Sunday, August 17, 2003
'An internet state of mind'
What is your opinion of the Internet? Is it something positive or negative? Is it constructive? Does it create more harm than good? After briefly repeating why people feel the Internet is negative, I would like to explain why I believe the Internet is one of the best things that has happened to this world. I would also like to explain the mode people shift into which I will call 'an internet state of mind.' Tell me whether or not you agree.
Probably the biggest negative complaint regarding the Internet is all the scum you invite into your home. Scum being the most sickest/perverted and even dangerous minds are in direct circulation and has access to conversing and influencing your children. On top of all the images of every type of porn conceivable and inconceivable flooding the screen. There are no shields or barriers when it comes to blocking nasty stuff from Internet viewers.
Some rationalize against this saying that scum is everywhere on the earth, on the streets-you can't avoid it. But still you have to admit, it is generally more intense on the internet-the most nasty things happening behind closed doors being broadcasted live over the net is not usually what you will be exposed to walking down a nasty street at night with your children.
Despite the negative, I believe that the Internet is one of the best things that have happened to our world. I would compare it to the advent of the TV or telephone or even electric light and the automobile and airplane. It has enhanced the progress of man and civilization without pollution-physical pollution that is. Mental/moral-yes. And I’m obviously not the only one who feels that way since virtually every business has seen the value of going on the net, including virtually every religious organization representing themselves in some way or another, despite the 'internet filth' every denomination has felt comfortable using this forum and dragging God down putting him amongst all the garbage that this medium filters.
Why I believe this is the best thing? In a single word: communication. It is said that communication is the lifeblood of relationships-of families-of cultures-of nations. It promotes understanding. A bible proverb says: " the insight of a man slows down anger." Meaning when we listen to the reasons behind insulting actions, we gain insight or understanding into the behavior.
Chat rooms. I find the whole Internet chat room thing absolutely mind-blowing and awesome. I've heard other newcomers to the net express their overwhelmed ness in exactly the same way. To be able to communicate with people all over the earth, absolutely free of charge, and even broadcast images is incredible! I don't think people appreciate what they have. It is completely awesome. Really. You hear of people nowadays getting married off the Internet, and I also hear alot of negative comments like: Internet is for people with social problems and that relationships off the net don't work. There are also alot of people in the psyche ward directly linked to the Internet also. But the whole world is on the net. Good and bad people. Smart and stupid. Just think. You're on the net. Doesn’t the net have hope than? J/K. You know what I mean. Chat rooms. The first time I went on Yahoo Chat I scrolled through the list of chat rooms to see all the different categories. Every subject imaginable is there. The whole world is at your fingertips! Can you believe it? For a couple thousand dollars you have the entire planet at your fingertips. You have access to a room full of mechanics in an auto chat room. You can engage in the latest political topic in a political chat room. You can get free online support in a computer chat room. You can talk to university/college students regarding virtually any school subject and compare homework notes or just 'chill out' with common interest conversations. You can speak to a representative from every single religious denomination for answers to your questions or someone just to dump all your complaints onto. Debate rooms for people who are pro or anti-abortion. Rooms for new mothers and parenting rooms on any conceivable topic. And if you can’t find a room specific enough for you, you can create a room with virtually any topic you desire and start your own Internet club. The possibilities are limitless. Do you appreciate what is at your disposal and it's potential?
I came across a book in a second hand bookstore: "Cyberflirt" written by a communications expert Susan Rabin. I'm half way through and am finding it very amusing and recommend it to anyone who 'wastes their time' in chat rooms. She also started a website www.schoolofflirting.com Haven't checked it out yet.
But this 'internet state of mind' idea I want to bounce off you. You know how everyone nowadays is so conscious about their privacy and personal information. But you know the whole idea is so hypocritical. Cause your doctor and Hospitals/Nursing Homes/Police Stations and other government agencies have the most personal information circulating through thousand of stranger’s hands you haven't given consent to. Just think about the mailman. UH! He knows your address!! And your last name. Oh no! We better move. Some people are so touchy to even give out their name. "Um, why do want to know my name?" " So I can come to your house and violate all your children and tell all the neighbors your family secrets." Give me a break.
