Recently, there has been much attention given to a blog created by an incoming Dartmouth freshman named Charles Park. While the blog is only a few weeks old, Park plans to use it to chronicle his feelings from the summer before his freshman year up until he graduates four years from now. Along the way, he will provide "tips and guides" for incoming students who may stumble upon his blog while searching the internet. He explains the motivation of his blog to readers, saying, "there are questions you have (about Dartmouth) even during this summer, and the answers are not in a consolidated place".
Despite his seemingly innocuous intentions, Park has received an enormous amount of criticism. IvyGate blog has dubbed him the "Rebecca Black" of Dartmouth College. Dartmouth's gossip site BoredatBaker, respectable source that it is, displayed comments ranging from "this kid is disgustingly ignorant" to "I'm embarrassed to be in the same class with people like this". Even Washington Monthly warned that this blog may reaffirm to readers that those attending the Ivy League are "pretentious, entitled jerks".
While every person has a right to form his or her own opinion on this blog, the criticism towards Park has gone too far. From nonsensical rants to name-calling, it seems as though many people just want to criticize Park for the sake of criticizing someone. Instead of trying to understand the intended audience of Park's blog, or understand Park himself, many critics forget the feelings and concerns that an incoming freshman like Park experiences.
Going into my senior year this Fall, I can hardly remember how I felt during the summer before my freshman year, and I think that's true for a lot of upperclassmen. Life at Dartmouth has become so comfortable that we can't remember what it was like to be in Park's position, worried about how the Greek scene works or how to register for classes. Things that once seemed so important are now laughable, like whether or not you should send friend requests to your future classmates on Facebook.
While we all can't specifically relate to the posts on Park's blog at this time in our lives, I think there's something ubiquitously meaningful in its purpose. Most people are terrified of transitions and desperately want guidance, and that's something that we have all experienced in some way or another. I just moved to Washington D.C., for a summer internship and I wish someone had written a blog about how real life works. I have been here for three weeks and I still don't know how to use a dishwasher or the metro, and I carry around hairspray in case I need to blind any robbers that approach me.
Although Park's blog is still in its beginning stages I think a lot of incoming freshmen will come to find it useful, if only to find some solace in the fact that they are not alone in feeling nervous before college. But instead of seeing the good that comes from the blog, or even ignoring it altogether, some people have been outraged and have chosen to insult and belittle Park because his blog does not meet their expectations.
The reactions to Park's blog truly exemplify how many of us lack empathy for others, but these reactions also provide insight into an equally if not more troubling aspect of the world todaythe rise of anonymity. While Park felt comfortable enough to attach his name to his thoughts and feelings, many people would not be so brave to do the same. It has become difficult for many to feel comfortable enough to openly publicize their inner thoughts, as they don't want to face the same kind of judgment and blind criticism that was thrown at Park.
This fear has caused many people to feel like they need to build walls and causes a disconnect in real-life communication. Anonymity's ubiquity is exemplified most clearly through anonymous postings on blogs, chat rooms and in Dartmouth's virtual reality, BoredatBaker.
True compassion and empathy cannot be transmitted on sites that attach no human face to comments and posts. By attaching his name to his thoughts, Park has given his audience a real connection and a place to find comfort during the uncertainty of the summer before freshman year. I applaud Park for being brave enough to do this. The world needs more genuine people.
And if someone can write a blog on real life, I would really appreciate it. I need to wash my dishes.
