It’s nothing new to find both accurate accountings and flat out fiction online, and usually I’m pretty good at measuring things up at first glance.  However, truth and fiction seemed to swirl together more quickly than usual on the internet the last two weeks.  Two stories in particular caught my eye…two instances a few days apart where I felt a tug at my heartstrings.  And twice, just as swiftly as the stories pulled me in, they were proved to be mostly or completely unfounded.

I felt like I’d been had.  Like I had forgotten my better judgement for a time and had been played the fool.  It’s not a good feeling and it took me awhile to admit it.  I’m usually a skeptic, and it’s rare for me to jump on a random bandwagon in any of my social media channels.  I’ve thought about this for a week or so now, watched the chips fall and seen the opinions overflow.  I’ve seen what happens when people feel misled and misinformed, how they react in anger and bitterness.  I’ve seen that whether you mislead people deliberately or unintentionally, the reactions can be startlingly similar.

And I have finally come to a place of peace.  I finally realized what bothered me most about it all.  Not that I’d been let down by these people I didn’t even know, or that I’d had some important belief shaken.  No, that wasn’t my biggest concern.  What made me most unsettled was the next obvious thought:  is there ANY truth on the internet?  I have met some amazing people online the last six months, have enjoyed conversations, ideas, suggestions, laughter and running jokes.  Yes, some things are kept private, but many thoughts are shared and there are many truths exchanged on a day to day or weekly basis.  Some of these people I meet online have become great friends, others are an entertaining and enjoyable circle of support, common ground or fresh thinking.  Many are meeting in real life and I’m looking forward to the day I get to meet them face to face.  Can I trust that these conversations are real?

Where is the truth online?

It’s right here.

I’m writing it – and maybe you are too.  I realized that the simplest way to reconcile it is to realize that all we can ever do is offer out into the universe that which we hope to get back.  Yet again, another life lesson that teaches us to act as we would have others act.  To first do, then look for others to do for us.  Every day that I am honest with someone online, is a day that they might trust me enough to be honest in return.  Every time I show my authentic self to someone I have gotten to know, I have a chance to see their true mind and heart as well.  And I’ve decided:  it’s a chance I’m willing to take.  I will always keep some things private, and that’s only prudent.  Others do the same.  But every time I offer something genuine, I almost always get it back.  Connections are made, and more truths told.  And so we build.  I’m not the only one out there who’s looking for the real thing.

Where is the truth online?

We’re building it, one honest conversation at a time.