THE INTERNET: A CURSE OR A BLESSING?

[paul_of_arrakis]

Is the internet a curse or a blessing?

One could say that its a blessing, a wealth of information etc, or is it a place concealing a void of transparent lies? are people using it to spy on us? the fact that we have free porn!!! is that good/bad?

what are you views?

[Andrew]

I spend too much time on the net. It is the devil.

[danielsh]

Since its birth, the Internet has primarily been in the control of the people; it is one of the most open, free, democratic societies around. Now that the government is trying to horn in on it (the US government, at any rate), harnessing it for spying, attacking porn sites, etc, things are becoming rapidly less rosy.

If the government gets its grubby meathooks off the keyboard, then the Internet will remain a blessing. Otherwise...

[Terror]

cuuurse... too much on the internet, like Andrew said. I don't realy want to, but then again i do....  :-[

[Mahdi]

cuuurse... too much on the internet, like Andrew said. I don't realy want to, but then again i do....

[Terror]

yeah well, it's not realy the forum :) . more like.... MSN, another spawn of evil Microsoft.

[Dante]

The internet is useful. Very useful. It has so many uses, that not everyone likes them all. Tough. When you get open, free things, you have to take the bad with the good. Or from my point of view, take it all, it's ok.

[Wolf]

Dan, that "grubby meathooks off the keyboard" comment is straight from Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey and you and I know it!

On another note, the Internet may well have to be regulated in some form or another if it becomes the primary method of commercial transaction. I do not say this because it is the right thing to do, I say it because it is the most likely course of action. Businesses will not accept a liability in their modes of business transaction. If the benefit of the Internet outweighs the cost of "cleaning-up" the Internet, mark my words, they will go out and do it.

Furthermore, if you believe you need the Internet to have a completely free and open method of communication, you're wrong. Of course, the Internet helps you publish your views (as it should!), but you can alwayssimply speak to people -- share ideas. Even if all the governments in the world crack down on newspapers, television, and the Internet, they won't be able to crack down on your creativity. People will adapt. They always have.

[danielsh]

Yeah. But isn't that a fun way to say it?

At any rate, 'Net users won't stand for regulation. Imagine what would happen if every Open Source geek suddenly stopped doing his job---a general knowledge strike. There would be anarchy, and the government would have to capitulate. (That's how I like to imagine it, anyway.) Yes, one can always "simply speak to people," but the Internet allows one to simply speak to hundreds, thousands, millions at once. I think it will become a hotbed for revolution in the coming years.

[Wolf]

I think that people will try to make it that, and combined corporate/media power will smash them like so many Easter eggs under a steamroller.

[Edric O]

I think it will become a hotbed for revolution in the coming years.

I seriously doubt it. For all its openness, the internet is still strictly off-limits to the really poor.

[Dude_Doc]

Is it me, or does it seem like every technical stuff, at least about computers, is getting more simplified? That is, they (government) don't want us to know the very basics, because if we do that, we can learn. And when we learn, sooner or later, we will be at the same level as the employed software writers. This can also be called "hackers" :) .

Anyways, I think there are both good and bad things. I'll take it in numbers.

1. Gaming

Since I got my first computer, I've more and more started to communicate electronically, and less "in the real world". This means that you actually have to sit in front of a computer. Less movement. Less getting out and meet the girls, as my parents always complain. More - gaming has become increasingly online based. More people live their lives on the internet. One reason of why public health could decrease. Less people actually meet, and play games together on the TV and etc.

2. Democratic

Wow, the internet is democratic - IF YOU HAVE THE CASH FOR IT. If you pay your monthly online cost, fine, do what you want. But if not, then they'll shut your "electronical mouth".

Anyways, for those who have cash - yes, the internet is free for speach - for now. Ever heard about Echelon? Yes, you probably have. It's the nice, big invention the rich countries established during the Cold War, to spy on the Soviets. Nowadays, it is used to crack down on cyberterrorists, pedophiles and other "scum" (*cough* hackers *cough*).

Well my friends - the rich countries are: USA, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, but it is the US and the UK who directs the Echelon. And it is amazing that it can actually render millions of e-mails, telephones and fax every single day. And it still does. I mean, while you already have invested so much into it, why remove it?

I believe that this system is or will be upgraded so that it can scan even more information. And where is the information growing? On the Net. That's right - there will probably be more survelliance on the masses in the future.

3. Downloading

Also a form of protest against the system. People want to share music and bad games (I call them BAGAFIPSES - BAd GAmes FIrst Person ShotErS - FPS games which don't use their engines accordingly and have bad plots and uninspiring weapons and tools etc). A protest to the developers - MAKE GAMES WITH YOUR HEART, NOT WITH YOUR MONEY. Music is another thing. We download it because we want to know WHAT we are bying, and sometimes - because the prices are TOO friggin big.

I'll come up with some more in the future heh...

Here is a link for some information on Echelon, if you don't already know it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echelon

[ordos45]

And let's not forget the purpose of the internet was for nuclear war...at least at its inception.  The world governments have had their fingers on it from the beginning.

The internet is both a curse and a blessing.  It can do horrible things for your social life, but can be great for looking up obscure information.

[danielsh]

I seriously doubt it. For all its openness, the internet is still strictly off-limits to the really poor.

True, but one hopes that will change. There was a time when it was strictly off-limits to all but the really rich, or really committed. But that change would probably take more than a few years. *shrug* Ah well. There's always subversive literature, eh?

[alchemi2]

many libarys provide cheap internet access as does the upsurge in internet cafes also more venues are now providing access to internet. stores, schools, leisure centers.

internet access is becoming cheaper especially the slower services. computers are rapidly becoming cheap.

1st pc i bought for my OU studies cost me

[Anathema]

Internet is a mixed blessing, like many other technologies. There's no way getting around it, that's for sure.

Ordos45, can you elaborate on the nuclear war thing?

[Andrew]

I think I'm becoming addicted to another forum. Someone pull the plug! Save me! Exams tomorrow and Monday! ARGH!

[ordos45]

The superpowers of the Cold War needed a way to communicate in the event a central command center (say Moscow or D.C.) was destroyed, and thus needed multiple routes of communication to launch an assault back.  Just because a capital city would be lost, the entire defense of a superpower would not be crippled, and the remaining leaders of the militaries would be in touch with one another and able to coordinate a nuclear strike against the enemy.

In short, the militaries of nations needed a better way to communicate that was harder to stop.  Not that I'm complaining, the internet is arguably the best thing to come out of the Cold War.

[Dude_Doc]

Yes - the internet was/is also known as DARPA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA

[Dante]

My old physics teacher used to boast that the internet was invented solely for the purpose of passing on physics infomation.  :) 

[sneezer3]

I wouldn't say the internet is either. It can be good or bad. Its like trying to say is money good or bad. Its a packeged deal.