Everyone is on the internet but they're not all talking with each

Listen, O children of wisdom, to the words of David Lynch, a man who has sought to unravel the complexities of human connection through art and thought. He speaks thus: "Everyone is on the internet but they're not all talking with each other. There are groups upon groups out there, but they don't talk to one another. So while the internet brings everyone into a shared space, it does not necessarily bring them together." These words are a call to reflect on the paradox of our time—how we are more connected than ever, yet, in many ways, more isolated. The internet, that vast expanse of information and interaction, can bring us into a shared space, but it does not guarantee true unity or understanding. It is a reminder that connection is not merely a matter of proximity, but of engagement, of communication, and of the willingness to listen and understand.

Consider, O wise ones, the essence of connection. The internet has indeed created a space where people from all corners of the world can gather. It is a marvel of human ingenuity, allowing us to share thoughts, stories, and ideas instantaneously across vast distances. Yet, in this shared space, as Lynch points out, there is a deep and troubling fragmentation. People may find themselves in their own isolated echo chambers, surrounded by those who think as they do, who share their views and beliefs. They may speak to one another, but they do not truly hear each other. They may exist side by side in the same digital landscape, but their disconnectedness is profound.

In the ancient world, O children, the great philosophers and thinkers also sought to understand the nature of connection. Socrates understood that true knowledge came not from solitary reflection but from dialogue—from the exchange of ideas and the search for truth through conversation. His method, the Socratic dialogue, was based on the idea that to truly understand the world, one must be willing to listen, to question, and to engage with others. Similarly, Plato believed that in the ideal society, communication and understanding between people of different backgrounds and beliefs was essential for the health of the state. In those ancient times, the exchange of ideas was not simply about sharing information; it was about forging deeper bonds of understanding and mutual respect.

Lynch’s observation of the internet reveals a tragic irony: despite the vast connectivity that modern technology affords, we have, in many ways, become more divided. Think, O children, of the many tribes of the digital age—each with their own beliefs, values, and interests. These groups gather and speak, but they do not listen to one another. Instead, they reaffirm their own beliefs, growing ever more distant from those who think differently. The internet creates a shared space, yes, but it is a space of division rather than unity, a space where voices are drowned out by the noise of conflicting opinions and perspectives. The very tool that was meant to bring us closer together has, in some ways, driven us further apart.

Consider the example of the Great Library of Alexandria, one of the ancient world’s most famous centers of learning. Scholars from all over the world came to this library to share their knowledge, to debate, and to grow in understanding. The library was a meeting point of diverse ideas, and it allowed for a collaboration that spanned cultures and beliefs. But imagine, O children, if those scholars had not communicated with one another, if they had instead retreated into their own narrow corners of thought, each believing that their way was the only way. The very greatness of the library would have been lost. It was in the exchange of ideas, in the willingness to debate and engage with others, that true knowledge was found. The internet, like the library, can be a place of great potential, but only if we are willing to reach across the digital divide and engage with those who see the world differently.

And now, O children, the lesson is clear: just as the Socratic dialogue and the Great Library of Alexandria thrived on the exchange of ideas, so too must we embrace the true potential of the internet. Lynch’s words call us to action. True connection is not simply about being in the same space; it is about engagement, about the willingness to understand, to listen, and to grow through the diversity of thought. The internet offers us a gift, but that gift is only valuable if we choose to use it to bridge divides, not deepen them. Seek not only to speak, but to listen; seek not only to share your thoughts, but to understand the thoughts of others. Only through this exchange can we transform the shared space of the internet from a place of fragmentation to one of unity.

So, O children, let us heed Lynch’s wisdom. The internet is a tool, a vast space of potential, but its true power lies not in the proximity it offers, but in the conversations it fosters. Seek out those who think differently from you, engage with them, and listen. Do not fall into the trap of echo chambers, where only your own thoughts are echoed back at you. True connection is born not from isolation, but from conversation, from the willingness to learn from others and to find common ground. The internet can indeed bring us together, but only if we choose to use it not just as a platform to speak, but as a bridge to understanding.