Author Topic: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?  (Read 1335 times)

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Offline Ħ

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How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« on: May 20, 2013, 07:05:47 PM »
By our "Internet culture", I mean our technology-centered culture in general. No one can really deny that a lot of our time (for work or recreation) is spent using electronic media. For work or school, most of us are on our butts doing office work or schoolwork. For recreation, we watch TV, movies, listen to mp3 players, play video games, and browse the Internet. Ten or fifteen or twenty years ago (I lost track), people still watched a lot of TV, but not everyone had a computer and I feel more time was spent on non-electronic activities.

I ask you guys because the people here on an Internet forum are more likely to be engaged in the electronic media culture. Most of you have experienced both sides of the coin, so you have experience in both camps.

I myself am mixed. Learning new things (head knowledge and skill sets) is a lot easier. However, my generation's social skills are pretty awkward and, honestly, people aren't that fun or exciting. "Let's get together, guys!" "Sure! Whaddya wanna do?" "Let's watch a movie!" I've had the above conversation a billion times and it makes me a little bit sad. Also, I feel like my generation has lost the meaning of Carpe Diem. I've personally wasted so much time online. There's too many distractions.
 
So, some guiding questions:

1) How do you feel about our Internet culture, generally?
2) In a perfect world, how much time would you choose to allot to electronic media?
3) How do you think this new generation compares to the older generations in terms of recreational habits?
"All great works are prepared in the desert, including the redemption of the world. The precursors, the followers, the Master Himself, all obeyed or have to obey one and the same law. Prophets, apostles, preachers, martyrs, pioneers of knowledge, inspired artists in every art, ordinary men and the Man-God, all pay tribute to loneliness, to the life of silence, to the night." - A. G. Sertillanges

Offline bosk1

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2013, 07:10:15 PM »
A couple of months ago, I decided to give up the Internet completely.
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Offline Ħ

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2013, 07:11:21 PM »
This is H's secret twin brother who still goes online.
"All great works are prepared in the desert, including the redemption of the world. The precursors, the followers, the Master Himself, all obeyed or have to obey one and the same law. Prophets, apostles, preachers, martyrs, pioneers of knowledge, inspired artists in every art, ordinary men and the Man-God, all pay tribute to loneliness, to the life of silence, to the night." - A. G. Sertillanges

Offline Kotowboy

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2013, 07:43:12 PM »
I don't like how it's caused high street shops to go out of business due to illegal downloading.

I don't like how it's made people into narcissists through sites like Instagram.

I don't like how it's made people forget how to communicate in social situations. *

I don't like how it's made people forget how to speak English.

" omg lyk My chemical romance though. can't believe i'm seeing them tomorrow nope oh. "

 :facepalm: You sound like Google Translate is broken.



* I went home for christmas once and everyone but me was just sitting in the lounge on their smart phones.

 :(


** I like to do an experiment sometimes whereby If i'm with a large group of people - i deliberately take my phone out and look at it and see how many people do the same thing through pavlovian conditioning.


Offline Chino

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2013, 07:54:34 PM »
Some shitty stuff has come from the Internet... But I love all that it is.

Offline Perpetual Change

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2013, 07:57:36 PM »
However, my generation's social skills are pretty awkward and, honestly, people aren't that fun or exciting.

Really? "Fun and exciting" are relative terms but, ultimately, I'd say "socializing" is all this generation (the current generation of young adults) has really proven to be good at thus far.

Offline Kotowboy

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2013, 08:02:06 PM »
I cannot understand being on a compter during the day.

I would much rather NOT be inside during the day at all.

Unless it's really shitty weather outside.

I just hate the idea of being on the internet all f---ing day.


But then again - i'm 34 and not 14 :P

Offline Perpetual Change

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2013, 08:14:35 PM »
Anyway, Hayden, to answer your question...

1.) The internet is just part of the world. It's not going anywhere. I appreciate it, and don't resent it. I realize there's a danger of people getting hooked on it. Everything in moderation. Not sure why we should treat the internet and real life as two different things. The internet isn't just some electronic world, it IS the real world, and the boundaries between the two disappear to a greater extent each day.

2.) I don't allot time to electronic media. I just use it when I want to, or when it's useful to do so. I don't set rules for myself about using it. I usually have enough work to do, and enough personal things going on, and enough hobbies on top of that, that I don't have much time for constant internet browsing. Now, when I was a student, that was different.

3.) Kids have always found ways to waste time. As a kid, we played videogames a lot, but we also played outside a lot. For my 14 year old brother, it's the same. In terms of recreational habits now, people my age that I know all have various habits the do which are completely unrelated to electronic media. I know a lot of people who write. I know quite a few joggers, and golfers, and people who work out a lot. I know people who play in amateur sports leagues. I know people who are into photography. I personally do band and also guitar mass at church, as well as other things. There are no shortage of things to do and people to do them with, if you really think life is so mundane and centered around electronics then, no offense, but you are probably not getting out enough. Go out and live life, man. Find some new people.

