Over Christmas break in grade 11, my family and I went out to dinner at a fancy steakhouse downtown. It was one of those steak places where they bring you a slab of meat on a really hot stone, and it cooks in front of you, exactly to your preferred temperature. Unfortunately, if one likes their steak well done, that means that one can find themselves still waiting to eat after everyone has finished their meal (it’s me— I’m one). To encourage conversation while I casually waited for my steak to cook, I mentioned to my family that I didn’t understand the internet. I didn’t understand how it worked, why it worked, or really what it was. Big mistake. I spent the next 45 minutes (a time much longer than it took me to finish my steak btw) listening to my parents and my brother rattle off meaningless explanations that left me more confused than when the conversation started. After that night, I pretty much gave up on understanding the internet. My non-comprehension even inspired this poem:

It’s been 4 years since that steakhouse conversation and subsequent poem, and I am proud to say I finally understand the Internet!

Learning the Difference Between the Physical Internet and the Philosophical Internet

Now I had learnt some things about the internet, from my family and other sources, even before my recent enlightenment: I knew I could access the internet through my devices, I knew the words “servers” and “routers” and that they were important, and I knew that the internet travels through both wireless and wired connections, the latter including thousands of miles were of cable stretching across our ocean floors and across our continents. But what I didn't really understand was how any of this physical infrastructure translated into this omnipresent, mass collection of knowledge and data that I could access from almost anywhere on the planet.

Why Does Knowing Matter?

I had grown at peace with my knowledge— or lack of knowledge— about the internet. I just accepted that it was one of those things I was never going to understand. However, looking back, I’m a little upset with myself for giving up so easily. The internet is a daily part of my life and helps shape almost everything I do, and I should want to understand it. How can you ever truly recognize how much something influences your life if you don’t even understand it? And I know it can be frustrating and difficult and just plain annoying (all emotions I felt in that steakhouse), but it’s worth it. It just comes down to finding the right sources, the right teachers, and the right way for you to understand.

@CrazyGrazy98

But Wait: There's More!

Check out these videos from Code.org if you want to learn more about the Internet and how it works! They helped me a lot!