It has become abundantly clear over the last few months that the internet is going through an awkward adolescent phase complete with acne and growing pains. With questions of net neutrality and a movement from free to subscription based on the horizon, it's not surprising that the blogosphere would start to get in on the action.

On the one hand you have Dwight Howard. After a particularly rough game last week, Dwight (pro-basketball player for the Orlando Magic) fouled out in 17 minutes of play time. Feeling peeved about that, and the loss of the close game, Dwight did what any blogger would have done. He took to the internet to vent a little frustration. It should be noted here that when Dwight takes to the internet, millions of people actually do read his posts, he literally has over a million Twitter followers.

Apparently the NBA was not too keen on Dwight's public disapproval of the game's ref, and have fined him $15,000 for the entry. He must have used some pretty strong language to garner such punishment right? Wrong. Try phrases like "A really frustrating night," and  "It was crazy." Maybe it was the three exclamation points in the blog's title that ticked off the association. On a positive note, the post is still up on Dwight's blog.

On the complete other end of the spectrum, a librarian at Purdue is coming under fire for a blog post he wrote for the conservative site townhall entitled "An Economic Case Against Homosexuality." Now many student on campus are banding together to call for the university to take action. In a firm response, Purdue has stuck to their free speech guns, saying any action would be inappropriate.

So where do we draw the line here? Do we continue to allow private institutions to enforce their own internet policing policies? Or is it time that we take some government action? The internet has been the Wild West of mediums for a long time, and it looks like we may be on the brink of regulation. Are you ready for that pimple-faced kid next door to grow up, get a reliable job and face responsibility for his actions? While a little nostalgic for the way things were, I think I am definitely ready to see the internet grow up. Who knows, maybe it will end up looking like prince charming. That's be sweet. 

(image from Married to the Sea)