The Internet is a Beautiful Place

For my "re-introduction" to blogging and to the Internet, I thought it would be fitting to write about why the Internet is beautiful.

Four days ago, I came across this post on Reddit. Basically, a man's mother had just passed away from cancer, and he was looking for help with retouching the last picture taken of her because her oxygen cannula was in the shot.

The response he got was absolutely astounding. There are over a thousand replies on this thread (4 days, 1000+ replies!), all offering their help, condolences, and kind words. One person edited out the cannula, the next person used that Photoshopped image to fix something by her arm, then another person used the image to fix the lighting, then fix red-eye, then fix a chair... All these people are collaborating on this website, building off of each other's work, to make this picture -- the last picture a man has with his mother -- as perfect as possible.

All of these people are strangers to one another, but they came together and worked together to do something beautiful.

This is the last edit on the man's original request post:

My family is so touched. When I posted I expected a few replies but for over a thousand people to help with the photo, offer condolences, or say how beautiful mom's smile was is overwhelming. I wish I could take the time to thank each person individually but cannot so I will say it here. Thank you. This was a picture from my 40th birthday right before things got bad. She has so happy. She was a wonderful mother and a wonderful person. I have always visited Reddit, but will now consider it home.

Sure, sometimes the Internet is an outlet (or even a tool) for very terrible things, but I think for me, for the most part, it's highlighted the good of humanity and taught me to be a more open-minded, caring, self-aware person.

I also experienced some "good of humanity" in "real life" today. I'm having trouble completing a final project and I really wanted to meet with my professor today, but I had to work during his office hours. I sent an e-mail to my unit yesterday hoping for a sub, but no one was able to take my shift. While I was working, I got an e-mail from my professor with extensive answers to my questions. Then the person who works the shift after mine came by and asked whether I'd found a sub, and offered to work my remaining hour for me so I could talk to my professor. I found out later that he'd just gotten back from subbing another shift somewhere else on campus and the first thing he did was think of me and the fact that I might've needed help.

It was so incredibly nice and thoughtful of him (and my professor for e-mailing me, as well).

I think it's a good thing to remember these moments -- to highlight them and appreciate them. These are moments that really give me the energy to "keep on keepin' on." These are the moments that make me proud to be part of this world. :)