When asked why I’m home schooled, one of my strongest defenses is this: I don’t get shot by some crazy guy who is socially inept and decide to take it out on the people around them. Nor do I get shot by depressed, violent, and—lets face it—people, completely impotent highschoolers like Klebold and Harris”. Not that I have anything against public schooling, but correct me if I’m wrong, I think most of the victims of those shootings weren’t exactly all for getting shot.

But it seems that someone has found the answer, or moreover, to prevent these deaths from happening. Schools are now using text messaging and FaceBook postings to alert students if a crazy gunner is on the loose. The catch? It works. Yes indeed, many college students it seems are online on FaceBook so perpetually that they would be aware of a posting soon enough for it to be of any value to them. I guess that doesn’t really come as a surprise to me, but it does make me start questioning how much we rely on technology. But this isn’t just technology: It’s the Internet; something that doesn’t even have substance. Personally, I would never rely on something that I will never be able to see or touch to alert me if my life’s in danger. Not happenin’.

I thought that things were going to be done to prevent more shootings like Virginia Tech and all that, but I didn’t think we’d settle for this. I mean, come on, I’m sure we can do better than the average college nerd’s equivalent of crack. The fact that this method can be effective in the first place is only a bad thing. I think we need to take a few steps back in evolution and rethink this WHOLE thing. Personally, I wanna bring swords back. Stop gun production. Destroy them all. Microwave all the Rambo DVDs. Use up all the remaining dynamite to blow up gun factories. See? We can even be efficient with this. And then, when mister suicidal murderer comes along trying to kill people with a sword or a bow and arrow, there will be a lot more time to react.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say technology is played out, but I do think we need to chill out at least a little bit. Get back in touch with Mother Nature, you know? I went camping for two weeks this past summer, and I felt the healthiest I’ve ever been. Upon returning to the city, I felt sick for a week before I got used to it again. That can’t be good.

We need to back off man. We need to chill out and relax. Legalize weed, lower the drinking age, and just kick it in the backcountry for a little while. Forget about Apples new iPhone that makes condoms. Spend your time coming up with a new word for gettin’ dome. And just leave the technology alone. It can wait.
—Silvano Pontoniere