Contact and Access

Two days ago I wrote a post about a book I'm going to buy on pay day. The next day I discovered that someone left a message on that post - Joel Rosenberg, one of the authors.

I was a little shocked and humbled at this because he is a famous writer and I am yet a nobody. To think that he took the time to look at my blog and even to leave me a short message.

At first I thought that it couldn't be him but then, after I thought about it some more, why would someone pose as him when few people even read my blog. I was going to post on his LiveJournal page and ask Mr. Rosenberg if it really was he who left me a message but then I thought that would just leave it as it is. I am satisfied in my own mind and when I've finished his book, then I'll go to his forum and tell him what I think.

The whole situation is very interesting to me. The accessibility of the internet is so widespread, we can see anything or contact anyone we choose, famous or not. I once went to David Morrell's website and left him a message about something, I can't remember what now. He wrote me a personal message back, which made me feel important. This is a man who's written more than twenty books, most of which I've read, and he took the time from his busy life to personally send me an email message.

I think back to a time before the internet; in order to contact someone famous, one had to write a letter on paper, put it in an envelope, find an address to send it to and mail it off. With the stacks of fan mail which a celebrity could possibly be receiving, the chances of being read and replied to with more than just a form letter were very slim. The time it would also take would be compounded many times compared to now.

It really is funny to think that now, we send off an email to a friend and sometimes pace, waiting for a reply if we don't hear from that person by the next day. How times have changed. I am very thankful though, for the technological advancements and the accessibility it creates.