Offline gmillerdrake

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #8 on: May 20, 2013, 08:33:56 PM »
   I think the internet and the technology in general is great for business and fields like healthcare, science.....really anything where information needs to be crunched and shared rapidly. Where I start to dislike the internet is kind of what has been mentioned.....it has killed social skills IMO. The 'younger' generations really have lost the ability to communicate if you ask me. I am extremely grateful that I missed the technology window so to speak....I actually went out and did things, looked people in the eye when I talked to them, when I said something to them or about them they were right there....I just am not a huge fan of the social media culture of today. Not that kids of today don't go out and do things but I can sit and watch them at the mall or in pubic and 80% of the time it's head down looking at the phone, 80% of them have an earbud in at least one ear....no eye contact, when the opportunity happens to force them to speak its hardly a conversation. It really is 'different' I hate to sound like the 'get off my lawn' old man...I mean jeez, I'm only 37....but it is brutal to witness and makes me all the more determined to raise my kids not to fall into certain (to what I perceive to be) traps.
    I don't facebook and 'follow' a few people on twitter...but don't 'tweet' too much (mainly because who gives a  :censored what I think :lol) DTF is by far my largest online interaction and it's good enough for me so I think I've remained pretty grounded while still integrating my 'old fashioned' ways into the current tech. world. 
  Like has been mentioned, applications like twitter, facebook, instagram.....It s' my opinion that coupled with the 'do no wrong' parenting craze it helps build this 'false' sense of importance because people really do think they have 3000 friends and that they all 'really' care about them or that the pictures they share or 140 characters they type are really being listened to and looked at. Believe me, I'm all for building my kids self esteem and I think my wife and I do a good job at that with our three boys, but they know that when they play a sport there's a winner and loser....they know that even if they give all they can possibly give that may not be good enough...not just in sports but in school as well. But, they also know to keep trying and practicing.
   I think these kiddos believe that Bieber and Swift really 'know' them because they are pals with them online or whatever....and along with the imaginary 3000 friends and 400 views on Youtube of them doing something demeaning to themselves or others...it has created an inflated sense of self worth and narcissism. Spoiled is a word that comes to mind and the majority are completely unprepared for failure so when it happens to them... and everyone who lives in the real world knows it will happen...a lot...so when it happens to those who think they can do no wrong thanks to misguided parenting and a social media culture crafted to prop every user up like a star...they can't handle it.
  IMO a lot of the recent cultural violence is tied to the fact we're raising these kids to believe they are all that...there are no losers...it'll be ok....just a culture of pampering that the electronic, internet, social media culture helps cultivate.


sorry....end of rant....


 
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Offline Kotowboy

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2013, 08:47:16 PM »
I hate facebook and don't use it and I'm getting sick of Twitter.

In the beginning I only used it to promote my music and now that's done I mainly use it to get music and film news.

I have Instagram to upload the pics i'm most happy with and I find it easier to host them there than use Photobucket which is a messy and laborious site.

I have a Youtube account but barely use it and the same goes for Soundcloud.

I don't jump on every new Social Network site that comes along.

I'd much rather be doing anything else than the internet but I don't have a job at the moment and I live in a city on my own so I don't gots much choice ! :P

Plus I haven't spoken to a doctor but i'm pretty sure i'm suffering from chronic depression which means I can never be bothered going to bed until 5am :P

Offline Implode

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2013, 11:34:01 PM »
I personally love internet culture. It has its good and bad just as everything does, but if I had to really say what does it for me, it's that I am connected to so many other people because of it. I can't imagine living 50 years ago, only knowing the people that live close to me, only having a select few to choose friends from, and only knowing about the immediate culture around me. Sometimes I think what it must've been like to live on a farm in the middle of nowhere. What was there to do? Who did you talk to? Without internet or tons of human interaction, there's nothing to help guide or grow your personality or views on the world. Your immediate family would be the soul source of learned behavior and beliefs. That really scares me. But now I have the entire world to talk to. I have met and befriended so many amazing people from everywhere, a few are definite friends for life. I've learned so many things about how the world works, about people, and about different cultures. It's so much easier for people to be worldly with the internet. And with being worldly comes a little more empathy, which is what we need more of.

Let's take one small example on DTF alone, I don't post much there, but I love reading through PR discussions. I love that I can see different people from different backgrounds discussing their vastly different viewpoints. And then even comparing the average thoughts here with other communities discussing the same things. It really is fascinating and educational.

Offline Bolsters

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #11 on: May 21, 2013, 01:49:26 AM »
I don't like how it's caused high street shops to go out of business due to illegal downloading.
To be fair, piracy contributes but is not the only reason for this. We can buy almost anything online for cheaper than what the price is at a store, often by a significant margin. I don't even remember the last time I bought a CD or a blu-ray in a store for example, because I can more often than not buy them online sometimes for half the price. One of the better things about the internet.

