Overheard: Cyberia
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Scene: Cyberia, at 39 Whitfield St, W1, the cafe which offers computer facilities to access Internet, the worldwide information network. The blonde woman behind the cafe bar (she is Tech Support) offers a young man with a pony-tail a cappuccino, and then emerges to take him over to a screen. 'You can browse the worldwide web,' she suggests. At a screen nearby a clean-cut young American is tapping out a message to his university. 'I'm at this hip cyber cafe where I can log on directly to the OU system - incredible]'
A long-haired young man peering at unstoppable realms of information is distracted by his portable phone: 'Yeah. I'll give you a call soon as I'm outta here. I'm sort of linked in at the moment.' A friend has taken over his screen. 'Sorry.' he says. 'I'm dangerous with a mouse.'
On the end of the row a young man is gazing at a screen headed 'alt.
tasteless jokes'. He moves the mouse down the list: 'Anti-Asian jokes. US Moron Corpse jokes.' Blonde Tech Support appears behind him. 'What you looking for?' 'Just cruising,' he says.
Tech Support returns to a conversation at the bar with another young American. He asks for a cappuccino.
Tech Support suggests 'a virtual coffee mug. They do those now. It's Toggleboolean Stuff. You can knock it over and it sploshes all over the screen. Or you move it about and it leaves round marks on your copy. This is a different paradigm. It's a whole different mind set. . .'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments