutes the video was over and everyone walked out of the room and no one knew who it was that they had spoken to and didn't even seem to care.
It was to me a totally abstract experience.
Now that really, really freaked me completely out and still does to this day.
My son at the time had difficulty understanding why I was troubled but I had to explain to him that the absence of personal contact with those who were communicating with each other was a loss to all those who took the time to sit there for the twenty minutes and watch the show.
Everything was just bounced off the big screen and that's where all eyes were glued and the lack of personal contact I found very troubling.
I told him that if I got that involved in the commentary I would at least like to have had the opportunity to make personal contact with those folks to whom I'd spoken, introduce myself, shake hands and try and in some way try and stay connected.
But the way the world is going with all the toys out there, just about everyone walking down the street these days seems to be plugged into something or other.
The wonderful thing about connecting with Gordon Lightfoot fans in the concert hall is once that first chord is struck, once that first lyric comes out, once the songs begin to roll, all comes together and the party is on. That's what this group is all about and the shortcomings that come in between us well, may they stay forever, very short. Sincerely, Ron Jones.