Has the internet impacted our lives?

[ZandraJoi]

Is it positive or negative?
I believe it to be both positive & negative. Positive for the fact that we can get to know people halfway around the world. Negative because we tend to not know our own neighbors. People can be anonymous online & be bolder. I know I am! I write better than I talk where the words tend to be jumbled together. The downside with the anonymous though is that there becomes a whole new level of bullying as well as hackers.
What do you think of the impact on our lives? Can you list the good & the bad?

 

[PGen98]

Oh it's absolutely impacted our lives, we love a completely different existence than we did even 15 years ago. It's definitely a mix of good and bad. We've got access to so much more, and the ability to interact with the world from a device, be it phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. But we've also given people who should not have it a platform to spread hatred, be cruel, or outright lie to cause harm. We also are less involved with EACH OTHER than we were before. We stuck our heads in our phones to browse the web or message one another rather than chatting to those around us...a bit of good and bad.

 

[Scarlet Rose]

Oh it's absolutely impacted our lives, we love a completely different existence than we did even 15 years ago. It's definitely a mix of good and bad. We've got access to so much more, and the ability to interact with the world from a device, be it phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. But we've also given people who should not have it a platform to spread hatred, be cruel, or outright lie to cause harm. We also are less involved with EACH OTHER than we were before. We stuck our heads in our phones to browse the web or message one another rather than chatting to those around us...a bit of good and bad.

I imagine it would depend on the person, I can only speak for myself but I talk to people a lot more since becoming active on the internet. Granted most of this is online, so possibly not the connection that you have in mind. But you know what I was doing most of my time when I was younger before I had consistent internet access? I was reading books. Like all the time. Under the desk in class, when I was walking to and from school, when I was in my room. So even with your framing it as being involved with each other, I have more substantive and meaningful connections with people now. Especially as my close friends irl, most of this was established by exchanging contact details and talking online. Take out the online part and I most likely wouldn't have connected with them at all.

 

[PGen98]

I imagine it would depend on the person, I can only speak for myself but I talk to people a lot more since becoming active on the internet. Granted most of this is online, so possibly not the connection that you have in mind. But you know what I was doing most of my time when I was younger before I had consistent internet access? I was reading books. Like all the time. Under the desk in class, when I was walking to and from school, when I was in my room. So even with your framing it as being involved with each other, I have more substantive and meaningful connections with people now. Especially as my close friends irl, most of this was established by exchanging contact details and talking online. Take out the online part and I most likely wouldn't have connected with them at all.

Oh I absolutely understand, I was in much the same boat prior to the internet. I kept to myself, I read books or played video games, and I just kept myself away from everyone because of issues with anxiety. I have far more meaningful connections online, as well, which is why I frame it as a good and bad thing, and not necessarily on an individual basis. Some people do horrible, horrible things online, and in that regard it is a negative impact, but for people like yourself and me, that's a positive impact.

 

[Scarlet Rose]

Oh I absolutely understand, I was in much the same boat prior to the internet. I kept to myself, I read books or played video games, and I just kept myself away from everyone because of issues with anxiety. I have far more meaningful connections online, as well, which is why I frame it as a good and bad thing, and not necessarily on an individual basis. Some people do horrible, horrible things online, and in that regard it is a negative impact, but for people like yourself and me, that's a positive impact.

Also ironically, I remember hearing about one of the complaints about books way back in the day is that they were encouraging anti social behaviour and preventing people from engaging and talking with each other hahaha. Although still love my books. Even the ones I hate. Haha as some of my books are incredibly bad, since I don't just stick to viewpoints I agree with. Have some Ayn Rand, Steven Pinker, Thomas Friedman and Milton Friedman in my collection. I do agree that the internet has had both positive and negative impacts though. On the personal individualized level and also when it comes to its impact on politics and political discourse.

 

[PGen98]

Also ironically, I remember hearing about one of the complaints about books way back in the day is that they were encouraging anti social behaviour and preventing people from engaging and talking with each other hahaha. Although still love my books. Even the ones I hate. Haha as some of my books are incredibly bad, since I don't just stick to viewpoints I agree with. Have some Ayn Rand, Steven Pinker, Thomas Friedman and Milton Friedman in my collection. I do agree that the internet has had both positive and negative impacts though. On the personal individualized level and also when it comes to its impact on politics and political discourse.

