Countryman – Stories about life, in and out of Guyana, from a Guyanese perspective A spin on the ‘Web’ with things Guyanese

Feb 08, 2015 Countryman, Features / Columnists

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By Dennis Nichols
The internet – that most ubiquitous computer phenomenon, defies definition. It fascinates,

enlightens, and entertains. However, its enormous volume of words and images also confuses and repulses, since obviously no subject is taboo; no image too gross for human consumption, including some that would have made the Marquis de Sade blush like a virgin, or King Leopold, of Belgian Congo notoriety, recoil in horror. What a forum!
But it’s also a medium for social commerce, and even in our constantly shrinking world, the company of friends, and the exchange of ideas and reciprocal advice can be stimulating, despite the mechanical nature of such interacting.
Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter are some of the more popular networking and video-sharing websites that cater to this social trafficking. And thousands of Guyanese, here and in our diaspora, have been snagged, mesmerized, and manipulated into ‘sharing’ everything from recipes to intimacies, using words and images ranging from crass potshots to sublime poetics.
I’ve been a regular internet user for about six years now, and I have observed that it can be overtly, and subtly, overwhelming for the uninitiated or the technologically-challenged. Many persons fall into these categories, including ‘senior’ citizens like me, and especially in a country like Guyana which lacks much of the sophistication that comes with living in technologically-advanced environments such as the United States.
Also, as can be seen from reports of criminal activity tied to using the ‘net’, it can

be a dangerous place for the naïve, and the careless user. From illegal downloads, information theft and hacking, to online bullying and child prostitution, the dark side of the Net has become a major headache for those trying to protect vulnerable groups.
Notwithstanding these demographics, more than two billion people seem to ‘get it’ with the help of millions of computers linked in a physical network that forks to the four corners of the earth. For Guyanese, particularly in the USA and Canada, groups and individuals connect and keep in touch through several internet channels of which Facebook and YouTube appear to be two of the most popular ones.
I’m a Facebooker, thanks to the cajolery of my son and daughter, and over the past few years had to grudgingly admit how much I have benefited from it, using it mostly as a directory and communication channel. I have gotten in touch with old schoolmates, friends and even relatives that I probably wouldn’t have bothered looking for otherwise. And it is through FB (as it is fondly referred to) that I also got to know about two sites, ‘Guyanese Everywhere’ and ‘Anything Guyanese’ which help us stay connected.
On both of these, Guyanese around the world share and discuss their thoughts, opinions, memories, hopes and fears about life in their beloved homeland. They include a slew of media persons, educators, students, politicians, musicians, artists and other ‘everyday’ folk. I won’t mention any names, but many are journalists and teachers, two of the professions I most closely associate with.
‘Guyanese Everywhere’ (GE) was started about two years ago by a group of Guyanese who were already on Facebook, but who wanted to create ‘something unique, smaller and meaningful’, according to one of the administrators, Hazel Williams, a Guyanese living in New York, and a childhood friend. She and eight other ‘custodians’ monitor posts to the site which has a membership of over 1200.
It is open to Guyanese and their children (over the age of 18) and contributors are expected to share/discuss in a ‘fun, cordial and respectful manner’ aspects of Guyanese life including memories, traditions, and history; in fact things that have helped shape us as one people.
The site notes that being aware of the political atmosphere in our country, and that members of GE may have differing political affiliations, the group does not allow political postings, except in ‘major extenuating circumstances.’ Posts with name-calling and disrespectful comments, bad-talking other Guyanese groups or group members, offensive material including vulgar or overly sexual language and pictures, and anything that violates any copyrights are quickly deleted.
“Remember, we’re friends here so let’s be nice to each other. Let’s keep it reasonably clean, let’s bring the diversity, let’s share and learn from each other, and most of all, let’s have fun,” GE’s onsite blurb declares.
Hundreds of photographs, videos, (music, news, etc…) jokes, one-liners, birthday and anniversary greetings, prayers, poetry, recipes, comments, and sundry news items from Guyana and around the world are shared daily.
A few of the most recent included lobbying on behalf of Miss Guyana Universe, Niketa Barker, outrage at the promotion of the two Leonora ‘torture’ policemen, and prayers for Whitney Houston’s comatose daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.
The other site, ‘Anything Guyanese’ (AG) shares much in common with its sister group, including many of its members, although it claims to have a much larger subscribership; over 14,000. The posts carry similar content, restrictions, and penalties. Additionally, each member of AG is required to have a profile photograph or ‘other identifiable image’ in his or her album.
Evidently an equal-opportunity forum, it states that musical selections posted to the page will be deleted after 24 hours to allow for a free flow of conversation, and each member is allowed four posts per day. Information compiled or posted may not be reproduced, used for commercial/informational purposes, or copyright without the written authorization of the founder.
Among recent posts on AG were support, encouragement and prayers for Christopher Robinson, the Guyanese man reportedly dying of a rare form of renal cancer in the United States, reminiscence on Francis Farrier’s 1960’s play ‘The Tides of Susanburg’ and a string of nostalgic poems and pictures submitted by Dimitri Allicock, a US-based Guyanese currently involved in the documentation of his family heritage and lineage around the world.
There are other internet contributions made by Guyanese since the advent of social-networking and other sites on the World Wide Web. One that I am particularly interested in is the Guyana/British Guiana Genealogical Society which says it is ‘reaching genealogical researchers throughout the world who are researching their colonial British Guiana or post-independence Guyana ancestors.’
I am still trying to figure out just how this works. Though some posts on it appear convoluted, I’ve actually been able to gather bits of information with respect to an uncle and a grandfather I never knew, including specific dates and events that occurred more than 80 years ago. It was very, (and personally) satisfying finding out for example, that my uncle was a host to Marcus Garvey when he visited British Guiana in 1937.
But I am still a relative neophyte where internet intricacies are concerned, and still depend way too much on my children to figure out certain things for me. And I continue to be bothered by the fact that just about anyone with access to the net, including pre-teens, have corresponding, and almost unlimited, access to smut and trash.
Can/should the internet be regulated? DEBATE.ORG says 32 % of survey respondents answered ‘yes’ and I am with them. But conversely of course, 68% say ‘no’. They are afraid that ‘freedom will be terminated.’ What do you think?
Maybe the researchers should ask GE or AG. I’m sure there’ll be no shortage of sound, homespun advice. It’s something that we Guyanese, on or off-line, are good at giving.

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