"The Inner Web"

"We're caring."
"We're all in this together."
"We are a community"

I don't see
Complete respect
When I hear
"Retard".

I don't see
Community
When I see someone
Sitting alone.
Three thousand students
And there are still
Outcasts.

I don't see
"Rad"
When I hear
"Fag."
I'm sorry,
Am I not allowed
To say that?
Those who don't identify
Don't hear a word,
But it's wrong
For me?

Some of our
Eyes
Tongues
And lips
Are most productive
On the inter-web.

We are more connected.
We can reach out
Instantly
To another
Discreetly,
Not to bring attention
To our personal situation.

We can reach out,
Cry,
Scream,
And people
Can see us
In their feed
And speak to us.

But in the real world,
We hide behind
A mask of shadow,
Too scared
To publicly show
What's hurting us.

Behind a screen,
We can be honest.
We can see each other,
Not hidden behind
Hierarchy
And prejudice.

I don't see
"All in this together."
I see
Students crying
Behind closed doors,
Fearing face-to-face,
So they hide it--
Pretend they're fine
Until people buy it.

"Unplug by
Plugging in
For hours."
You don't understand.
I'm unplugging from
The hate
I hear,
The exclusion
I feel,
The danger
I fear.

I'm plugging into
Love and
Acceptance,
Safety and
Support.

If I unplug,
I miss joining movements,
Making a difference,
Gathering ideas
On how to make the world
A better place.

So tell me,
Is technology
So ugly?