The Internet Generation

[Enigma]

I grew up with the internet.  The internet has helped shape me; it has helped me become who I am today.  I spent my teen years posting on phpBB boards like this one, exploring the far corners of the internet, and furthering my understanding of the internet culture.  The internet is a major milestone in human achievement.  The internet is a place where we as people are free to exist without borders, race, creed, or gender.  Never before have we been able to connect with one another as we can with the internet.  It is truly a shame that governments and other capitalist enterprises wish to control the internet or force it to turn a profit.  The internet is a bastion of freedom that must remain by the people and for the people, unsullied by scheming governments or greedy corporations. 


Thoughts?

[anaklio]

I'm lucky to have lived before and after the internet. *WOW what a different world we live in today* A flaw in our thinking is that something (e.g., some technological developoment) is going to change us. Nothing really changes. Life is different, but still the same.

Is your computer really faster today than the older models? Does your computer really save you time?

[liza123]

I'm lucky to have lived before and after the internet. *WOW what a different world we live in today* A flaw in our thinking is that something (e.g., some technological developoment) is going to change us. Nothing really changes. Life is different, but still the same.

Is your computer really faster today than the older models? Does your computer really save you time?

Oh,yes. The computers of today are faster than the older models. Does it really save time? Yes(unless it breaks down or some data goes missing!)...But, I would not say whether to be in the internet generation is a good or bad thing. There are pros and cons

[SWM]

i remember my first computer. ha! i wonder if there is some video on youtube of a ZX spectrum 48k,

the zx spectrum  had 48Kb of memory. thats not even half a MB. oh dear!

pictures and spec on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum

the internet has certainly changed my life. for the better or worse i have no idea. if i was not sat here typing this message iwould be outside in my garden tending my vegetables. is that a bad thing? i get all my work done. the internet has certaily enhanced the way that i work.
 

[anaklio]

Computers and the internet are amazing, wonderful tools. But ...

I don't think the computers today are really faster. They do at lot more, but they don't really feel "faster" to me.

I also don't think computers save that much time. They need a lot maintenance, and they break a lot.

However, one way I can see that they save time is by letting us not drive to work. A lot of people spend a ton of time in commute. Working at home saves drive time, and it's good for the environment. But there's tons of old computers in the dumpster, so I'm not sure they are environmentally friendly either :-(

To be clear...I'd be "dead" without my computer and internet. But sometimes I fantasize about a "tribal" existence without technology.

[S. Earl Martin]

 I grew up before computers. I have noticed a number of ways that the internet or computers save time. I can shop on line and don't have to wait on hold forever. Then have a sales person not know the answer to my inquiry. Or I can search for information about anything and don't have to go to the library to look it up. Plus the information is current. Not a book that might years old.
When I write music or a literary work the time I save not having to retype something is amazing. Making changes is really fast. I can even save several versions until I decide which one I like best. Or even merge them into one. I can easily reference other works by other artists or authors and see how they composed their work. Not to plagiarize it, but to follow the same technique as they used.
I have an extensive library of reference books, but I noticed when I got the internet the number of reference books I bought almost stopped. I use the net to look up information now. I only have bought books that I may need to take in the field. If I had a mobile internet connection and a laptop I might not even have bought them?  
On the other hand I spend a lot of time looking at emails and videos people send me or dealing with junk mail etc. Or being frustrated because my internet service is slow for some reason. Also when my computer has been hit by viruses. One time my wife and I were in negotiations about a project we had been working on and we declined the offer from a company to buy our work. They hacked my computer and stole part of the work until I realized what was happening and terminated the internet connection.  Even with 2 firewalls they still got thru. If it had only been a hard copy it would not have been possible.
Weather or not my computer saves time is a question that I really can't answer. I am addicted to it now though. 

[liza123]

I am addicted to it as well, S Earl Martin. My only problem is eye pain due to too much staring at the computer screen. I keep telling myself that I need to breaks, etc before continuing my work to reduce eye strain but, it hardly happens. I simply get glued to the computer and forget about the passing time

[S. Earl Martin]

I have had to set a timer at times so I will realize what time it is and get off the computer and do other things that need to get done. Our preception of time and temperature is interesting. When I am having to wait for my computer to boot up or for something to download when it is slow. It seems to take forever, but when I am actually doing something an hour or more can pass and it seems like just a few minutes. As far as temperature is concerned In the summer 80-85 F ( 28-32 C?) seems hot, but in the winter it feels good.

Computers? I think about how far computer technology has come in such a short time and wonder where it will lead in the near future? Will we really have robots and automated houses? I realize they exist already, but I mean on a large scale. I believe humans are at a major crossroads. We as a people will either use our technology to propel ourselves into a "Brave New World". Or we will use it to destroy ourselves. Curiouser and Curiouser. Oh what a world! What a world!

[SWM]

that is an intersting observation. something i have become aware of myself. at times i appreciate the moment to be within myself. but at other times i need the world to hurry up and catch up with my internal pace.

[Karaten]

Internet makes things difficult. Curse you internet!

[liza123]

I have had to set a timer at times so I will realize what time it is and get off the computer and do other things that need to get done. Our preception of time and temperature is interesting. When I am having to wait for my computer to boot up or for something to download when it is slow. It seems to take forever, but when I am actually doing something an hour or more can pass and it seems like just a few minutes. As far as temperature is concerned In the summer 80-85 F ( 28-32 C?) seems hot, but in the winter it feels good.

Computers? I think about how far computer technology has come in such a short time and wonder where it will lead in the near future? Will we really have robots and automated houses? I realize they exist already, but I mean on a large scale. I believe humans are at a major crossroads. We as a people will either use our technology to propel ourselves into a "Brave New World". Or we will use it to destroy ourselves. Curiouser and Curiouser. Oh what a world! What a world!

That is what I have been thinking of lately, to set an alarm so that I stop after a certain period and continue later.  :)I will start practising from now on.

[S. Earl Martin]

When I used to operate my business I had to be very punctual and keep a tight schedule. Planners, budgets and appointments and even then I wouldn't get everything done. After I retired in my 40's to operate the farm it was a shock to an extent. I still had to keep certain schedules, but the pressure to go, go, go, was gone. Now I can do whatever I want most days. When my health will allow. I think it is ironic that I have to set a timer so I won't spend all day on the computer or playing video games. I have started playing a game in the morning and only stopped to take care of shall we say physical needs. Then I realize that the room has gotten dark and it is night. I played all day long. I didn't even stop to eat.

I was looking on line and I saw an article that claimed video games were addicting. That once people started playing video games they were hooked for life. One of the people commented that the same could be said for television. Or a number of other daily activities.  Whatever the activity the question is this? What is the end result? Is it causing a positive or neutral effect. Or is it in some ways a negative effect? If negative is the negative something that needs to be changed or modified? Or are there positive effects that outweigh the negative?

I have had friends say to me that they think video games are a waste of time and money, but they will spend hours watching a sporting event and spending money to buy novelties and cloths with their teams logo.

Freewill is a interesting thing. We are free to use our time, energy and resources to improve our lot in life or to destroy ourselves. 

[liza123]

I can relate to that. I used to be addicted to story books; no sense of time and food did not matter. Sometimes , I had to force myself to attend to Nature 's call. I used say to Nature 's call, "Why do you have to disturb me now?I am busy reading!". That is how grumpy I was.

I am more careful whenever I start reading story book these days. I do not want to get hooked.

BTW, I am not sure if video games is really a bad thing. I think that there is some good in that as well. It is just a matter of how we use them