May 12, 2002

6:14 PM

Patron saint for Internet users?The Pope has given the Internet his blessing (thanks!) and there's talk he is searching for a patron saint for Internet users. Who would you nominate for patron saint of the Internet? St. Berners-Lee of CERN? St. Metcalfe of Ethernet?
posted by billder (24 comments total)

I bless your computer, my child!
posted by holloway at 6:34 PM on May 12, 2002

So is masturbation still a mortal sin now, or what?
posted by geoff. at 6:35 PM on May 12, 2002

So is masturbation still a mortal sin now, or what?

Probably. But as long as the Vatican is getting involved, can they add a "Thou Shalt Not Spam" commandment?
posted by jonmc at 6:43 PM on May 12, 2002

St. Dismas.
posted by clavdivs at 6:55 PM on May 12, 2002

dr. gaylene pron
posted by quonsar at 7:20 PM on May 12, 2002

Well, Eris presides over system administration.

Kibo, like Loki, turned up everywhere.

And the BOFH is from Hell, of course.

But more seriously, Vint Cerf, John Postel, whoever thought of putting an IP stack in Berkely Unix, ... all candidates for beatification at least.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 7:24 PM on May 12, 2002

"So is masturbation still a mortal sin now?"

It's one of mine.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:27 PM on May 12, 2002

Here's the proposed saint.

I like the prayer. Especially this part:

"during our journeys through the internet
we will direct our hands and eyes
only to that which is pleasing to Thee"

I figure He made boobies, so they must please Him.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:29 PM on May 12, 2002

And he put so many of them on the internet, that, much like beetles, he must have an inordinate fondness of them.
posted by yhbc at 7:46 PM on May 12, 2002

I vote for Dack. Also for the patron saint of mixed drinks.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 8:34 PM on May 12, 2002

Well, maybe not the Judeo-Christian God, but somebody had an inordinate fondness for them.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 8:40 PM on May 12, 2002

st. zeldman. of course.
posted by bwg at 9:22 PM on May 12, 2002

Nah.... My vote's for St. Albert of Gore.
posted by shinybeast at 9:55 PM on May 12, 2002

i vote for xanthus17.
posted by wklang at 10:01 PM on May 12, 2002

Howzabout St. Mahir?
posted by jonmc at 10:06 PM on May 12, 2002

isidore??

Why can't we get St. Gabriel the Archangel , patron saint of telecommunications. I mean, he is cool.
posted by vacapinta at 10:08 PM on May 12, 2002

St. United States' Defense Department?
posted by hootch at 10:47 PM on May 12, 2002

St. Matthew of Haughey
posted by evanizer at 11:17 PM on May 12, 2002

Well, Eris presides over system administration.

Actually, Murphy is the patron saint of system administration. Eris is a goddess. System administration is a lot like Unitarianism in that there's room for all faiths, so long as you share a certain outlook...
posted by hob at 12:05 AM on May 13, 2002

Dack. Good call, Kevin.
posted by emf at 12:12 AM on May 13, 2002

I vote for Tim Berners-Lee. I love the idea of a Unitarian Universalist saint.
posted by herself at 9:22 AM on May 13, 2002

I've got an icon of St. Isidore of Seville, patron of computers, hanging over my PC. I'm not Catholic, but really, why press my luck?
posted by mooncrow at 11:02 AM on May 13, 2002

I also thought St. Isidore had it locked down? But if not, what evanizer said!
posted by Lynsey at 11:46 AM on May 13, 2002

Evanizer, St. Matthew needs a big ol' ring of keys. Or perhaps a mop instead of a scepter.
posted by yhbc at 11:57 AM on May 13, 2002