The internet; pro's and con's

[HydrogenBond]

The internet is a very new vehicle for knowledge. The question I would like to propose is, what will be the long term affect on humanity?

 

To get the ball the rolling, there are definitely a lot of pro's with respect to the easy acccess to information and to information gathering. It allows people to interact at all types of levels, through forums and chats, which would not be possible, if there were only face to face interaction. It brings the world closer by forming one integrated electronic culture. There are probally others like shopping, planning, cutting out middlemen. Online adult entertainment for kids, in the privacy of one's home. Music, culture, games, etc., etc..

 

The con side is that there is often too much information. If one looks up says dogs, the search engines return 2.2 million hits in .01 secs. Very few look past the first 10-20 hits,since one can often get what they need. If one knew something about Web Mastering, these top 10-20 hits can be bought for a price. Thats why 3-4 years ago one could type almost anything and end up at a porn site. This has improved for the better. But it still means that the info of choice is often at least partially sales pitch, blowing warm air up your skirt. The data may be biased.

 

With all this data, instead of thinking things through, one only needs to do a web search and get an answer. This could atrophy our ability to think, independantly. We may get used to others thinking for us. Hiring someone to mow the lawn, frees up time to do other things. To have someone think for you frees up time to do what?

 

If one looks at say chat rooms. This is mostly fanatasy land where people pretend to be someone else. This aspect of the internet is teaching us how to become more deceptive, while making it harder for some to tell the difference between fantasy and reality. This gets young girls in trouble.

 

Another thing about a web search, unlike a library where fiction and nonfiction are in two different wings of the library, so one can know what is real and what is fanatasy or historical fiction, both often come up at the same time during web searches. Science and Science Fiction can begin to overlap in the minds of many.

 

One can see a possbile trend of atrophied ability to think, and too much reliance on memorizing information that is a blend of fact, fiction, fantasy and sales pitch. Most of the people on this forum are smart enough to maintain balance and perspective. But what about the nonrationalists, who are the majority of culture?

[Jay-qu]

information communication globalisation and fun :) whats a 'con'? ;)

[Buffy]

whats a 'con'? :D

Didn't you ever see Sneakers? No, you're probably too young for that one... But to quote: "No more secrets..." ;)

 

Who else is going to change the world, Marty? Greenpeace? :)

Buffy

[Jay-qu]

nope never saw it.. maybe just a little to young ;) - Im sure there is many cons but I was just excited because I love the net, cant imagine life without it since i have only ever lived with it!

[Buffy]

I was just excited because I love the net, cant imagine life without it since i have only ever lived with it!

Now that's a scary thought. And I thought I was young because I don't remember rotary dial phones or black&white television (although I do remember pre-cable and having to stand up to change the channels (no wonder we're in better shape than you kids!)).

 

Opening a socket,

rsh Buffy

[Queso]

the internet is buddha.

 

We all meditate right here at the good 'ol PC and don't even realize it.

 

:)

[Racoon]

look, i found $0.02

 

I resist change. I prefer "Actually" going to the bank as opposed to going online.

Since everything will be webbed in the Future regardless, I will look back on these days and say "Remember when you actually had to Get up and deal with People face to face???" :)

 

Pro - Easy access to Porn! :hihi: :naughty:

 

Con - Time keeps on Slipping... into the Future :D :eight:

[Jay-qu]

Im in perfect shape thankyou very much :naughty:

 

I remember having to stand up to change the channel - but I think that was more lack of up-to-date tech with our T.V :)

[Tormod]

One con is the addiction we're seeing. People get so used to being online that they rush home from a workday spent in front of a computer in order to sit in front of their PC (yes I am talking from experience...). :naughty:

 

A lot of people have problems "disconnecting" from the web. They need to check their e-mail constantly and need to check news sites etc to stay up to date endlessly.

 

But the good things are too many to number...Hypography being one of them. :)

[Queso]

it is so evident that the internet is Buddha, you guys.

 

everyone is obsessed with information, it's a human thing.

 

whether it's porno, e-mail, or hypography we're all meditating

and it's SO GOOD for our brains.

Well, hypography is.

 

constant e-mail checking is compulsive, self centered, and I guess you could just consider it "on top of things"

but like the universe,

the internet is constantly expanding.

 

So I try not to stick to the same stuff,

THIS PLACE being an exception,

Time to explore, learn,

meditate,

"exercise the human brain knowing it is only just an exercise"

[Jay-qu]

A lot of people have problems "disconnecting" from the web. They need to check their e-mail constantly and need to check news sites etc to stay up to date endlessly.

:

Guilty! If I go a day without checking it (never happens) I feel like I might be missing something..and it always give me the news before I hear it on T.V

[HydrogenBond]

The internet appears to be paralling the begining of the industrial revolution. The initial industrial revolution changed culture for both the better and the worse. People left the natural and intimate life of the farm to head to the cities for jobs, with the lure of city glitter and excitement The reality soon became long hours, low wages, dark working conditions for most, and an excessive life for the few. Most people ended up much worse off, but culture had changed to beyond the point of no return. As explotation worsened, the injustice led to the organization of labor unions to give the average Joe a fair shake. This led to progressive social change until into the 1980's. By the 1980's ,the unions were finally broken and the computer and internet began to appear, luring people off the farm of social interaction. Many are now sitting at machines putting in long hours in the dark. Interesting how history repeats itself.

[Racoon]

Con - Electricity goes out/gets Destroyed...:evil: :D :)

 

The new infrastructure is Screwed!

You can't withdraw money or buy/sell things

 

Spiral Downwards

kinda' like New Orleans

[Turtle]

The internet appears to be paralling the begining of the industrial revolution. ... By the 1980's ,the unions were finally broken and the computer and internet began to appear, luring people off the farm of social interaction. Many are now sitting at machines putting in long hours in the dark. Interesting how history repeats itself.

The last first. It is interesting how history repeats itself but never the same way.

The first last. I completely agree it's a revolution, but a socializing one rather than not. Lot's of people exchanging ideas at the speed of thought where as otherwise...not.

No...the last is last. From my long hours at the keyboard, I know as much goes on during the day as at night. And whoose day & night do we mean when it's the whole wide world at the keys?:evil: