Absence
“VIRTUAL (adjective) almost or nearly as described, but not completely or according to strict definition.” Words are my thing. This came about because of my need to describe things that defy description. Without a command of words, such a description is literally impossible. Once gained to some degree, mastery of words allows my task to be only ‘virtually’ impossible. I am flummoxed (there’s a word!) these days, by the continued attempt to do the literally impossible, as I watch people attempt to substitute virtual reality in cases where no substitutes exist. It’s as delusional as substituting photographs of food for actual food, and placing them in front of hungry people with the statement, “Well, it’s better than no food at all.” Sorry, but it’s not! Some things can be substituted for others of like kind, but unliving, electronic images cannot even come close to substituting for living human beings. They are dead effigies, and they stink of warm plastic, dust, and ozon