Notes, Continuation of the Introduction: The Issue of Persian Internet Prose - 2003-05-17

The last point is about the internet. It is very gratifying that among the numerous internet pages, especially Persian 'weblogs', some are dedicated to literature, culture, and book introductions. In the writers of these pages - which are considered a form of journalism - a type of prose has formed that, although not devoid of practical and applicable benefits, may ultimately be detrimental to its writers and even the Persian language in the long run. Since I also write for the internet, I can understand that some necessities of electronic media, such as speed, being up-to-date, and consumability lead us to various inaccuracies in our writings: from spelling, typing, and composition errors to lack of depth, absence of style, remaining journalistic, lexical poverty, and so on. One cannot justify inaccuracies and negligence merely by dictating 'practical requirements' and working conditions. This last point also applies to myself. We must be attentive and not steal time from re-reading and editing our work under the pretext of lack of time. Even if the writings in the virtual space of 'cyberspace' are of the kind that are semi-real, semi-theoretical, and semi-imaginary (only literature is such a creature that has three halves!), fundamental particles that one foot is in the realm of existence and the other foot, due to its very short half-life, is in the realm of non-existence.