Cafe - day
Grossman is already seated, finishing an espresso. Jeremy arrives.
Jeremy
Hey, I hope you haven't been waiting.
Grossman
Not at all. Please, sit, sit.
JEREMY
So I read your piece for Time on the way over here. Helluva piece, really top notch work.
GROSSMAN
Why thank you. And congratulations on all your success, by the way. You, one of Time's Persons of the Year. No small feat.
Jeremy
Thanks, bud. Yeah, like the rest of us I pretty much just spent a lot of time online in 2006. Didn't go out much.
Grossman
But it paid off, ultimately.
Jeremy
Naturally, naturally. Yeah.
GROSSMAN
So where did you start? Where did the bulk of your success stem from?
Jeremy
Realizing we were in an increasingly stagnant, analog world really got me depressed, you know? I could only have one conversation at a time, could only watch one television program. Then I realized it didn't really have to be this way.
GROSSMAN
How so?
Jeremy
I'm sure you know where I'm coming from.
Grossman
I do, I wrote the article, Jeremy. But it would be really helpful if you explained it in your own words.
Jeremy
Yeah, word, I hear ya dude. Um. So, yeah. What was the question?
Grossman
You were spending a lot of time online...
Jeremy
Right. Yeah. I don't know. It just kind of happened. I got bored watching just one TV show, so I went online and opened a few tabs. I got bored just talking to my friends one at a time, so I went to my computer and talked to a few of them at once. It was a pretty natural progression.
Grossman
So it was an organic happening?
Jeremy
Probably the most organic thing I've done since, yeah.
GROSSMAN
So when you -
Jeremy
Excuse me. I really want to take a break, can we take a break?
Grossman
We've only just started.
Jeremy
I know, I know, but this is like, the opposite of immediately gratifying.
Grossman
Excuse me?
Jeremy
Sorry, go on. I'll get through it.
Sounds of seats stirring.
Grossman
Thank you for bearing with me. So, have you used the internet in a different way now than when you and those like you broke ground back in 2006?
Jeremy
I've never been personally at the forefront of social media. Wasn't the first kid to get a Facebook, never had a Myspace, but ignoring it all has also become less of an option. Twitters, Tumblrs, there are so many people and so many options for connecting with them online.
Grossman
And now?
JEREMY
What about it?
Grossman
How do you interact with the internet now?
Jeremy
I don't know, it still just happens. I will sit down at my computer at 12 and I get up around 1:30 or 2. I have about 12 more songs, two more posts, a few more pictures, and I've seen two videos I'll forget and one I'll send to my dad. It can happen like that 2, 3, 4 times a day.
Grossman
So your relationship with the internet has been a passive one?
Jeremy
Actively passive, yeah.
Grossman
How so?
Jeremy
Not so sure.
GROSSMan
Contrary to my article, then, it seems like the internet is happening to you more than you are happening to the internet, no?
Jeremy
It certainly seems that way.
Grossman
Do you feel like you are losing control of, or have already lost control of, how you interact with the internet?
Jeremy
Not til I sat down with you, no. Can we take a break?
Grossman
Can you sit still for a moment?
Jeremy
Hey listen, would it be too much to ask if I could do this from home? From my computer. Can we do this online? Do you have Vchat, or maybe you could just email me your questions?
Grossman
No, I do not have VChat. There's probably something to be said about having this conversation in the analog world, Jeremy.
Jeremy
Probably. But it's really totally easy to download. I brought my laptop, let me show you.
Grossman
Can it wait, Jeremy? We're almost done.
Jeremy
Yeah, we can wait. But do you mind if I just open it up and put it right here though?
Sound of computer opening, being put on table, and whirring to life. Mac OS's start up sounds.
Grossman
Are you going to be using it for anything?
Jeremy
Just having it here soothes me.
Grossman
And why is that?
Jeremy
The sounds. The light glow. The connection to those around me. The millions at my fingertips. Knowing I am at the fingertips of millions. It's really quite empowering.
Grossman
And crippling, it seems.
Jeremy
Yes. And crippling, it seems.
