franceslievens | Those internet friends (Letter to Derek K. Miller)

Last week and over the weekend there suddenly appeared several pieces in mainstream newspapers on the importance of our Facebook friends. Catalyst for these pieces was the testimony of a semi-well-known adman, who had recently lost his son in banal accident. He talks about sharing his grief, and how many people have left their condolences on Facebook or Twitter. It's a wonderful opportunity for the newspaper to show how they've discovered the meaning of social networking sevices, and I can't help to shake my head and think that they're awfully late in making these analyses. How long have we known each other, dear reader?
Having spent so much time on the internet, openness comes naturally, and I love to read it with others. It must be the reason why I've always enjoyed reading Derek's writings. Of course he also writes about things I find interesting to read, and he's a good writer where I can find well-documented pieces, and we hold roughly the same opinions; it all makes sure I keep reading for years.
But I won't be reading that long. Derek is dying of cancer. The readers have gone on a journey with him from when he was first diagnosed until the awful news that it was incurable. In between he keeps writing those well-wrought pieces I so much enjoy. We've never been more than acquaintances on this world wide web, but I'll miss him when he's gone.