Homeless women enters cyberspace

I found this post on Ceridwen Devi (a blog affiliate) posting about a story which was presented on BBC News.

A homeless woman in London has been living in a car since last summer and by writing a blog she has placed herself in contact with an international audience. According to the BBC report, she visits the public library to access the internet to update her online diary called WanderingScribe.

This is an amazing read. There are many reservations about this but I think it is genuine. What is really interesting to me is firstly that this lady is entering cyberspace to gain contacts and relations with other people.

In her situation this is most probably easier than trying to meet people in real life, I mean who actually spends time or acknowledges homeless people? A sad fact, but no matter how you look like, the connotations behind this unfortunate status will not get you far in our society, embedded with preconceived notions and judgments.

Secondly, by reading the various comments on her posts, clearly shows the power of blogging. She has started a forum on her own blog, arguing her case, but also getting a lot of recognition and motivation by people, and actual offers and aid. There are tips where she can wash, find a job etc. This I find phenomenal, as within this virtual realm, a virtual community has offered a helping hand. This is probably not as such possible in reality, and with this I mean outside the virtual realm. Does a virtual existence allow for easier correspondence and acceptance due to the limitless possibilities in the virtual sphere?

What is great is that the aid and motivation she gets is not only virtual but can be used within the real realm. And since the media has picked up this story this blog has been getting tremendous amounts of hits, just a pity that Blogs to this similar degree will in future most probably not get the same amount of attention and thus less exposure and thus less virtual friends that offer their sentiment or help.