Malice
Katherine D. Bennett
(First published in the Lathrop News Thursday, November 5, 1998)
Several days ago, I was attacked by a computer virus. I didn’t like it.
I was in a computer lab at Missouri Western doing an Internet search about trolls and the Norwegian myths surrounding them. I came across a website that looked promising and clicked on.
The first thing that came up on the screen was a statement that went something like this, “I plead the blood of Jesus and rebuke all you demons, witches and trolls.” Then, a warning flashed onto the computer screen announcing the presence of a virus and commanding me to exit the site. Quickly I exited the site, but to my dismay, the keyboard would not type any longer.
Luckily, Missouri Western computer labs always have a knowledgeable attendant on duty, and she knew all of the steps to take to get everything back online. Luckily, the college has sophisticated virus detection systems and the means to deal with them. If this virus would have come into a home system, it would have been costly and troublesome to repair.
I realize that the individual that designed the site probably felt perfectly justified in designing the site. I’m sure he or she felt like he/ she had a perfect right to annihilate evil unbelievers on the Internet.
The problem is this: I am not an evil unbeliever and there aren’t too many people in the world that deserve annihilation, It is cowardly to commit anonymous attacks on unsuspecting web-browsers. Ii takes a coward to commit any random kind of violence using any weapon, be it a computer or a gun. If someone has a problem with me, stand up and tell me, write me a letter, pick up the phone, or drop it and learn to live with me the way I am.
I’m sure that whoever posted this website thought he/she was poking the devil in the eye with a righteous finger. This is not the way to stand for righteousness.
I sincerely hope that if the time comes for me to stand up for my beliefs, I will do so with conviction and dignity. I hope I do not hide behind a web page and shoot computer viruses at innocent people. It is cowardly and wrong to hurt innocent people, on the computer, on the sidewalk, anywhere.