The Internet - Isolating or Connecting People?

[st_swithin]

Yes, this is true.

I feel like beating the heck out of all you people. Why are some of you so rational and logical in a world that does not support those characteristics? JUST SAY NO TO ENTHALPY!!

[Dis]

some of these freaks would get turned on if you beat the crap out of them.

[Az]

JUST SAY NO TO ENTHALPY!!

I share that sentiment.

[Carolus Rex]

Re: Re: The Internet - Isolating or Connecting People?

Originally posted by Eli

Really? I dont see how that follows from the use of the internet.

Ok, you read a lot on the Net, but I was referring to reading fewer books in real life. Instead of starting on War and Peace you log on to Apolyton for hours and hours, answering stupid questions like whether the Internet isolates or connects people.

And here I am, 11.17 AM in an Internet café in Italy, posting a reply to someone I don't know and probably never will meet when I should be studying... You see my point?

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

Re: Re: The Internet - Isolating or Connecting People?

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat

Never done this. Yet.

Well, I have. When my addiction was at its worst (best? ) I turned down quite a few parties with some of my best friends only to be able to play Civ II MP with people I've never met.

I guess I'm the vulnerable kind...

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by Dissident
So what would the world be like without the internet?

I guess it would be a lot like 1994

Ah, 1994... That summer was great... Sweden finished third in the soccer World Cup...

Carolus

[Harovan]

I also tend to the opinion that it does both.

It bears a certain factor of addiction, meaning you will tend to rather hang out in the internet, posting in chats and forums, than to go out with friends. If you have no life, that is. If your friends succeeded to get you out of your home, after at most 3 hours you'll get nervous and your fingers begin to move as if they were typing at the bar table. If this happens, it's almost too late. You will feel the urge to leave the party and to go home. The first thing you'll do is quickly to check the boards, "just for a couple minutes". After a few hours, you'll be feeling better. And before I forget: No, that's not about me.

On the other hand, a personal example. Last Friday I brought my wife to the airport. No, she's not leaving me, she's off to visit her parents for two weeks. My son went the same day back to Munich, in his own apartment. Our hosts are gone too for a couple of weeks. At Saturday evening I phoned my parents. After I described the situation, they said, "so you're going to be alone for whole two weeks?" "Not at all", I responded. "I'm never alone."

[Carolus Rex]

Hm, sounds like you couldn't drive her fast enough to the airport so you could get on-line asap...

Carolus

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
After I described the situation, they said, "so you're going to be alone for whole two weeks?" "Not at all", I responded. "I'm never alone."

*tear*

[Eli]

Re: Re: Re: The Internet - Isolating or Connecting People?

Originally posted by Carolus Rex
Ok, you read a lot on the Net, but I was referring to reading fewer books in real life. Instead of starting on War and Peace you log on to Apolyton for hours and hours, answering stupid questions like whether the Internet isolates or connects people.

With the net = I download books and read them. A lot.
Without the net = I'm too lazy to go to the library and watch TV all day long.

Books are a way to get knowledge, the Internet is the same.

I agree with those who say it's a tool. One can spend all his time on downloading pictures of soap opera stars or on reading/posting discussions about history, geo politics and science or whatever you think is "smart".

It is safe to assume that without the internet the first person would'nt have been reading War and Peace in his spare time.

And here I am, 11.17 AM in an Internet café in Italy, posting a reply to someone I don't know and probably never will meet when I should be studying... You see my point?

Carolus

Without the net you would've simply found another excuse not to study.

[MikeH]

I've met IRL over 30 people from all over the world including the US, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Swizerland, Netherlands all of whom I first met on the internet. Definitely connecting people.

[Carolus Rex]

Re: Re: Re: Re: The Internet - Isolating or Connecting People?

Originally posted by Eli

Without the net you would've simply found another excuse not to study.

Heh, heh, heh! How true!

Carolus

[rah]

Originally posted by Dissident
Sure it helps in researching many things. But that research can be done in libraries. All the internet does is save time. Has it really saved any lives?

I've seen many articles about poor people using medical sites in public libraries to help identify symptoms and getting common treatment. These people don't have the money to see doctors for every little thing. Many people's lives have been saved by early detection, if you can believe these articles.

[Al B. Sure!]

how can you download and read books on the internet... i mean damn... sitting at the computer screen for hours reading an entire book... i'd rather have the paperback


thanks

[mrmitchell]

Uh, Diss...as soon as the Ouachita County Public Library has the research potential of the internet, I'll let you know.