I remember that viewpoint being spread, as well. To be a bookworm was a terrible thing at one point! Also, same with the terrible books in my collection, I was so interested in the views of some truly terrible people that I bought their books. I own copies of The Communist Manifesto and both of the books of a certain German monster that I'd rather not name, but fairly obvious who I mean (want to note that I picked them up second hand, and I do not, in any way, endorse the ideas or actions of the people behind them). I need to get rid of those, I don't want people to think I endorse any of those views. I just always wanted to know what they were like, and...wow...they're terrible!

 

[Scarlet Rose]

I remember that viewpoint being spread, as well. To be a bookworm was a terrible thing at one point! Also, same with the terrible books in my collection, I was so interested in the views of some truly terrible people that I bought their books. I own copies of The Communist Manifesto and both of the books of a certain German monster that I'd rather not name, but fairly obvious who I mean (want to note that I picked them up second hand, and I do not, in any way, endorse the ideas or actions of the people behind them). I need to get rid of those, I don't want people to think I endorse any of those views. I just always wanted to know what they were like, and...wow...they're terrible!

I think it still does have the perception, although not to the same degree that it used to have even just within our lifetimes. The internet and social media have definitely taken over that aspect now. There can definitely be the curiosity factor when it comes to people whose views we disagree with. I am curious about what you found terrible with the Communist Manifesto. It has been a few years now since I read it, and I am not sure what you would be referring to. I am a neo-marxist myself, but I am not asking from a place of hostility. I am genuinely curious and also deprived of having anyone in my circles to talk about it with. The other books, I wouldn't ever buy any of his stuff. But there are some academics who are on par with him that I would buy. Mostly just buy refutations of it though.

 

[PGen98]

I think it still does have the perception, although not to the same degree that it used to have even just within our lifetimes. The internet and social media have definitely taken over that aspect now. There can definitely be the curiosity factor when it comes to people whose views we disagree with. I am curious about what you found terrible with the Communist Manifesto. It has been a few years now since I read it, and I am not sure what you would be referring to. I am a neo-marxist myself, but I am not asking from a place of hostility. I am genuinely curious and also deprived of having anyone in my circles to talk about it with. The other books, I wouldn't ever buy any of his stuff. But there are some academics who are on par with him that I would buy. Mostly just buy refutations of it though.

Sorry, meant just...his...books, The Communist Manifesto is perfectly fine, has some interesting parts to it.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Is it positive or negative?
I believe it to be both positive & negative. Positive for the fact that we can get to know people halfway around the world. Negative because we tend to not know our own neighbors. People can be anonymous online & be bolder. I know I am! I write better than I talk where the words tend to be jumbled together. The downside with the anonymous though is that there becomes a whole new level of bullying as well as hackers.
What do you think of the impact on our lives? Can you list the good & the bad?

I think both! For example if there was no internet, I probably would have mowed the lawn and cleaned the house today. Instead I've just been sitting here all day.

 

[passenger]

I think both! For example if there was no internet, I probably would have mowed the lawn and cleaned the house today. Instead I've just been sitting here all day.

I am SO glad that forums & internet were not a "thing" when I had a couple of toddlers running around the house.

 

[MrDawn]

I would say yes. Especially the economy. So many people rely on their own websites or Amazon or Ebay to do business. People even use the Internet to do Online payments.

At where I work, our entire system relies on an Internet connection so everything is saved in a cloud server.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I am SO glad that forums & internet were not a "thing" when I had a couple of toddlers running around the house.

You could have just gave them an ipad and had some peace every once in a while though.

 

[PGen98]

You could have just gave them an ipad and had some peace every once in a while though.

I laugh because it's so true, but I weep for kids today, because all you see is them with their face stuck in a tablet...

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I laugh because it's so true, but I weep for kids today, because all you see is them with their face stuck in a tablet...

Yeah, especially at the store. Every kid in a cart has an ipad or a phone in their hand so the parents can shop in peace.

 

[PGen98]

Yeah, especially at the store. Every kid in a cart has an ipad or a phone in their hand so the parents can shop in peace.

It's completely understandable, but kids aren't learning how to socialize properly