Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008

By YUKAKO NISHIMOTO

Osaka

Regarding Jun Numayama's Oct. 19 letter, "Internet crisis of communication": Numayama says the Internet worsens young people's ability to communicate, and that this is connected with loneliness in real life and suicide. I disagree. I think the Internet is saving young people. Japanese people are shy. It is always harder for us to communicate face to face. We may not be able to tell people about our problems or anxiety in real life -- except on the Internet.

I am an 18-year-old girl. I have never thought of killing myself, but a friend of mine has. When I tried to ask her what was wrong with her at the time, she would confide in me only on the Internet. She had her own a Web site. She was confessing her problems and feelings about killing herself. She gave up the idea after some people wrote warm remarks in support (of life). It seemed that she was saved by the Internet.

I think the Internet is one of the most important things for young people. Without it, more people cannot tell anyone their problems, and more people would kill themselves. Of course, the Internet is not always good. It gives us some bad information. Some people slander us because there is anonymity online. We need to be careful about the bad aspects, and a create a good Internet society for young people.

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.

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