The INTERNET: a virtual home to the “homeless”

When we think of home, we think of a place where there are people living together and where love and gentle affections abound. Although these people think and behave differently, possess different attitudes and personalities, and varies in preferences, likes and dislikes, yet they are a family.  They share common goals and ideals, support each other, understand each other, and accept each other’s uniqueness despite their differences.  In the context of an ideal home, family members find unconditional acceptance. It is a haven of joy, a nurturing environment, a place where needs are met, and a fortress that cushions the blows of life’s problems and adversities, shielding the family member from the pains of daily living and life in general.

To a highly discreet DY, where is home?

Life can really be difficult to a discreet (or truly closeted) homosexual/bisexual. He often finds himself alone especially when problems and issues related to his sexuality arise. He seeks the company of someone who understands. He longs for assuring words that would comfort him in his times of uncertainties.  He gropes for another human being to at least listen to his cares and worries, understand his fears and aspirations, and affirm his personal convictions. He longs for emotional connection and support, release of long pent up emotions, and enlightenment for the enigma of his emotional turmoil and stormy life experiences.  Yet, the pressure of society, its expectations, its standards and norms, all work in concert to add to his burden and further pushes him into a state of emotional solitude. Given the definitions of a home, he finds himself homeless!

Sad and alone, he looks for ways to meet this dire need of belongingness and acceptance, which society has unduly kept from him. For fear of rejection, contempt, judgment, and humiliation, he resolves to stay incognito as much as he can but it only proves to worsen his loneliness and pulls him down into depression. So he gets up and looks around for a remedy and finds the solution to his problem.

He enters the world of the world-wide-web and discovers himself in a virtual place where he can get in touch with his true self without fear of rejection yet still be anonymous. Honest, worthwhile conversations which he cannot have in the real world, he finds online. He finds answers to his questions. He enters the realm of social sites and finds himself not alone. There are people out there who, just like him, are seeking for belongingness, acceptance, self-expression, love, emotional support, enlightenment, and words of comfort, and are longing for hearts that understand.  He finds freedom to be himself.  He finds friendship, establishes relationships, and forms lasting bonds with people he gets in contact with. He is starting to live his life.

As he looks back, he cannot help but paint a smile on his face with a grateful heart amazed at how this virtual world has somehow positively influenced his life.  He acknowledges that it has its boons and banes but believes that if used judiciously, this virtual world has the power to transform lives for the better.  His heart is but filled with joy that finally, he has found a place that feels like home.