Offline MoraWintersoul

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #12 on: May 21, 2013, 01:52:31 AM »
I personally love internet culture. It has its good and bad just as everything does, but if I had to really say what does it for me, it's that I am connected to so many other people because of it. I can't imagine living 50 years ago, only knowing the people that live close to me, only having a select few to choose friends from, and only knowing about the immediate culture around me. Sometimes I think what it must've been like to live on a farm in the middle of nowhere. What was there to do? Who did you talk to? Without internet or tons of human interaction, there's nothing to help guide or grow your personality or views on the world. Your immediate family would be the soul source of learned behavior and beliefs. That really scares me. But now I have the entire world to talk to. I have met and befriended so many amazing people from everywhere, a few are definite friends for life. I've learned so many things about how the world works, about people, and about different cultures. It's so much easier for people to be worldly with the internet. And with being worldly comes a little more empathy, which is what we need more of.

Let's take one small example on DTF alone, I don't post much there, but I love reading through PR discussions. I love that I can see different people from different backgrounds discussing their vastly different viewpoints. And then even comparing the average thoughts here with other communities discussing the same things. It really is fascinating and educational.
All of this and more for me. Internet taught me social skills - respecting others' boundaries, learning how to ask others to respect my boundaries, learning that I am an interesting person with whom people actually want to talk to - taught me English, made me discover music that suits me 100%, just made me want to live a quality life and see stuff and do stuff and BE someone. If it weren't for the internet, I'd be stuck in my hometown, not knowing what real culture is and what it can be, not tolerating all the different people that are out there, not wanting to know all the different people that are out there, not knowing anyone. None of this is overblown, I really have Internet to thank to for loads of great friendships and interests it helped me acquire; I'd be a hopeless, bored social recluse without it.

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Offline kirksnosehair

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #14 on: May 21, 2013, 01:30:36 PM »
The internet, generally, makes my career possible.


Like any other technological advance, it has its caveats, but I think the net overall impact on our culture has been positive.


It has certainly been positive for me.

Offline rumborak

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #15 on: May 21, 2013, 07:16:51 PM »
I'll say it with the poetic words of a musical:






The Internet is for porn.
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Offline DebraKadabra

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #16 on: May 21, 2013, 07:46:42 PM »
 :lol

Offline tapsmiled

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #17 on: May 21, 2013, 08:02:38 PM »
Ill merely echo what has been said; I hate the attachment to mobile devices and the seeming inability of people to have any interaction without looking at their phones.  If texting and reliance on social sites was diminished, I would be less negative because I love the accessibility of media and information.

I sat in a restaurant one day while on my dinner break, and a teenager sat nearby with his grandmother. The entire time they sat there, the kid was messing with his phone and ignoring the woman. Eventually, his father arrived with their food, and I had hope that she would no longer be so isolated.  Of course, the father only focused on the kid and his phone, and she sat there as if she was alone. Such a sad commentary on our society. It was heartbreaking.
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Offline contest_sanity

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #18 on: May 21, 2013, 08:02:53 PM »
Tech Writer Reflects On His Giving Up Internet For a Year

tl;dr version: he basically still sucked at the stuff he sucked at, no grand reformations or realizations.  Interesting piece, though.

Offline Kotowboy

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #19 on: May 22, 2013, 03:29:56 PM »


" omg lyk My chemical romance though. can't believe i'm seeing them tomorrow nope oh. "


Additional - when they run out of characters to put the already nonsensical "oh" at the end of a sentence so they just put "o".


DONT PUT THE FUCKING WORD THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.  >:( >:(


I can understand wanting to type quickly on a phone as it's a tiny keypad and you make more mistakes with touch screen that you ever did with an old phone keypad.

But when you have a full size keyboard infront of you it's just lazy.

Stuff like "bby". because it would have been absolute torture to put the extra a in there. . . .

Offline Ben_Jamin

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #20 on: May 22, 2013, 03:38:23 PM »
The only thing I absolutely hate Is online applications.

Also, I believe a lot of people are addicted to the internet. Meaning their lives revolve around it, that's what I'm afraid the future will instill, our lives revolving around the internet. 
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Offline Kotowboy

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #21 on: May 22, 2013, 03:40:10 PM »
I try my best to be off it as much during daylight because there's absolutely no reason to be inside on a computer when it's nice outside.


I also try to go for a long walk when it gets dark just to take a break from it.

Because I live in a studio apartment and I have no TV and i;m unemployed :lol

Offline ZeppelinDT

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Re: How do you guys feel about our Internet culture?
« Reply #22 on: May 22, 2013, 03:49:53 PM »
I'll say it with the poetic words of a musical:






The Internet is for porn.

"I'm fairly sure if they took porn off the internet there'd only be one website left, and it'd be called *Bring Back the Porn*"