The Internet. Good or Bad
Discussion
Discussion with my Business Partner last night. Top bloke and we both get on very well but are at polar opposites on many things. He's out. I'm remain. I'm a glass half full, todays a better day than yesterday sort of bloke. He's not even got a glass and we're all going to hell in a handcart...
Anyways, he made a comment that the worse thing to happen in his lifetime was The Internet. Even taking into account all the good stuff, the net outcome of its existence so far is a negative one.
My instant reaction was 'rubbish' but thinking about this, I'm not so sure. Maybe he has a point. Would there be the level of vile, venom and division on Brexit if we didn't have the internet? Would Brexit even have existed? Would Trump be president? Would the High Streets still be vibrant?....
Not made my mind up on this but thought it might make for an interesting discussion here....on Pistonheads. On the internet!
Anyways, he made a comment that the worse thing to happen in his lifetime was The Internet. Even taking into account all the good stuff, the net outcome of its existence so far is a negative one.
My instant reaction was 'rubbish' but thinking about this, I'm not so sure. Maybe he has a point. Would there be the level of vile, venom and division on Brexit if we didn't have the internet? Would Brexit even have existed? Would Trump be president? Would the High Streets still be vibrant?....
Not made my mind up on this but thought it might make for an interesting discussion here....on Pistonheads. On the internet!
Edited by StevieBee on Wednesday 6th February 14:36
t, never ever use it. Semaphore is the way forward.Like most things it is a mixture. I've always enjoyed the communication aspect of computers and used to run a BBS when I was a child. A great way for like minded people to get together. It it also a very good way of getting instant information from the entire world as well as research things that you previously wouldn't have access to. I was diagnosed with Diabetes, some time on the internet and I knew what caused it, what caused peaks and how to manage it. I could have gleaned that information from my Doctor, but I doubt it.
On the negative side, it allows like minded people to get together
So proliferation of under-age porn, dissemination of all kinds of unhealthy information and groups that were once localised to be spread across the world.
On the whole though, I wouldn't want to be without the internet.
On the negative side, it allows like minded people to get together
So proliferation of under-age porn, dissemination of all kinds of unhealthy information and groups that were once localised to be spread across the world.On the whole though, I wouldn't want to be without the internet.
I think if it was taken away now it it be like going back to the dark ages.
Pretty much every piece of information you'd ever want to know is just a few mouse clicks away, massive changes in the way we communicate e.g. instant messaging, video calling etc., media is going to change massively over the next few years as streaming becomes mainstream, being able to buy pretty much anything without having to leave the house (I always hated going shopping so don't give a fig about the High Street), the benefits are pretty much endless. It's a revolution as far as I'm concerned.
Pretty much every piece of information you'd ever want to know is just a few mouse clicks away, massive changes in the way we communicate e.g. instant messaging, video calling etc., media is going to change massively over the next few years as streaming becomes mainstream, being able to buy pretty much anything without having to leave the house (I always hated going shopping so don't give a fig about the High Street), the benefits are pretty much endless. It's a revolution as far as I'm concerned.
StevieBee said:
red_slr said:
I am guessing he is around 50 years old?
He's 65. I'm 52.People under 30 on the other hand look at it in a very different way, they often see it as something they can use to their advantage and even something they can manipulate for their own gains. There is no learning as it has always been.
The internet is just a reflection of society, as such it displays us at our best and most helpful, but also at our worst and most vile. What the internet has done is empower people in a way that no other medium has ever done. I'd say it is good, ultimately. It's people who need to improve...
red_slr said:
StevieBee said:
red_slr said:
I am guessing he is around 50 years old?
He's 65. I'm 52.People under 30 on the other hand look at it in a very different way, they often see it as something they can use to their advantage and even something they can manipulate for their own gains. There is no learning as it has always been.
I'm not so sure on this.
My mum is 87. Her last job was a secretary in the NHS the 90s where she was using early forms of the Internet each day, sending emails and the like. She's remained 'online' to this day as are most of her friends. We run social media campaigns for many of our projects and the group on Facebook that often engages the most are the over 50s.
I guess the Internet and 'online' transitioned into 'normality' around 2000. Someone who's 60 today would have been 41 then and most likely full engaged in the whole thing since.
I think it fair to say that younger people use the internet differently to older people but they are far from outsiders when it comes to online activity.
red_slr said:
So over 50. Most people over 50 never really get along with the internet unless they have technical backgrounds. They see it as a hurdle and something they have to learn how to use.
People under 30 on the other hand look at it in a very different way, they often see it as something they can use to their advantage and even something they can manipulate for their own gains. There is no learning as it has always been.
Everyone tends to idealise how things were when they were younger, and blames the ills of society on things that come along later in their lives while ignoring many of the things that have made their lives better since.People under 30 on the other hand look at it in a very different way, they often see it as something they can use to their advantage and even something they can manipulate for their own gains. There is no learning as it has always been.
There's a good book called "The Victorian Internet" about the development and introduction of the telegraph during the 19th century and the huge changes it bought about - along with the hype, concern and panic about its effects.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff