The Internet

[Seil]

Now, the internet was

http://archives.cbc.ca/science_technolog.../710-4205/

designed to be an communications tool, to allow people the world over to discuss all sorts of different topics, current events, and various other ideals and mannerisms. However, nowadays, the world has used the voice given to them by the technology to bitch about movies and to share pornography with one another.

Now, I understand that this is primarily because of anonymity,

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/

people can't be policed by outside influences, like their parents, or the police, or whoever else would teach their children to be polite and well mannered to those around them. The result being that what was hoped to be a way to help the world, has now degraded into a means for us to ogle naked people and argue whether or not Dante can beat Cloud.

The thing is that since people are anonymous, they do not have to deal with the same repercussions as they would in other mediums. For example, if you're a

http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?t=321

bigot, or a

http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?t=23343

pervert, you would be called on it. Instead of just receiving a ban on an internet forum, there would be more serious consequences that would affect your life more than not allowing you to argue over whether Picard was better than Kirk. I was always brought up under the rule "If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all." "Treat others how you want to be treated." But because of the anonymity factor, you don't have to anymore. You can openly be racist, or sexist under the name GoKu9111328_* - because of the internet, people with nothing to say have been saying it loudly. People with complaints make sure that everybody knows about them. People who dislike something tell everybody else how much they hate it.

The thing is that instead of using the internet for what it was designed for, a global communications tool used to share messages and other media forms with people all over the world, we're using it as... well, a giant toilet. There is so much filth and bigotry on the internet, created either by the mass media, or a pre-pubescent teenager screaming at others over a headset.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21882976/?GT1=10547

There's a lot that people can do over the internet that, because of anonymity and whatnot, can result in very serious consequences to others. Credit card fraud, hate messages, and libel.

My question is this: Where did we go wrong? What happened to make one of the most promising mediums of our generation into the most well used lavatory since the Ozzy Osbourne concert with only one Port-A-Pottie?

I know that some of this is very opinionated, and I probably should re-read it before I post it.

[GM-Pandora]

Yes, Internet has grossly derived from its original purpose. From a wonderful communicative tool and informative database to what we have now... Porn, Spam, Ads, Virus, more Ads in pop-ups, more spam, spyware, and yes lots and lots of garbage whine blogs/forums.

What can we blame? Society? Human nature? It's not the first nor the last human invention that turns wrong when put into the people's hands.

Still, even with all the junk I still like the Internet, you just gotta shield yourself from the part of it that you don't like (start with a good anti-virus and pop-up blocker XD) and be selective with your time on the internet.

[Fruityla]

The internet is both good and bad, really. Like everything else, it has its ups and downs.

As a side note: Internet society is NOT a cash crop >_< I want to throw things at my t.v whenever I hear "OMG" used in a commercial.

[Général_Argos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pn4kZyqVRU

lul

[teOx]

lol krim.

thats one way to look at it, seil. but is it really so bad that now people can say whatever is on their minds? it is impossible to censor things said online, as you said, and it is true that people reveal their true colors when hiding behind anonymity.

once you accept what kind of creature a human being is, and the things that go through the heads of people (in private) you realize that this was inevitable. humans are given the gift of sentience and a conscious, inquiring mind. it is a great gift and it comes with obvious drawbacks, but none can compare to the blessing it is and the accomplishments mankind has been able to achieve.

reminds me of deathnote (for those of you who have seen it), people can support things and express feelings that normally would have them shunned by society.

it created a new state of open-mindedness. in the past, people have been killed for their beliefs, killed for believing in different ideals. yet there will always be people who have beliefs and thoughts that are not the norm. does that mean they should be punished? those people you mentioned, disagreeing with things, looking at porn, and being racist online. do you believe they should be punished for thinking those things and expressing themselves?

what the internet is, in a way, is a source/outlet for people to find the things they want and say the things they feel. they can find things they need to buy, or they can find porn if they desire. they can express the opinions that otherwise would have been hated on. i have no evidence but im sure there have been good results that have come from this phenomenon. perhaps people disagreeing with an establishment and finding out he has supporters online who wanted to speak out but couldnt, until now.

on top of that, the internet is indeed still being used for the original intent as well. alot more good than bad has come from the internet, imho.

also, blaming the internet for things like credit card fraud is like blaming a gun instead of the shooter. these things have always happened, and technology (not just the internet) has simply made everything easier whether for good or bad.

-"while i may not agree with what you say, sir, i will defend to the death your right to say it."

let freedom ring

[Goop2]

I.. actually stand up against racism in person too.. It bothers me that I would have to pay for someone else's living costs just because I'm white and they aren't.

But internet safety also bothers me. Someone knowing little about computers could go out and buy a windows box, get an adware leech, and have it tell them to buy a program to get rid of it. And they would buy it too. Fraud like this should be acted upon. I'm not asking for internet police or something stupid like that, but this is a real monetary threat and it is a crime.

Now as far as communication goes, "send this email 2 9999999 ppl or ull die" comes to mind. Spell out your words and stop sending me junkmail. -_-