Choice Challenge

Fired at first sight with all the Net imparts
in dial-up mode we suffered, half-resigned,
intrepidly all surfed by fits and starts,
unfurled new u.r.l. blue underlined.
To surf with mirth the internaut departs
to world wide web with novelty designed.
Unused to hypertext, at first each charts
from chat to games, from games to chat’s fine arts,
new territory, numbers, names assigned.
Then, signets structured, searches more refined,
online purchase supermarket carts
are tested, tried, the novice left behind.

Through double clicks the tricks of mice and men
we learned, and, learning, Pavloved modem’s ring
salivating more, constraints with zen
treating till dsl became ‘the thing’.
To USENET then to Prodigy, and then
to Compuserve would super-surfer cling,
subscription tied till bubble market’s ken
puffed model free – whose praises all could sing.
From site to site attention swift would (s)wing
its way with more to test or try again -
absorbing “this” or thinking “that's” a thing
undeserving of attention’s pen.

As surf advanced we witnessed with surprise
that boundaries traditionnal fell flat.
Far near became, Komodo Dragon's cries
appeared as common as the alley cat,
its habitat familiar to surmise
as sleepless sighs or lovers' tit for tat.
Identity protection ? Some, more wise,
Magellan sailing with mosaic hat,
soon banished cookies, surfed on in disguise,
with Google, patience lost, were driven bats.
From worm the early bird was spared, from lies,
from virus, Trojan horse, spam, bot spy stats.

Once storage space was very, very low, -
though ‘netiquette’ prevailed in spam free states,
and download rates excruciating slow.
Soon science fiction world which dissipates
delays and pays itself on ads will flow
seamlessly; - access all accomodates.
There to grave from cradle all will know
their place, in grid gaol gathered, - dire straits -
with nowhere left go, or hide, or sow
the seeds of independent thought. The dates
of life and death extended may bestow
new paradoxes none anticipates.

From modem slow to ubiquity
on call installed, mandating plug and play,
most are migrating as the century
ushers in a different state of play
where everyone to everything may be
connected – yet what what risks, rewards, today
are seen ? what threats ? what opportunity ?
behind the barter where we piper pay
indirectly. Recording industry
copyright strangles peer-to-peer at bay.
What free remains when governments with glee
Minority Report t(r)aps every day ?

From ‘place to place’ – the model history
accustomed all who sojourned on this earth –
man must adjust, the term RFID
pervasive, tags implanted from our birth,
are here to stay. The part these parts play we
must predefine, control, - their role, their worth,
cannot be left to greed’s monopoly,
abrogating ‘privacy’, whose dearth
is proof of dictatorial decree,
falls witness-victim sacrificed, with mirth
silenced on altar of “Security”.

The links each thinks (s)he inks as trace unique,
sustaining individuality, -
those links enchain the double helix freak
as Brave New World Big Browser to a T
ties down. The clown is exiled and the weak
become more weak, see their fragility.
For double bind as well as double speak
within a globalized economy
their tentacles extend, control now seek
through cartel, organized monoply.
Where, where is gone attraction and mystique,
of “Internet for All” in liberty ?

Tomorrow’s mobile networks well may s(t)ing -
with nano chips to filter out all pain -
emotions, read between mind's lines, to cling
like moss to psycho psyché-stone, while brain
analysis of sub-atomic string
could all neuronic mysteries explain.
Minute implanted tracing tags could bring
a new dimension to existence, train
mankind to telekinesis and ping
from ISP to ESP, maintain
a dialogue embracing everything
without the need for coded speech or plain.

In the domain of ‘Disabilities’ -
or ‘Special Needs’ – inclusion is a theme
which may stand out as positive, which frees
from walls and calls within, converting dream
to individual realities
as sight and sound enhancement soon could seem
empowerment for those who, ill at ease,
today through struggle suffer pain extreme,
who even daily practicalities
must face with courage, exiled from ‘home team’.
Yet ‘beggars can’t be choosers’, and some keys
constructive could unlock true self-esteem.

Yet Special Needs and medical advance
form only part of life – one hundred years
on Earth may hell become with “freedom”, “chance”,
deleted from the dictionary, if fears
for job, retirement benefits, nuance
the Zeitgeist of tomorrow, if careers
depend on lifelong learning where perchance
access thereto’s restricted or appears
reward for dumb allegiance, quickstep dance
designed for who to party line adheres.
What would, the eighties’ fer de lance,
would greet the current context with three cheers ?

‘Choice’ and ‘Challenge’ generations face,
‘Challenge’, ‘Choice’, repeated as each tries
to overcome their heritage and trace
fresh writing on the wall and realize
goals attained, suspending ‘time’ and ‘place’
ambitions universal recognized.
Most must, corrupted, witness their disgrace
ambitions high attainted, compromised,
as age controls what youth yearns to replace.
Climatic change for Nature’s scant surprise,
climactic phase awaits the human race,
prized principles, alas, cut down to size.

Although this overview to optimist
may seem exaggerated, much too strong,
societal equations out of twist,
with progress’ spit manipulated prong
may roast man’s boast of freedom. Who’ll resist ?
Technologies emerging – hear doom’s gong,
convergence, acting as a catalyst, -
their sum implies that there is something wrong
in Denmark’s state, in hamlet, city, ‘kissed
by the sun and morning dew’ whose song -
too passive – risks perversion. Who’ll insist
on high ideals, or struggle very long,
when threatened with exclusion, from a list
pricked for delinking, from right to belong ?

A risk/reward conundrum is not new,
each generation met the challenge where
the context – time and distance – all well knew,
in common held by friend, foe, everywhere.
Upon the cusp of change momentous through
ubiquitous computing we must spare
no effort comprehending out of cue
powerplay conditions leave most bare,
with oversight rejected by the few, -
must plan while we still find time to prepare,
anticipating mind-sets all askew
according to the tenets most now share.

The times are changing, shifting paradigm
accelerates cause-and-effect equation,
opens Pandora’s box from the sublime
to the ridiculous, grabs each occasion
to highlight contradictions - powder prime
linking the bomb of Internet invasion
to new technologies’ emerging clime.
Societies, black, western, arab, asian,
are stretched by birth pang cries as auld lang syne
offers no escape, polite evasion.
Don’t underestimate the dangers that this rhyme
tones down to tune to intimate persuasion.

There is no moral to this tale, no guide
on how to act, - fact, fiction tell apart.
The future’s pages only will provide
the blog recording how each played a part
protecting (as we see it) what world wide
is just, is open sharing. Each should start
reflecting on true choice, not set aside
these challenges through laziness, nor, smart,
seek to outplay the odds, nor hitch free ride
upon the back of privilege. Let heart
explore all open options, shed false pride
before face pales, pulse fails, - time to depart.

2 March 2001 substantially expanded and rewritten 14 September 2006

(c) Jonathan Robin 2001 - 2006