Grossman is already seated, finishing an espresso. Jeremy arrives.
Jeremy
Hey, I hope you haven't been waiting.
Grossman
Not at all. Please, sit, sit.
JEREMY
So I read your piece for Time on the way over here. Helluva piece, really top notch work.
GROSSMAN
Why thank you. And congratulations on all your success, by the way. You, one of Time's Persons of the Year. No small feat.
Jeremy
Thanks, bud. Yeah, like the rest of us I pretty much just spent a lot of time online in 2006. Didn't go out much.
Grossman
But it paid off, ultimately.
Jeremy
Naturally, naturally. Yeah.
GROSSMAN
So where did you start? Where did the bulk of your success stem from?
Jeremy
Realizing we were in an increasingly stagnant, analog world really got me depressed, you know? I could only have one conversation at a time, could only watch one television program. Then I realized it didn't really have to be this way.
GROSSMAN
How so?
Jeremy
I'm sure you know where I'm coming from.
Grossman
I do, I wrote the article, Jeremy. But it would be really helpful if you explained it in your own words.
Jeremy
Yeah, word, I hear ya dude. Um. So, yeah. What was the question?
Grossman
You were spending a lot of time online...
Jeremy
Right. Yeah. I don't know. It just kind of happened. I got bored watching just one TV show, so I went online and opened a few tabs. I got bored just talking to my friends one at a time, so I went to my computer and talked to a few of them at once. It was a pretty natural progression.
Grossman
So it was an organic happening?
Jeremy
Probably the most organic thing I've done since, yeah.
GROSSMAN
So when you -
Jeremy
Excuse me. I really want to take a break, can we take a break?
Grossman
We've only just started.
Jeremy
I know, I know, but this is like, the opposite of immediately gratifying.
Grossman
Excuse me?
Jeremy
Sorry, go on. I'll get through it.
Sounds of seats stirring.
Grossman
Thank you for bearing with me. So, have you used the internet in a different way now than when you and those like you broke ground back in 2006?
Jeremy
I've never been personally at the forefront of social media. Wasn't the first kid to get a Facebook, never had a Myspace, but ignoring it all has also become less of an option. Twitters, Tumblrs, there are so many people and so many options for connecting with them online.
Grossman
And now?
JEREMY
What about it?
Grossman
How do you interact with the internet now?
Jeremy
I don't know, it still just happens. I will sit down at my computer at 12 and I get up around 1:30 or 2. I have about 12 more songs, two more posts, a few more pictures, and I've seen two videos I'll forget and one I'll send to my dad. It can happen like that 2, 3, 4 times a day.
Grossman
So your relationship with the internet has been a passive one?
Jeremy
Actively passive, yeah.
Grossman
How so?
Jeremy
Not so sure.
GROSSMan
Contrary to my article, then, it seems like the internet is happening to you more than you are happening to the internet, no?
Jeremy
It certainly seems that way.
Grossman
Do you feel like you are losing control of, or have already lost control of, how you interact with the internet?
Jeremy
Not til I sat down with you, no. Can we take a break?
Grossman
Can you sit still for a moment?
Jeremy
Hey listen, would it be too much to ask if I could do this from home? From my computer. Can we do this online? Do you have Vchat, or maybe you could just email me your questions?
Grossman
No, I do not have VChat. There's probably something to be said about having this conversation in the analog world, Jeremy.
Jeremy
Probably. But it's really totally easy to download. I brought my laptop, let me show you.
Grossman
Can it wait, Jeremy? We're almost done.
Jeremy
Yeah, we can wait. But do you mind if I just open it up and put it right here though?
Sound of computer opening, being put on table, and whirring to life. Mac OS's start up sounds.
Grossman
Are you going to be using it for anything?
Jeremy
Just having it here soothes me.
Grossman
And why is that?
Jeremy
The sounds. The light glow. The connection to those around me. The millions at my fingertips. Knowing I am at the fingertips of millions. It's really quite empowering.
Grossman
And crippling, it seems.
Jeremy
Yes. And crippling, it seems.
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