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The internet

Deleted user

Was the world better without it?

I love the 'information superhighway' as it was once known for information and connection.

I grew up having to walk to libraries (using microfiche or books) or read newspapers and magazines if I could afford them, for my information, especially current affairs.

TV was sometimes available but the limited channels gave a narrower bias than these days.

I was dependent on 'experts' like doctors for diagnoses (or the occasional book written by these 'experts').

A lot of walking around shops to be done too (which of course the internet is killing).

There was also the option to ask people questions and try to sift their sometimes dubious replies.

However, it facilitates crimes to a rather horrendous level.

It also isolates people and childhood appears to have drastically changed because of it.

What do others think?

Parents

  • Library for information about transport, places, newspapers and magazines. Now everything is online. 

    Basic tv channels which was ideal and now it's too much choice.

    Writing letters to pen pals as the postage cost was 21p. Now it's expensive. Cheap way is to use email or social media/WhatsApp. 

    Used to go into a shop for information. Now inaccurate information online.

    Local charity/thrift shop used to have the telephone box for the main office. 

    In a nutshell. 

  • in reply to Account abandoned
    Account abandoned said:
    Used to go into a shop for information. Now inaccurate information online.

    Not sure I can agree with that - there is loads of accurate info if you use trusted sources.

    Unfortunately there are loads of interested parties pumping out intentional disinformation (think Russia / China in their attempts to destabalise the "West") and heaps of peope who have little clue but profess themselves an expert where they have few skills and little knowledge (some people offering advice on here for example - some good, some bad).

    I've been using the internet since it first became useful (back in the 90s) and working in IT I used it a lot so can say with confidence that it is net positive by a long way.

    Forget social media - that is full op people and their stupid attempts to get likes as well as loads of idiots fighting over politics, opinions, sports teams / players etc. We are better off without it.

    There is a wealth of material to consume (books, comics, magazines, TV shows, films etc) over on archive.org and a number of other resources such as Libgen, so entertainment for life can be found there.

    For those of us who hate to go out and need to speak to people about stuff (in shops etc) then it is a godsend.

  • in reply to Iain
    Iain said:
    Not sure I can agree with that - there is loads of accurate info if you use trusted sources.

    I'm not sure you could say print is more reliable. Remember libraries and book shops carry newspapers and we all know how inaccurate they can be. I'm not even sure you could say the average popular science book you find in waterstones is necessarily all that accurate. Remember they are mostly written by non-scientists looking for a relatable story in the science. Important details can get lost as they rush for a compelling narrative.

    It's not all that hard to find some new age book claiming stone henge was built by aliens if you look hard enough. If you are lucky the bookshop has had the good sense not to put it in the history section.

Reply
  • in reply to Iain
    Iain said:
    Not sure I can agree with that - there is loads of accurate info if you use trusted sources.

    I'm not sure you could say print is more reliable. Remember libraries and book shops carry newspapers and we all know how inaccurate they can be. I'm not even sure you could say the average popular science book you find in waterstones is necessarily all that accurate. Remember they are mostly written by non-scientists looking for a relatable story in the science. Important details can get lost as they rush for a compelling narrative.

    It's not all that hard to find some new age book claiming stone henge was built by aliens if you look hard enough. If you are lucky the bookshop has had the good sense not to put it in the history section.

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