I have been a web developer and computer programmer for a long time, so I know how frustrating and complex computers and mobile devices can be. It is because of this experience that my number one rule is to never poke fun at users when they ask questions that make no sense regarding computing. I myself asked all of those same crazy questions when I was learning, and I still ask many today. The world is always kind enough to help me without fanfare, so I always do the same – no matter what. Unfortunately, as hard as I tried, this rule went out the window recently when the effects of Hurricane Florence arrived in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Huddled safe and sound in my mother’s home, with wind howling and trees swaying, we watched a funny show on TV and snacked on Cheez-It crackers (the white cheddar ones, oh yeah). My mind was far from thoughts on technology. My brain was a vortex of worry. Are cows going to fly by the windows? Are we going to run out of TP? Can I swim across torrential rivers while holding onto my mom, my rabbit, my cat and my hamster?
And then it happened.
My mom looked at me from across the room, sitting in her fancy recliner, and said something my brain could not compute. “So what’s this thing called the Black Internet and how do I get on it?”
Initially I did not know how to respond. I remained quiet for a short time as I search every square inch of my brain for some crumb of meaning and I came up empty. I had never heard anyone refer to the internet using color codes before. Finally, I had no choice but to resort to a very sophisticated techy reply of: “Huh?”
“You know, the internet that steals your identity.”
And it finally hit me. “Do you mean the Dark Web?”
“Yes! That’s it! The Dark Web!”
At this point uncontrollable bouts of wild laughter rolled out of me. I tried to contain myself, I really did. Luckily ma took it in stride and rolled her eyes until my fit was over and then we chatted about the Dark Web.
I cannot even type this blog post without laughing. It is just too much. I am sorry, I really am. I guess I am not the IT professional I thought I was😊 I will try harder. I promise.
Coding Under the Stars 
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