But on the Internet.... People are taking off their clothes and broadcasting themselves to whomever may be listening, which may be their own relatives or employer. People have the most sensitive and personal information on the tips of their tongues that they are just dying to share with you. They want you to be the inter-mediator between relationship difficulties. Allowing complete strangers to be their sounding board. And what do you know, you never planned it-but now you are falling in love with this person and have to travel to the other side of the world to meet them and didn't your parents say you were crazy wasting so much time on the net? UGHHHHHH!!
The Internet state of mind. So God created us with emotional needs and look where the outlet is. Trying to hide in the dark again. You get slapped across the mouth for swearing in public or from the wrong podium, or that tie is crooked going into church, or why didn’t you wash your face-there's mustard all over your cheek! It's like watching the latest 'R' rated movie in the dark with all your neighbors where you get to watch people having sex and everything and when people swear you're supposed to laugh cause that is the forum and that is the context we are supposed to behave and supposed to react because that is the way it works and has worked and if you don't fall in line I’m going to have to carry you out of here, so just behave. Okay?
Good.
The Internet is bringing us together. Yes we are being exposed to alot of shit. But that is reality. That is our world. That is what's out there. I don't want to see it either. But look at the positive. As an interdependent species we have the honor of helping our fellow humans deal with their crises through the Internet. When invited to do so we can help bridge other people's families together by acting as an inter-mediator. We can help offset chasms and dispel anger and tension by being that 'new friend' of the family to make up for damaged ties. When people are too afraid of rejection to say 'hello' to the person sitting beside you on the bus because of the tense state of mind people are in or just because people label you as 'emotionally needy' for reaching out or just trying to be a human being: there is the internet state of mind where people are allowed to be themselves. Allowed to be the human being they are. Allowed to act crazy and give out private information, and oh no, you never planned it, but you think you are falling in love. Could it possibly be true love? Gosh, no, not on the Internet.
What is your opinion of the Internet? Is it something positive or negative? Is it constructive? Does it create more harm than good? After briefly repeating why people feel the Internet is negative, I would like to explain why I believe the Internet is one of the best things that has happened to this world. I would also like to explain the mode people shift into which I will call 'an internet state of mind.' Tell me whether or not you agree.
Probably the biggest negative complaint regarding the Internet is all the scum you invite into your home. Scum being the most sickest/perverted and even dangerous minds are in direct circulation and has access to conversing and influencing your children. On top of all the images of every type of porn conceivable and inconceivable flooding the screen. There are no shields or barriers when it comes to blocking nasty stuff from Internet viewers.
Some rationalize against this saying that scum is everywhere on the earth, on the streets-you can't avoid it. But still you have to admit, it is generally more intense on the internet-the most nasty things happening behind closed doors being broadcasted live over the net is not usually what you will be exposed to walking down a nasty street at night with your children.
Despite the negative, I believe that the Internet is one of the best things that have happened to our world. I would compare it to the advent of the TV or telephone or even electric light and the automobile and airplane. It has enhanced the progress of man and civilization without pollution-physical pollution that is. Mental/moral-yes. And I’m obviously not the only one who feels that way since virtually every business has seen the value of going on the net, including virtually every religious organization representing themselves in some way or another, despite the 'internet filth' every denomination has felt comfortable using this forum and dragging God down putting him amongst all the garbage that this medium filters.
Why I believe this is the best thing? In a single word: communication. It is said that communication is the lifeblood of relationships-of families-of cultures-of nations. It promotes understanding. A bible proverb says: " the insight of a man slows down anger." Meaning when we listen to the reasons behind insulting actions, we gain insight or understanding into the behavior.
