Do you like the Internet?

[Brent]

I was born in '79, so I remember a time without the Internet, and was there during the 90's when it really started becoming big, so I've used it, but not all my life. The question is, are we better for it, do we actually like it? Should the Internet never have been?

Me personally, I like it at times, but often I can see how it may be hurting us to a great extent socially. Look at our youth, constantly on Facebook which many have said actually de-socializes us, moving us away from that face-to-face communication. Then on the other hand, it puts us in some form of communication with people we wouldn't normally have.

But what if the Internet just had never been invented at all and did not exist. Would we all get out more and do more "outside" ?

Then look how many people spend their time (like me right now) reading and posting on a forum like TrekBBS, when instead I could be hanging out with someone, or sleeping getting ready for the next day or whatever.

I dunno, just randomly thinking tonight.

 

[doubleohfive]

I like the internet fine; I just don't like you.

 

[RoJoHen]

I love the internet, but I wish I would go out and do more things. I have a decent social life, but I think it could be better.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

I earn my living from it, so I guess it's okay. If it didn't exist, I'd probably still be writing COBOL code somewhere, dying a little inside each day as I learned nothing new for years.

I think that I'd probably get to do a lot more reading if it weren't for the Internet, though, or I'd be watching a lot more TV. I have dozens of books and DVDs piling up that I haven't gotten to, and I don't know when I will.

I do know that without email, my phone bills would be a lot higher, and I'd be spending a lot on stamps - it's really difficult to run science fiction conventions without communicating with people who are spread all over the country (or the continent). I remember what that was like - at one point, I was the only person on the Toronto Trek committee who had an email address, thanks to being a University of Waterloo student - and I don't relish the thought of going back to that.

 

[Jetfire]

As I said in another thread...if I was working I wouldn't be on as much. I don't do Facebook or Twitter and since my laptop is all I got...I can't help but spend time on it and online...I watch shows I like online and movies on my laptop since my TV doesn't work...but if I had a TV and stuff I wouldn't be on my computer as much in my free time.

 

[gturner]

I find it vastly inferior to the Borg Data Net.

 

[NickInABox]

I like the internet fine; I just don't like you.

YES

 

[Chaos Descending]

Nah. It sucks.

 

[Capn Flukie]

I like the Internet. But only as a friend. *takes Internet's hand off his special place*

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

I remember a time without the internet. But I like having it. If there was no internet, I wouldn't know many awesome friends, and been able to find old friends.

 

[gturner]

Without the Internet I'd have never have met some of the world's most inhumanely cruel and thoughtless women, and dated them.

But there was an interesting author who wrote a book (maybe 10 or so years ago) on the massive downsides of connectivity. People no longer seem to know their neighbors as well as they know people scattered randomly about the world. I may be an oddity in that regard, because I know everyone for a block around and constantly chat and gossip with them in person, having learned stories about each house that stretch back to the 1920's. Oddly, the very act of learning all that gave me an inspiration - "Google Gossip".

Imagine that when you pulled up Google maps or Google street view, there was something like a Wiki on each house containing stories of everyone who lived there, who they married, where their children moved, and everything else that seems relevant and interesting to gossipy neighbors or people with a fascination about local, personal histories. Such an application, if turned into an iPhone ap, would mean that nobody would ever have to talk to their neighbors in person again, except to get their lawn mower back, although a simple post on their Google Gossip wiki might get it back sooner.

 

[scotpens]

. . . there was an interesting author who wrote a book (maybe 10 or so years ago) on the massive downsides of connectivity. People no longer seem to know their neighbors as well as they know people scattered randomly about the world.

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing -- if your neighbors happen to be assholes.

I was born in '79, so I remember a time without the Internet, and was there during the 90's when it really started becoming big, so I've used it, but not all my life.

Hell, you're a young whippersnapper. I remember when “pen-pals” were a popular thing. You could communicate by snail mail, which usually took at least a week or two to deliver, with someone on another continent. Now the internet lets anyone communicate instantly with thousands or millions all over the world.

Look at our youth, constantly on Facebook which many have said actually de-socializes us, moving us away from that face-to-face communication.

