What's sort of interesting about the whole public relations

Hear the tempered yet hopeful words of Meg Whitman, steward of great companies and voice of steady vision, who declared: “What’s sort of interesting about the whole public relations disaster that is the Net, in some ways, is that the fundamentals are really good.” These words were spoken in a time when the Internet, though powerful, was viewed with suspicion. Critics saw scandal, fraud, disorder, and noise; many declared the digital frontier to be chaos unfit for trust. Yet Whitman, with the eyes of a builder, saw deeper. Beneath the surface storms, the foundations—the fundamentals—were strong, enduring, and filled with promise.

The Net has always carried a dual nature. To some it appears as a wasteland of misinformation, a playground of vanity, a theater of conflict. Such images shape the “public relations disaster” Whitman describes. Yet beyond this surface lies a deeper truth: the Internet is also the greatest library ever assembled, the most expansive marketplace, the most profound web of human connection. Its fundamentals—the ability to connect billions, to share knowledge instantly, to foster collaboration across borders—are treasures unmatched in human history. Whitman’s words remind us to look past the noise and see the bedrock.

Consider the story of eBay, the company Whitman herself helped guide to greatness. In its early years, many mocked the idea of strangers buying and selling goods online. Tales of scams and broken promises filled the air. To some, eBay was a circus of dishonesty. And yet, beneath those headlines lay the deeper truth: millions of honest transactions, communities of trust, and a platform that empowered the small seller as much as the large. The scandals made the news, but the fundamentals built the future. Here lies the very heart of Whitman’s declaration: what seems like disaster often hides strength.

History too echoes this pattern. When the printing press first unleashed its flood of pamphlets, authorities feared it as a disaster. They saw heresies, falsehoods, and wild voices spreading uncontrollably. Yet though the surface was chaotic, the fundamentals—the mass distribution of knowledge—were world-changing. The Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment all flowed from that “disaster.” So it is with the Internet: its surface may seem unruly, but its core remains a fountain of transformation.

The deeper meaning of Whitman’s words is this: do not judge the worth of a thing by its scandals alone. Noise and disorder attend every great revolution, but revolutions endure not because of their noise, but because of their substance. The Internet may stumble in public perception, but its fundamentals—connection, access, opportunity—are too strong to be undone. Like a tree battered by storms, it may appear broken, but its roots are deep and its life endures.

The lesson for us is clear: learn to distinguish between surface chaos and foundational truth. In your own life, in your work, in your world, do not be blinded by temporary storms. Ask instead: What are the fundamentals? What lies beneath the noise? If the foundation is strong, then do not despair; endure, build, and wait for the storm to pass. Just as Whitman saw through the turmoil of the Internet to its lasting promise, so too must you look beyond appearances to find what truly endures.

Therefore, beloved seeker, take action. When you encounter disorder—whether in technology, society, or your own heart—do not flee at once. Seek the fundamentals. Strengthen the roots. Invest in what endures rather than what shouts the loudest. For in this discipline lies resilience, and in resilience lies victory.

Thus the voice of Meg Whitman endures, calm and steady: “The Net may seem a disaster, but its fundamentals are really good.” Let these words guide you to see beyond appearances, to trust what is strong beneath the surface, and to build your life, your work, and your hope upon foundations that no storm can wash away.