5. Reader Feedback: Work, Wine, Women and Song

Dan Gaita writes from Romania. In addition to communicating in excellent English, he's a very nice guy. In this note to me he talks about another very important side of the Internet and human interaction story, which I'm sure applies to many in the US. Dan's comments are printed here with his permission.

"I don't mean to get on your case, however I did notice that most if not all of the points you made in this article are related to the US, and how things have developed there since the advent of the Internet."

"I think this makes us European folks feel a little bit left out, and my country is only going to be a part of the EU next year. I'd hate to think what's going through the minds of Germans, Italians, and Brits right now."

"To the point then; the problems with intimacy and personal relations that you guys are dealing with over there are not ours. I work in a company with quite a few employees and we prefer to talk things over a coffee and a cigarette, rather than a nice talk on one messenger service or another. The same goes for home use, I use the net a lot but I do so when I need it, I'd much rather get my kicks from hanging out with my friends, in search of the perfect date."

"I've been around Europe some and I can tell you that it's just about the same everywhere, and although I would like to turn this into a little debate about the US concept of freedom, I will not."

"I'm not sure if it's because we all started going to clubs and bars at the ripe age of 14 or less; I'm not sure it's because we feel we can do just about anything; I'm not sure it's because we all get laid so much, but I am sure that over here, in Europe, we all apreciate the benefits of talking face to face and most of us use the net as a means to this end."

"I did not want to sound offensive, and if I did, I apologize; but the fact is that you did offend me, by not taking me and others like me into account."

Go Dan! And, good luck finding that perfect date.

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