Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

The Internet!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, INTERNET!

"All in all, the Internet is affecting so many peoples' lives, in a most welcome, exciting and challenging ways". Yes, it is.

This from 1999. My, how far we have come:

http://www.math.umd.edu/~bnk/CAR/project.htm

Mr Bombastic

Actually, you could make the case that the internet has hastened the decline of America. Also, it has given us unprecedented access to information, yet Americans are dumber than ever. Every nut job wacko can post whatever they want on there, and people believe it. Then there is internet porn, also. No telling how much damage that has done. Overall, I believe the internet has done far more harm than good.

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

I prefer to focus on the beneficial effects. Had you asked me 30 years ago if I would like to have the sum total of human knowledge at my fingertips, my answer would not only have been an emphatic 'yes!', it would have been 'Oh, Hell YES!'. Here's a short article I wrote back in July of 2009:

https://www.nolanchart.com/article6645-revolution-at-your-fingertips-html

I had people tell me, back in 2009, (only 8 years ago) that I was way ahead of my time with that article. I couldn't see it then but I do now. "Anyone can type a few keywords in a browser window and literally thousands (or even millions) of web pages are offered in response. This is truly information at your fingertips".

As for the gullible taking everything they see on the internet as Gospel, maybe 'way back when', but not any more. I'd say the vast majority of internet users are very (if not exceptionally) good at spotting BS and calling it. People are coming to understand that some sites are reputable:

http://drudgereport.com/

And some are not:

http://www.cnn.com/

What I see from the internet is a world becoming more and more connected on a personal basis and less and less relevance is being assigned to the 'traditional media' outlets. This connectivity is a beautiful thing on so many levels. Were it not for the advent of the internet, we would all be so much the worse off, not just for information but commerce, entertainment, education, political discourse, the list is practically endless.

As for internet pornography, I get a hunch that you see it more as a sinful pastime than anything 'positive' in nature. I get that, and tend to agree. Having said that, I don't go looking for it and it doesn't come looking for me so I don't know much of anything about it. I know how to use an internet search engine and have no doubt I could find some if I wanted to, just don't want to. That doesn't mean I condemn anyone else for their 'preference'. You might say that what I don't see doesn't bother me. Indifference, perhaps?

Mr Bombastic

"As for internet pornography, I get a hunch that you see it more as a sinful pastime than anything 'positive' in nature."

Sinful behavior is only part of it. Have you ever read about what exposure to porn does to young children? It's not pretty. If they have access to the internet, they can find it. Do you have any idea how many lives have been ruined by this?

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

I honestly do not. Pornography isn't something I spend any time considering as a viable question. It just doesn't register on my radar, if you know what I mean. I tend to look at it this way; if someone wants to look at pornography, they will look at it, whether it is delivered to their computer or their mailbox. Same result. As for children gaining access to internet porn, that's what the 'net nanny' programs are for, and they're a lot more effective than they used to be.

Dr. Evil Loc: In Your Face

If a person has any cognitive skills, they should then have the ability to discern fact from fiction. In reality, some(or many) people, couldn't find their ass with both hands.

boomie54

Your statement is in spirit the same made by authoritarians against freedom.

Mr Bombastic]Actually, you could make the case that the internet has hastened the decline of America. Also, it has given us unprecedented access to information, yet Americans are dumber than ever. Every nut job wacko can post whatever they want on there, and people believe it. Then there is internet porn, also. No telling how much damage that has done. Overall, I believe the internet has done far more harm than good.[/quote]

boatbob2

I dont think the internet is bad,lets talk about them DAMN CELL PHONES,Worse things EVER invented,to my way of thinking...

Mr Bombastic

[/quote]

Not at all. You have the right to be an idiot. No one will stop you. I'm merely stating the simple fact that access to information does not make one smart. On the contrary. It can make you incredibly stupid. Wouldn't you agree?