Do You Think The Internet Has Changed You?

[AB Editor]

A chap (a tech writer) lived for a year without the internet. He hoped it would be a revelation. It wasn't really.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/1/4279674/im-still-here-back-online-after-a-year-without-the-internet

/// "It's reprogramming our relationships, our emotions, and our sensitivity," said one of the rabbis at the rally. It destroys our patience. It turns kids into "click vegetables." ///

Do you think your perspective has changed since joining the WWW? For the better, or worse?

[AB Editor]

Sorry, should have said, WARNING: the article is a little self indulgent...

[Bbbananas]

For better. Mostly. Even though at one point the use of it could have cost me my job (although that was down to a bitter person, not the www itself)

[Sqad]

\\\Do you think your perspective has changed since joining the WWW? For the better, or worse? \\\

Still struggling with it Ed, but on the whole it has changed me for the better..........I think.

Before, i considered myself a calm, quite unassuming sort of guy, loved and admired by all, but AB has taught me "a thing or two" about myself.

Still can't come to terms with "links", one cannot do anything or say anything without a link.
"Good morning"......"could you send me a link to that."
"Tomorrow is my birthday"....." ah! interesting, could you offer a "link."

Thank you www. and of course AB.

[Sqad]

Oops! sorry Ed...........almost forgot.

The internet has also put me in touch with many delightful, sensitive and understanding people (ABers)

[ummmm]

I think it's changed me for the better. I'm much more tolerant and a lot less ignorant.

My opinions were based on what the people around me thought. Now they are more informed.

[Connemmara]

Don't think the internet has changed people so much as technology knowledge has moved on but I do think the cursed mobile phones has interfered with communication, eye contact, rudeness/manners, carelessness (ie crossing roads), also still using them in the car. I think they have been the worse things to come out ever.

[Connemmara]

ab editor - sorry to have digressed there.

[jno]

it's made family history a lot easier, and research generally. But you have to learn wariness and the fact that lies spread as quickly as the truth. So I've tried to keep my critical faculties intact.

But yes, the time I spend at the computer is probably what I used to spend going out, or at least watching old movies.

[Old_Geezer]

Yes, I've become addicted to it (well almost).

Still we all have to have an interest/amusement right ? I just wish mine were more productive and less embarrassing to admit to. Why are the abilities I admire in others, where they have spent ages gaining the skills, seemingly so unappealing to learn to do oneself ? I don't expect instant gratification but I do require some "reward" at each stage. Skill collection can be such a slog.

[Barmaid]

I don't think its really "changed" me - it might have made certain areas of my life easier and certain areas more difficult. I suppose if it has changed me in anyway, it's made me lazier.

I met my partner on the internet; I am now able to do significant legal research on the internet and work from home - having papers delivered by email and returning them by email; my family history has come on leaps and bounds; I hardly use recipe books anymore, preferring to google for ideas; if I have a problem in the garden I can normally find a solution on the internet; I regularly shop online; I never buy a newspaper anymore. ON the down side, the internet is great in providing "a little bit of knowledge" - I've had a number of clients where they have read something on the internet which "helps" their case, and because it is on the internet, it MUST be true even if it is utter nonsense.

[AB Editor]

All very qualified "yes, but.." answers. I think it probably tells us it's a tool, not an outcome.

Do you think you're actually lazier, or more efficient at the things you actually need to get done?

[ummmm]

I'm much lazier.

[Svejk]

Haven't been on it long. Its made me much less arrogant.( Don't titter, I was worse )
Don't find time to read now which is a drawback.

[Barmaid]

Good question Ed. I suppose I feel a bit lazy by doing the shopping online, but I wonder really whether it is a case of "work smarter not harder". It takes me about 30 mins to shop online whereas the supermarket trip can take up to 2 hours. That's an hour and a half I've gained where I can do more productive things. Like sit and natter on AB.........

[Frank97]

Well it's certainly changed my shopping habits, not sure it's changed much else though.

[AB Editor]

"I wonder really whether it is a case of "work smarter not harder". It takes me about 30 mins to shop online whereas the supermarket trip can take up to 2 hours. That's an hour and a half I've gained where I can do more productive things. Like sit and natter on AB..."

Well, exactly!

Seriously though, email vs. post - online shopping/delivery vs setting aside the time to get out etc... it's easy to see where that time could add up into something awesome (some personal achievement like writing a book, or learning something, or running a butter review blog... etc).

But I don't think it does for many. Mainly because of time-sinks like AB! It's easy to get sucked into this alternative reality.

[rockyracoon]

I think it's a good eye opener, in our own time we usually surround ourselves with people will get on with, the internet offers a much broader range of people, thoughts and ideas, the world becomes very much smaller. For me it has been a good thing, I'm much more tolerant.

[andy-hughes]

I think any major cultural shift in society has a change on the individuals affected directly by it.

In my case, i would said it is a change for the better. i am able to secure infomration I need far more easily than previously.

For example - I write for technical music titles, and often in an interview, a musician will mention a brand name. Within seconds i can check the background information I need, including the correct spelling - wheras pre-net i would have had to contact a colleague, or search the library which was time-consuming and often futile.

I don;t agree that it 'changes' people per se - it may bring out aspects of their personality, but the personality is formed well before regular Internet access has an effect.

[AB Editor]

"Don't find time to read now which is a drawback."

I bet you read more words now - but probably not of quality or in long form.

[jim360]

It's certainly changed my Dad. Most of his free time is spent looking at stamps on ebay...