(no subject)

The Internet is an odd thing, in that it does not allow forgetfulness or complacency; it makes things which would otherwise be abstract to me suddenly personal. I do not myself know anyone currently deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (at least, not well; several acquaintances of mine are there, or friends-of-friends), so my impression of it is usually the detached view of someone who experiences it as a whole, unable to see the details. On the Internet, however, I stumble, as I did this evening, upon reminders from time to time. Tonight, it was a post on a comics newsboard which I don't usually follow, saying "our friend KurtWagner is in Iraq now. Wish him luck and safety", and suddenly it's personal. I have no idea who this person is, but suddenly it is an individual thing.

I think that is a good thing.