The internet is a wonder to behold! While it is not necessarily indispensable (for really, I could get by without it ) it is a marvelously useful tool for news, information and much else besides. This blog, now in its 10th year, is written and stored online and would almost certainly be different if it were written down in a book in diary form. Structure often informs content.

The web has also democratised the citizenry in all manner of good and bad ways. The pre-online informational world, by which I mean TV, radio, newspapers and books, was largely dominated by informed or expert opinion. There have always been shock-jocks and wayward columnists and letter-writers, but popular opinion was largely confined to informal channels such as friends, family, social events and the pub. Now anyone with a computer and an internet connection can chime in to any forum, start up their own webpage or make commentary in pretty much any way they like. And much of it - at least amongst the stuff I have read - is dross. It is poorly written and ill-thought through, sometimes full of vicious invective against any differing point of view and frequently anonymous in one form or another.

Bill Bryson recently bemoaned this kind of writing. Folks who have not taken the time to inform themselves or can't be bothered learning to write or spell properly seem to feel entitled to express opinions that better belong at a family bbq or local hotel. Bryson has advocated the following rule, which I heartily support:

"Well, here is a new rule: if you are too stupid to spell 'disappointed' even approximately correctly, you are not allowed to take part in public discourse at any level."

The full article is here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11895215/Britains-heritage-at-risk-due-to--ill-educated-internet-critics-says-travel-writer-Bill-Bryson.html