Overall is the internet better or worse for society?

karaokeman

A recent thread about Facebook being an overhyped tabloid newspaper got me thinking.

Do you think the internet has had (or will have in years to come) more advantages or disadvantages?

Obviously with social networks, emails and Skype you could say it has more advantages as regards keeping in touch with friends and family, but would phone calls and post mail been as successful if they continued (to the level the internet currently provides) to this day?

I've also heard a rumour all newspapers will be digitized in years to come and will only be available online. Is this better or worse? I know for example I'd rather pay for printed media than electronic, but some might feel different.

Also I like weekly trips to Tesco's. Will there be a point online shopping will replace this completely? If it does will other people miss the experience?

And apparently there's a new dating app people can use in clubs to sift through those who are interested and those who are not? Looking at that just makes me think how many aspects of our lives can be turned into a cyber commodity?

Discuss.

MrStuffins

There is no question at all that the Internet is a good thing for society.

I think your question sounds like it should've been "Are social networks a good thing or a bad thing for society?"

With regard to the dating app, people have a weird way of thinking along the lines of mutual exclusivity.

"You can check people out before you meet them and "date" online? that will completely take the face to face element away from society".

No it won't. Those things aren't mutually exclusive. People will still be social in a physical way.

Maximus Alexander

Eventually we will all live inside a computer, you might as well just get on board. This is also the answer to the Fermi paradox.

Bongalongherb

The internet is a great thing if used for educating yourself with information as well as using it for entertainment.

Who in their right mind would use facebook, it's for idiots. Skype is great as a contact to folk in other countries as well, but facebook no way, it's absolute garbage full of nut-cases.

There is a lot more to the internet than what was said above. So yes, the internet is better for society imo.

Ask the question what you like about the internet and what it does for you.

Maximus Alexander

Bongalongherb wrote: »

but facebook no way, it's absolute garbage full of nut-cases.

It's only full of the people you choose to add to it. There are no nutcases on my Facebook.

Bongalongherb

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

It's only full of the people you choose to add to it. There are no nutcases on my Facebook.

Fair enough.

I've been using the internet since it arrived in Ireland and I still wouldn't use that facebook garbage, just my opinion I suppose, It's absolute garbage.

seablue

There are pros and cons.

Boards.ie is an example of this. There are some useful, specific forums, but also forums like 'After Hours' where anything goes, and I'd guess the average age is about 17.

I got some useful info about tech stuff and cameras here, but people who post on Internet forums looking for health advice and advice about relationships etc are misguided. How can some one who has never met you give you good guidance?

You can't get a sense of someone online.

karaokeman

Bongalongherb wrote: »

The internet is a great thing if used for educating yourself with information as well as using it for entertainment.

Who in their right mind would use facebook, it's for idiots. Skype is great as a contact to folk in other countries as well, but facebook no way, it's absolute garbage full of nut-cases.

For the record, as of last June Facebook has 1.3 billion active users, that's over a seventh of the world's population. Are you saying that proportion of the whole are idiots, don't think so.

Also, the internet has helped me in many ways and I'm ok with it being used for certain needs and desires, within reason.

srsly78

The internet is not the same thing as the web. And the web is not the same thing as Facebook. Unfortunately this is not clear to much of the population.

Bongalongherb

karaokeman wrote: »

For the record, as of last June Facebook has 1.3 billion active users, that's over a seventh of the world's population. Are you saying that proportion of the whole are idiots, don't think so.

Also, the internet has helped me in many ways and I'm ok with it being used for certain needs and desires, within reason.

Ah it's just me the way I see facebook. But the internet in general is amazing I love it for what it provides, and is good for a society.

GalwayGuitar

There are many benefits to the internet but the the internet has made me lazy. I'll spend hours browsing rubbish when I could be reading, working out, practicing guitar etc. It saps my motivation.

Another downside is it allows people to be loners and shut ins. Pre-internet you were forced to leave the house and interact with people, now you can spend all day in your room without getting bored.

Bongalongherb

GalwayGuitar wrote: »

There are many benefits to the internet but the the internet has made me lazy. I'll spend hours browsing rubbish when I could be reading, working out, practicing guitar etc. It saps my motivation.

Another downside is it allows people to be loners and shut ins. Pre-internet you were forced to leave the house and interact with people, now you can spend all day in your room without getting bored.

Good post, I have to agree with you on that one. There's always a side-effect to almost everything.

JaseBelleVie

In my own esteemed (:P) opinion, I think that for every con attached to the internet, a thousand pro's rise up. It is a wonderful, marvelous thing, with almost limitless applications and uses and think of how much simpler all of our lives our thanks to it.

There are downsides to it, of course. But the internet is akin to nuclear energy in that way; it is not the entity itself that is bad or the cause of problems. It is how it is applied by the people who choose to use it.

Pawwed Rig

we were only discussing this in work the other day and we reckon without the internet we would need to keep a library of reference books around our desk to do our job with the same efficiency.

Jawgap

Definitely better.

I don't remember how research, for example was carried out pre the internet!!

I can run literature searches in seconds, filter out documents that are relevant and run searches based on their references. Then email an author for clarification and while waiting for a reply run simulations on two different computers, one in Europe, one in the States before checking results against a database in Japan - and do all that from my sofa while the kettle boils for a cup of coffee!!

I know it has downsides some of which are considerable, but on balance I'd say it's a powerful force for good.

Tigger99

Oh absolutely better with the Internet. Yes there are debates about the increased availability of hardcore porn etc but the world is so much closer with the Internet. I've been able to book independent trips away for a fraction of what it would have cost through an estate agent. And as Pawwed Rig mentioned the research possibilities are endless.

Most of all though, there are some amazing friends in my life that I never would have met without the Internet.

karaokeman

I guess in some sense the internet separates people who have different levels of motivation (or laziness).

But for the motivated the research possibilities are invaluable.

jackofalltrades

I definitely think the internet is a good thing for society.
If it wasn't for the internet it would be very hard/impossible for me to get into the industry that I am currently in.

I'd be more on the fence about the value of social media.
I think it's still in it's infancy and it could be a while before we see and deal with the problems that arise from it.

_Kaiser_

The Internet as a tool for research, news, staying in touch etc .. absolutely a good thing

The influence of Social media like Twitter and Facebook on some people's ability to interact with each other, feed attention-seeking nonsense, the dumbing-down of society in general (when shyte like some "celeb's" latest "selfie" becomes headline news) .. not so much!

karaokeman

News is an interesting subject, mainly because of AMC Theatres recent take on it.

Now I know they're talking specifically here about movies rather than TV shows (and I'll have to admit here I'm less knowledgeable about the latter) but it can be applied in both contexts. Point is, as traditional outlets decline (print papers for news, telephone etc for social media) and newer versions emerge international news can be manipulated much like social media, both good in theory but each face challenges.

That is not to say I'm a purist or traditionalist in any sense (far from either on wordly matters), but in actuality I think the internet can be used for better if done in a clever manner.

Manach

On the one hand, better.
For instance choice of goods, access to knowledge and to know their are others holding similar belief systems.

On the one hand, worse.
Local shops closing, wisdom that comes from study supplanted by wikis and like minded people gathering in what are echo chambers encouraging their own splintered views.

So overall, it depends.