Is the internet destroying us all?

[Wes]

I can remember back in the mid 90's telling my parents the internet was a huge encyclopedia of information that would help me with school. And while I was being honest, I also had a hidden agenda to watch porn. What underage teen wouldn't be excited over the inernet sensation that provides free porn? And it seems all our parents bought it.

When the internet began we used it for 3 things; e-mails, information and...well... porn. Then Napster was formed and we discovered a way to download songs for free. Some might call this the beginning of the end. From there, the internet became better and faster as we moved away from dial-up.

Today, we use the internet for social networking, free music, free movies, free TV, MMOPRG's and other gaming, shopping, forum discussions, e-mails/messengers, and... well... porn. We still use it for information but it seems our encyclopedia on the web has become wikipedia; a site where anybody can say anything about anyone or anything. Which doesn't make it as reliable as looking something up in a book at your library before the internet existed.

Before napster, we had to pay for music. You wanted that new Nirvana album or new 2Pac CD you HAD to buy it. Maybe you still pay for music today but you don't have to. People like myself save money by downloading it for free and perhaps I'm part of the problem. Our music today sucks IMO, I feel it has gotten progressively worse over the last decade. Could this have to do with the fact we don't pay for music anymore? The same can be said about streaming/downloading movies and TV. How many of you have complained about movies losing their ability to tell a good story and focuses primarily on state of the art CGI? How many of you are sick of Hollywood remakes? Could our "stealing" be a result of poor movies every year?

Some say social networking has become a huge waste of time, while YouTube meme's have turned people into one hit wonder stars (just like when Bart Simpson became the "I didn't do it" kid). People are getting 15 minutes of fame and we're constantly looking for that nest fad of the week.


TL;DR What are your thoughts on the internet? Has it gotten out of control? Does it encourage narcissism? Is it responsible for our horrible era of music? Do we really need THAT much porn? Is Wikipedia a joke? Discuss.

 

[Chris_Crime]

I remember having to go to the downtown Dallas library to use their microfilm depository. I'd go with a group of friends or a girlfriend. Good times, uneventful times. Either way, your day was built around that trip. I remember having to go on the old fashion "great porn hunt." Some guy at school that you never spoke to had a VHS of 3 pornos on one tape? Time to introduce myself for a barter and trade.

Well, what can i say? I totally agree. I feel bad for the next generation, the one who'll never know the world without an internet capable cellphone.
In an internet era, childhoods are lost in the blink of an eye. But having information at your fingertips is fucking cool. Still, there's a reason we still reference the Golden Girls in tv. It's because this generation's accomplishments have all been made in binary code.
Twitter, while cool, is not enough.

 

[MattAY]

Hmmm a good thought.

For me, it's not out of control - but rather we rely on it too much. We use internet for information, gaming, shopping, hell - most of us use it to book a holiday now. It is definitely the best (and what it was originally advertised as) "information highway." The thought of actually going out of the house seems farther by the bandwidth!

In terms of 15 minutes of fame, well I actually like that bit if I'm honest. Just any randomer from the streets can become famous if enough 4chan members give it a thumbs up.
We all love keyboard cat, what a joy he was.

Downloading music is a joy for me too. The only thing I feel bad for is the album art. I used to love buying a CD and look at the disc sleeve within as I listen to the songs. Now it's just about getting the music as cheap and quick as possible.

 

[WickedLiquid]

YouTube meme's have turned people into one hit wonder stars (just like when Bart Simpson became the "I didn't do it" kid). People are getting 15 minutes of fame and we're constantly looking for that nest fad of the week.

It's funny how that Simpsons episode aired in the early stages of the internet before YouTube even existed. So we still had those fads back then I guess because that was the moral of the episode. But it looks like we didn't listen. Today it has gotten out of control. We even have shows like Web Soup and Tosh.O that are all about meme's. Basically we live in an age where everybody can be a celebrity, we can't be rich but we can be famous. Even if you're not a meme, you still have a soap box on Twitter and Facebook.

I would agree it is too much. However even though there is alot of unnecessary time wasting done on the web, there is also a sea of information. The internet has changed the way we look at the world and is the reason why I'm agnostic. If I didn't have access to information on different cultures and religions then I would only believe what my family believes. I wouldn't hear the other side of the story on religion from people out there who also believe they're 100% right and everyone else is 100% wrong. Without the internet I wouldn't be able to see what life is like in other countries, know what I mean?

Yes, there are annoying 14 yr old girls living on Twitter with their online drama, but there is also a world of education online. It's also a great way to find job postings, places to live, etc.

I remember having to go on the old fashion "great porn hunt." Some guy at school that you never spoke to had a VHS of 3 pornos on one tape? Time to introduce myself for a barter and trade.

That guy would be me. In grade 9 I found a way to make money by recording porns onto VHS and selling them to other grade 9ers. My uncle had an adult channel and when I went over there I'd record them while playing his sega genesis alone in his basment while the adults hung out upstairs all night. Eventually I gave it up after almost getting caught.

 

[De-Ting]

Ever since I discovered the internet, I've been using it to connect with people. Forums by far have been the #1 thing I use the web for.

Still, I have mixed feelings about the internet. There's so much good in it, but people just aren't satisfied with leaving it at that and so many damn virus-mongers, trolls and phishers just have to stick their butts into it.

I conclude that the internet is just like any other form of media. It can be very good, or very bad.

 

[Chris_Crime]

Hurts the economy.
or
FREE SHlT!


Both, friends. BOTH. :shock: / :crying4: / :lurk: ?

 

[Rakon]

If I'm not masturbating, I find the internet pointless

 

[DocMoc]

The internet isn't destroying us all. Just our brains.

 

[used44]

If I'm not masturbating, I find the internet pointless

Good thing you're constantly masturbating.