amerikajin Posted August 27, 2009 Posted August 27, 2009 I was just thinking about this very thing yesterday. I was wondering to myself what the effects of the Internet, with its powerful influence on society, was a good or a bad thing. For the longest time, I have thought that it was a good thing because it allows us to share our feelings about dating, and it allows us to open up and get a reality check on what the realities of relationships are -- not just the stuff we see in movies or see about from a distance when we observe other couples. I think the Internet let's people see the reality of what goes on between four walls. At the same time, though, I have to wonder if the good hasn't been outdone by the negatives. For example, I'm thinking about the issue of porn. Personally, I'm a libertarian and I have relaxed social attitudes about dating. I think it's okay if someone wants to have a wank to an image once in a while. But it seems like it's an outright addiction for some people, which can lead to other types of addictions. Regardless of how I feel about it, it does seem that porn has a way of interfering with relationships the way that strip clubs used to, only now people can have a strip club right in their own house...they just can't get a lap dance. Beyond the obvious issues raised by porn, though, it seems like the internet is destroying humans' ability to be more social. Many people now would rather avoid social contact and just sit at home and do nothing. They'd prefer to sit at home and use the Internet than go hang out with friends, and even prefer it to dating in real life. I think civilization is what it is, but it seems like the more we 'adapt', we get further and further away from our natural roots all at the same time. Maybe in some ways this is good, but perhaps hazardous in other ways.
Taramere Posted August 27, 2009 Posted August 27, 2009 For me, my chatter on the Internet kind of complements my real life interactions. Often, if I've been embroiled in a discussion about something on the Internet then that'll enhance real life conversations I have about it. Certainly I don't feel that using the Internet has made it less difficult to talk to people in real life. It makes me appreciate the subtleties of face to face interaction, though. On the downside, there have been a few too many times that I've been late for something in real life because I've got involved in Internet chat or surfing. It's something I need to start being more disciplined about. I certainly agree with you that the Internet has altered life, and the way we communicate with eachother, dramatically. Social network systems like Facebook are another example of changed communication. Even just two years ago, I'd have given a mildly horrified response to the notion of putting a profile up on a networking site. Now, I think nothing of it. As an aside, I was reading an article today about the extensive use criminals are making of social networking sites where people freely and publicly disclose information about holiday dates, weekends away and so on. Dates when their homes will be left empty becoming a matter of public knowledge....or, if their profiles are private, information that can be noted by any attractive looking randoms who flattered them into accepting a friend request.
Isolde Posted August 27, 2009 Posted August 27, 2009 It's kinda like when you're hungry, I mean really hungry, your mind is directed towards one thing: food. You will walk miles in the cold and wind and rain to get food if you have to. But these days you can pop some crappy microwavable meal in the microwave and that's your dinner right there. You didn't go through any sort of process to get food, so eating isn't quite as satisfying. Same thing with social interaction. If you're craving it, used to be you had to walk miles to see a familiar face, and further, it would take time to put together pieces of information about people. But the process of getting to know someone would be more satisfying in the end than getting to "know" someone through facebook or online dating, not just because you put more effort into it but also because you went about it in a natural, organic way. I am speaking in flawed metaphors, of course, but you see my point. A lot of people these days talk about destinations and goals, without realizing how important process is, too.
Isolde Posted August 27, 2009 Posted August 27, 2009 Even just two years ago, I'd have given a mildly horrified response to the notion of putting a profile up on a networking site. Now, I think nothing of it. It's really fascinating how people's personal boundaries have changed with regard to what they "would do" online.
alphamale Posted August 27, 2009 Posted August 27, 2009 Beyond the obvious issues raised by porn, though, it seems like the internet is destroying humans' ability to be more social. this phenomena has been well documented in numerous international studies
butcher's hook Posted August 27, 2009 Posted August 27, 2009 I have been thinking this for quite some time now. I have to agree that the internet has been detrimental to social relations, for sure! Even something like Facebook the amount of pain it causes relationships in that before people had their private lives, they had their friendships outside of their romantic relationships and there was no harm done, it was understood two people went into a relationship with individual sets of friends, and social groups. Now because of FB people live out all their interactions out in the open and online. Then there is the issue of what to share with a loved one and what not to share, or the weird connections that happen on there that turn into secret affairs. For people who have weak tendencies it becomes the perfect venue for not only escapism but also temptation. You meet someone on a dating site you are always trying to out stage the choice you made by seeing "who else" you are missing out on, only to find yourself caught up in a buffet of meaningless ties that are neither fulfilling or satisfying but of course you kid yourself into thinking there is someone even better out there. I have seen many of the faces on POF now that I had seen 3 yrs back when I had tried. You mean to tell me all those people are really having that hard of a time to find a date? That’s got addiction written all over it. The one plus side to all this is that we are the media. Social networking online has taken a life of its own and no longer can people sustain bad reputations and go unnoticed especially when it comes to corporate responsibility. Now you are who you are, there is no skirting around who you want to be because people are talking and interacting and news travels at light speed so you cannot have two faces anymore as a corporation and I do think that is a good thing. Maybe the unpoliced internet has become so much so the wild west that in all its negativity and exposure we are actually by accident going to be forced to be good.
Vet Posted August 27, 2009 Posted August 27, 2009 I was just thinking about this very thing yesterday. I was wondering to myself what the effects of the Internet, with its powerful influence on society, was a good or a bad thing. For the longest time, I have thought that it was a good thing because it allows us to share our feelings about dating, and it allows us to open up and get a reality check on what the realities of relationships are -- not just the stuff we see in movies or see about from a distance when we observe other couples. I think the Internet let's people see the reality of what goes on between four walls. At the same time, though, I have to wonder if the good hasn't been outdone by the negatives. For example, I'm thinking about the issue of porn. Personally, I'm a libertarian and I have relaxed social attitudes about dating. I think it's okay if someone wants to have a wank to an image once in a while. But it seems like it's an outright addiction for some people, which can lead to other types of addictions. Regardless of how I feel about it, it does seem that porn has a way of interfering with relationships the way that strip clubs used to, only now people can have a strip club right in their own house...they just can't get a lap dance. Beyond the obvious issues raised by porn, though, it seems like the internet is destroying humans' ability to be more social. Many people now would rather avoid social contact and just sit at home and do nothing. They'd prefer to sit at home and use the Internet than go hang out with friends, and even prefer it to dating in real life. I think civilization is what it is, but it seems like the more we 'adapt', we get further and further away from our natural roots all at the same time. Maybe in some ways this is good, but perhaps hazardous in other ways. As a libertarian, you should realize that there is nothing wrong with something that doesn't infringe on anyone else's rights. As far as your complaints go: porn existed before, strip clubs existed before, sexual addiction existed before, social hermits existed before, etc., etc. People have always complained about inventions that have had a changing influence on society: books, radio, television, video games, the internet.
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