In, On, To , From

where are we, really, now

The concept of “citizenship” is outmoded in the context of internet space-time. Cyberspace is geographic; topographic. You move through virtuality at varied rates of acceleration and speed, as if you are a viscous fluid.

At feeding times, we emerge from the network, and revert to solid form. Your partner will say, “Get off your phone!”, but you’re not so much “on your phone” now as “in your phone,” like ketchup in a bottle.

When we dislike our physical circumstance, we say “We gotta get out of this place,” but not, “We gotta get off this place.” Unless, of course, we’re talking about Earth, and for now, we’re trapped on this planet, so desires for escape are moot. We ain’t gettin’ off.

“Get out of your phone!” would be a bit more apt, as in “Get out of the car, son. I won’t ask you again.”

Granted, while commuting we say we are “on a train” or “on a bus,” but only in concept do we “ride” a train or bus like we “ride” a horse. The action of transit, in reality, places us “in” the train or bus. To be “on” the train for real would be quite dangerous.