And I'm sure the same thing was said about the telephone 100 years ago. The internet is a tool, neither good nor bad in itself. Like any tool, it all depends on how you use it.

 

[star]

I definitely am a fan. But it seems like a funny question to ask in an online forum. I would think that unless you have a seriously bipolar love hate relationship with the internet, that pretty much everyone here is going to say that they have positive feelings about it to one degree or another.

I am a military wife (as my sister is as well, and my brother is a soldier). I can't imagine NOT being able to communicate with my loved ones in an instant, to be able to read up on their latest escapades or see pictures or video. I'm spoiled, but hell, it makes living away from family and friends and moving every couple of years not so challenging, you know?

 

[Miss Chicken]

My youngest son is naturally shy and the his friends are either a) People he has known since he was at school b) people he works with or c) local people he mets via the internet. The internet has helped him to socialise.

I think that I'd probably get to do a lot more reading if it weren't for the Internet, though, or I'd be watching a lot more TV. I have dozens of books and DVDs piling up that I haven't gotten to, and I don't know when I will.

In many ways the internet has improved reading for me as it is far easier to locate books I want to read, at a much cheaper price than I would pay at an Australian book store, books that aren't available at my library. Maybe I don't quite read as much but the quality of what I read has improved. The same with DVDs - I actually can now get the programs I want to watch and have almost given up regular TV viewing.

 

[tomalak301]

If I knew how to meet people and socialize and actually have a social life, then I probably wouldn't be on much. Last night coming home from work I was thinking how it would have been fun just to go out and get a beer but I had noone to do it with. Most of my friends from college are in Southern California, and I have one true friend here and he seems to be always busy.

The Internet has it's uses, mainly to do research and fantasy sports. However, I'm finding myself a bit bored with the BBS, and that's making me feel a tad bit lonely.

Anyway, I'm trying not to put my problems (Such as they are) on others, but that's just an honest feeling. I don't really want counceling, but if anyone has any advice, go for it.

 

[Niorah]

I like the internet, it has everything in it.

I find that it saves so much time. Examples:

Looking for an exotic recipe for chicken? Found it!
Looking for the name of that actor in that tv show you watched as a child? Found it!
Looking for info on the migration patterns of the Porcupine Caribou herd? Found it!
Wanna know the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow? Found it!

Not to mention that I don't have to buy newspapers anymore, that I was actually able to find almost all of my elementary school classmates, that I have learnt countless things thanks to the interaction with friends from all over the world... the list goes on. The internet is a fantastic means of entertainment and education if used properly. And it doesn't detract from the time I spend outside, in fact I'll be getting ready to go out and enjoy the day in just a short while.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I like the internet, it has everything in it.

I find that it saves so much time. Examples:

Looking for an exotic recipe for chicken? Found it!
Looking for the name of that actor in that tv show you watched as a child? Found it!
Looking for info on the migration patterns of the Porcupine Caribou herd? Found it!
Wanna know the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow? Found it!

Not to mention that I don't have to buy newspapers anymore, that I was actually able to find almost all of my elementary school classmates, that I have learnt countless things thanks to the interaction with friends from all over the world... the list goes on. The internet is a fantastic means of entertainment and education if used properly. And it doesn't detract from the time I spend outside, in fact I'll be getting ready to go out and enjoy the day in just a short while.

My view exactly. The Internet is an extremely powerful tool for my job, too.

 

[SilentP]

I love the internet, warts and all.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I love the internet.

I'd say why, but I can't without spilling my guts all over the forum. Just know that it's dear to me.

Complaints about the internet sucking people's lives away are no different to what was said about television, or computer games decades ago. Yes, some people over do it, some people pervert it, but many many more use it the right way.

To have inane arguments over Star Trek.

 

[TerokNor]

I also remember a time without Internet and also with very little computer use. I like the Internet, because that way I can communicate with people from all over the world easier and also find people with the same interests easier and information about millions different topics.
However in my childhood I did not miss it at all...and used the computer maybe for an averange of half an hour per week. I got to know, that there is something like Internet with 15/16, and my first own Internet connection with 17...that was great and fun, but I am no fan of children and teens spending all their youth online (or with computer games etc.)...same goes for adults of course. There should be some sort of balance.

TerokNor