Chat rooms. I find the whole Internet chat room thing absolutely mind-blowing and awesome. I've heard other newcomers to the net express their overwhelmed ness in exactly the same way. To be able to communicate with people all over the earth, absolutely free of charge, and even broadcast images is incredible! I don't think people appreciate what they have. It is completely awesome. Really. You hear of people nowadays getting married off the Internet, and I also hear alot of negative comments like: Internet is for people with social problems and that relationships off the net don't work. There are also alot of people in the psyche ward directly linked to the Internet also. But the whole world is on the net. Good and bad people. Smart and stupid. Just think. You're on the net. Doesn’t the net have hope than? J/K. You know what I mean. Chat rooms. The first time I went on Yahoo Chat I scrolled through the list of chat rooms to see all the different categories. Every subject imaginable is there. The whole world is at your fingertips! Can you believe it? For a couple thousand dollars you have the entire planet at your fingertips. You have access to a room full of mechanics in an auto chat room. You can engage in the latest political topic in a political chat room. You can get free online support in a computer chat room. You can talk to university/college students regarding virtually any school subject and compare homework notes or just 'chill out' with common interest conversations. You can speak to a representative from every single religious denomination for answers to your questions or someone just to dump all your complaints onto. Debate rooms for people who are pro or anti-abortion. Rooms for new mothers and parenting rooms on any conceivable topic. And if you can’t find a room specific enough for you, you can create a room with virtually any topic you desire and start your own Internet club. The possibilities are limitless. Do you appreciate what is at your disposal and it's potential?
I came across a book in a second hand bookstore: "Cyberflirt" written by a communications expert Susan Rabin. I'm half way through and am finding it very amusing and recommend it to anyone who 'wastes their time' in chat rooms. She also started a website www.schoolofflirting.com Haven't checked it out yet.
But this 'internet state of mind' idea I want to bounce off you. You know how everyone nowadays is so conscious about their privacy and personal information. But you know the whole idea is so hypocritical. Cause your doctor and Hospitals/Nursing Homes/Police Stations and other government agencies have the most personal information circulating through thousand of stranger’s hands you haven't given consent to. Just think about the mailman. UH! He knows your address!! And your last name. Oh no! We better move. Some people are so touchy to even give out their name. "Um, why do want to know my name?" " So I can come to your house and violate all your children and tell all the neighbors your family secrets." Give me a break.
But on the Internet.... People are taking off their clothes and broadcasting themselves to whomever may be listening, which may be their own relatives or employer. People have the most sensitive and personal information on the tips of their tongues that they are just dying to share with you. They want you to be the inter-mediator between relationship difficulties. Allowing complete strangers to be their sounding board. And what do you know, you never planned it-but now you are falling in love with this person and have to travel to the other side of the world to meet them and didn't your parents say you were crazy wasting so much time on the net? UGHHHHHH!!
The Internet state of mind. So God created us with emotional needs and look where the outlet is. Trying to hide in the dark again. You get slapped across the mouth for swearing in public or from the wrong podium, or that tie is crooked going into church, or why didn’t you wash your face-there's mustard all over your cheek! It's like watching the latest 'R' rated movie in the dark with all your neighbors where you get to watch people having sex and everything and when people swear you're supposed to laugh cause that is the forum and that is the context we are supposed to behave and supposed to react because that is the way it works and has worked and if you don't fall in line I’m going to have to carry you out of here, so just behave. Okay?
Good.
The Internet is bringing us together. Yes we are being exposed to alot of shit. But that is reality. That is our world. That is what's out there. I don't want to see it either. But look at the positive. As an interdependent species we have the honor of helping our fellow humans deal with their crises through the Internet. When invited to do so we can help bridge other people's families together by acting as an inter-mediator. We can help offset chasms and dispel anger and tension by being that 'new friend' of the family to make up for damaged ties. When people are too afraid of rejection to say 'hello' to the person sitting beside you on the bus because of the tense state of mind people are in or just because people label you as 'emotionally needy' for reaching out or just trying to be a human being: there is the internet state of mind where people are allowed to be themselves. Allowed to be the human being they are. Allowed to act crazy and give out private information, and oh no, you never planned it, but you think you are falling in love. Could it possibly be true love? Gosh, no, not on the Internet.
