HOW HAS THE INTERNET AFFECTED YOUR LIFE?

Negatives is sooo easy, pop up ads, and porn
mail - unsolicited naturally. And spam. And
junk mail, virus and worm problems, I mean
couldn't they at least have NAMED them
something that was not quite as disgusting?
Positives are so many. All the terrific people I
have gotten to know here and on Abuzz and
on other groups of which I am also a member.
I love discussion groups and that is mainly
why I got involved in Abuzz. I really do
enjoy that give and take, and I really do
like to see in motion, the principle of how
we can "AGREE TO DISAGREE" - I find
that this is a very adult quality, and when
ever you see someone behaving badly
here or on any discussion forum.....
what you are REALLY seeing is simply
gross immaturity.... many many parents
do not MAKE their chidren ever grow up.
And that is a shame... there is NO kind of
self confidence that rivals the ability to
discuss an issue with a person whose ideas
are totally opposed to yours, but to not
take any of it personally. Because none
of it IS personal. I am not certain yet
about children and the net. It is the
parents job to monitor their kids behavior
but lately it seems that parents try to
blame school systems, movies, or
anything but themselves, when their kid
behaves in a manner that ends his butt in jail.

Negative: IMHO, I spend too much time in front of PC. Positive: I get instant access to all the news without being subscribed to dozens of newspapers and magazines; I can communicate with people from all the world without leaving my apartment. And it is virtually impossible to overestimate the reference resources of the WWW.

This sentence sums it up for me -

Positives. I get to "talk to" a heap of people, from everywhere! Organise my holidays, etc. Just better informed.

Negatives: Without leaving the house! Or even my desk!

It has made me taller, helped me lose inches around my waist, and made my teeth whiter.

- TW

TW - yeah - that too!

TW That's strange- The internet has done just the opposite for me!

I do not think that ability doing this without leaving my desk is a negative side. Maybe, I have not enough money to travel to the USA, UK and Australia just for visiting these countries?

Positive benefits -
The availability of finding all sorts of excellent information which would otherwise be difficult to get a hold of. For example, I have a family member with a pretty rare medical problem. Pre-online, I used to (would you believe?) sneak into a university medical library and pretend I was a med student, to photocopy journal articles, etc! Once I was online, I was able to find out more information in an afternoon, simply sitting at the computer in the house than by spending hours looking through books of abstracts, and I was also alble to find others with the same problems on forums! And of course, I can do the same for practically every subject under the sun.
Interacting with others across the globe There is little opportunity for me to meet with people from places other than the UK where I live. I only know a very small number of folks from other countries. It gives me great insight to be able to chat with people from other cultures online.
Finding other people with the same interests as me For example, none of my friends in the 'real world' have the same tastes in music as me. The internet allows me to discuss my interests with others who feel the same

The negatives -
I spend more time online than I should - it is replacing too much of the spare time I have which I think would be better spent interacting personally with people in the 'real world' I would never give up the internet, but it truly is addictive!

Negative interactions - I have witnessed some interactions on forums which have, quite literally, made me feel sick to the stomach, interactions filled with utter hatred. I know they are just words on a screen, but they have certainly affected me. I am all for free speech, but online, moderated forums are my preference.

Thinkzinc: a very objective evaluation, and I agree with all your points. I voted 'still evaluating' because I haven't really had time to develop much skill with taking full advantage of the wealth of information available on the web, but have spent just enough time here to see the possible negative influence it could be to people who are young, mentally unstable or just easily swayed by junk. there is some incredibly sick stuff on the internet, and my ideas about freedom of speech have been seriously challenged by what is accessible here.

However, how else could it be possible to talk to smart people all over the world, or find out the latest research and information so easily?

dream,
I, too, appreciated TK's posting. It's the type of sharing one hopes will be attracted to a thread.

I don't know if I have become anti-social or too lazy in retirement; but, for years I have not encountered many people in my community with whom I enjoy interacting. The availability of the internet has put me in contact with numerous interesting people; for that, I am very grateful.

Thinkzinc, what makes you sick: opinions you do not agree with (especially regarding the planned war in Iraq) or foul language/personal insults?

Steissd, I'm talking about personal insults in the most offensive manner I could have imagined. I'm talking about groups launching 'mob' attacks on users who maybe don't share their views and therefore the decision is made to resort to vicious personal jibes.
Of course, there are a lot of views online which I don't agree with, but I respect that people are entitled to their opinions and I think that the internet is an excellent place to discuss views, e.g. about possible wars, in a calm and collected manner, such as is possible on sites such as this.

Mapleleaf



I can certainly relate to what you are saying. There are a few people in my community with whom I can relate in an intelligent way, but I don't see them all the time. I also love the idea of relating with individuals of all ages and walks of life, something that I would not be able to access where I live.

I am getting very very weary of "organ symphonies", if you know what I mean!

It enables me to stay in touch easily with family and friends who live in other countries. I can 'meet' people from all over the world. I can get information very conveniently. I can buy and sell stuff right from my desk. I cannot image my work without the internet.

I spend a whole evening in front of the computer (after having spent almost all of my working day in front of the computer!).

Negative: Although having access to so much information can be a good thing, I think people have too much access to incorrect information. Anyone who can type can make something look newsworthy, even if it's junk. The urban legends that people take for fact always boggle my mind.

...and the spam, and the pop-ups, and the cost and the waiting....

Positive: Making new friends. Some of the people on A2K are my greatest friends that I've met (from 'the other site'). I see them in person now all the time, sometimes several times a week. A few have become some of my best friends.

<sniff>.....I love you guys........

Of course, I also love seeing people here that I have yet to met face to face. Where else am I going to find someone from Australia to discuss literature with? Jeez - this is the life!

And research! I LOVE research. I can look up anything and dig and click......just love it. I still use the library too, though, but I always look up the books online first.

As far as bad interactions and irritating people - I disregard them as much as I do in my 'real life'. Although, it is easier to ignore and avoid them here, but more fun to tell them where to go in 'real' life.

Stop yer blubbering there Sugar! lmao

At least I'm off cocaine!

I hate it when I'm tracking down information and I come to another one of those membership screens - if I just fill it out and send them $19.95 annual dues----------

I'm thinking for me it's a positive positive positive!! Like tapping into my own goldmine. On both personal and professional levels - it's totally and asset. I was an information junkie before the internet and continue to be, expect to be hardwired in soon! LOL
not really but you never know!

<note to self: put fishin on list of people to tell where to go in 'real' life>


C'mon fishin, you know how I always cry with joy. I'm a verra sensitive petite flower. Someone get me a Kleenex.


LOL