Debate: Is the Net a Toy for the Rich?

[U-96]

Scott's news post of the "internet-enabled" bench in Bury St Edmunds, UK, got me thinking.

1) Are such things a complete and frivolous waste of money?

2) How "empowering" is the internet? Panacea or Pandora's Box?

3) Should the Average Joe (or Jane) care? How - in a world of viruses spam and porn, do we persuade the regular person that there is something of value here?

[SPEEDO]

I look at the internet as the worlds largest and most frequently updated encyclopedia in the world!!

[VERT]

What speedo say, and sysopt is a page in that encyclopedia.

[Hellmund]

I just think of it as an easy way to find things overseas, for instance my bro's needs a gearbox countershaft for an FJ Holder, this is an old car on the order of 50 years but I've already got 3 e-mails of people likely to have it, it's an excellent way of finding things if you weed out the unpleasantries.....
It's also as Speedo said an encylodpedia where a LOT can be learned, of course I'd recommend against copy/pasting for assignments in history, a friend a few years ago did that but the website author decided napoleon won..... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif He should've atleast read the whole thing through before......

[wyvrn]

The Internet is great for communicating with people you don't see everyday (like family), finding deals on airlines and hotels, a big giant encyclopedia (once you filter out the junk and propoganda), and as a hobby for passing the time.

I can imagine a world without the Internet, Sysopt, and email. I grew up in that world and it was not half bad. So I try to regulate my Internet time and not make it another time waster like the TV http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

The Internet is not only for the rich. You can get online at your local library and at a lot of local malls for nada. The real question is quantifying the benefits the Internet gives you personally over the time burned using it to get those benefits. I don't think everyone needs to be online to survive, though it helps to know how to email in the business world.

[This message has been edited by wyvrn (edited 08-14-2001).]

[flea]

With pc/internet prices dropping its for everone now. Lots of people still cant afford one, but you dont have to be loaded either.

[Vagabond]

I am by no means rich but hey you find ways to pay for what you really want.
Plus the internet as helped advance science many fold due to simple info sharing...(to many examples to list)

[samwichse]

I like to use itfor keeping in touch with people I normally wouldn't be able to afford to (a long way away). For me, it's a cost saving measure. Plus, with things like NetZero (hate it as I may), you can get free access and a computer capable of surfing can practically be had for free now.

[samwichse]

Oops

[This message has been edited by samwichse (edited 08-14-2001).]

[patrickt]

I live in Oaxaca, Mexico. I use the internet for email with family and friends, to read newspapers, to listen to NPR, and, oh yes, to try to keep up-to-date by reading tech forums. I enjoy it but I don't consider it a toy.

[hirschY]

Cant we thank Al Gore for all this?
Or is that really Xerox?

Anyway, It's a wonder tool, not a lifestyle

[club_med]

I too agree with Speedo, but I also would like to say that the internet is what you make of it.

In the hands of a moron its a waste of time, but in the hands of someone who knows how to get what they want it is a very powerful tool.

[rh71]

I've retrieved tons of info via the web, learned from, and have a career out of it. At the same time, I wouldn't have spent as much money if there was no world wide web. They should do away with all the e-commerce sites. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[card_magic]

Well.. I think the internet has yet to realize it's full potential. Just think of the power and complexity of the internet. It is quite possibly the worlds greatest superstructure. But what do we use it for? So little teeny-bopper girls can talk on the phone AND to the exact same friend on instant messenger at the SAME TIME?! My little sisters do that. Or how about, to IM your friend down the hall of the dorm, "hey.. you ready for dinner?" rather than walking 5 yards down the hall. Aside from communication, it is used for reference, and shopping. Whoop-de-doo. This can't possibly be it for the internet. There is probably a whole new way to utilize it's power... however, nobody had thought of it yet.

Thats my opinion anyway.

-Jim

[RamonGTP]

I'd be lost without the net, I've leared a great deal because of it. There is a lot of bad information out there, but there is tons of good info, you just need to weed it out. My understanding of computers alone has been greatly improved through the sysopt forum, I also know a lot more about cars (specifically mine) becuase of similar forums. And hey, its even an ok place to meet women, haha.

-Ramon

[thekingofpain]

Cant remember who it was---one of the super-fabulous new teen pop singers thats makin money hand over fist discovered she was addicted to internet shopping spending 1000's at a time on un needed things...
I know if I didnt limit my card I could easily get crazy with the cheeze-wiz...

[daveleau]

I don't believe it is a toy for the rich, but I do not see that making benches with internet access as being intelligent with the state's money either. Anyone can be on the web. All you have to do is go to the local library. The only barrier I can see is that many are afraid of computers still. The ability to look up virtually anything withing seconds is such a powerful tool.

Dave

BTW- gotta move this to Gen Tech since it is Tech oriented.

[dyer_maker]

I agree with SPEEDO...the internet is the world's largest and most up-to-date encyclopedia. I don't think that there is anything one can't find if they put a little time into looking.

dyer_maker

[U-96]

lol daveleau you gave me palpitations when I saw this thread locked up in Community http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


I have to agree, it's a great resource for meeting people and getting information and ideas.
What concerns me is that there is so very little verification.

I think the greatest problems, and this is true of all media, not just the internet, are:

1) verification of information and identity. Wacky ideas, wacky people; you just don't know what you are getting. There are some very useful "hallmark" sites where you can be sure of good info, but there will always be stuff out there that is wrong - often deliberately so to create confusion or controversy. I would hazard that opinion outnumbers fact by a considerable margin with regard to web content.

2) commercialisation and exploitation. A fine line between the two. In most free countries, people have the right to pursue commerce for profit. The internet is no different from any other device: TV, radio, print, in this respect. But does this right extend to spam, porn, gambling, spyware, UCITA, etc. - elements that require investment and often legal codes and guidelines to publish in other media, but are cheap and unregulated on the Net.


I in no way endorse regulation of the internet (save for blatantly criminal activity), but to those new to internet use, it would be very easy to get the impression that it is all junk.
Finding gems like Sysopt seems increasingly difficult.

[club_med]

Apart from using the internet to ask friends what we're gonna do today http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif i have found it to be very useful when i am looking up phone numbers, address's, bus/subway time-tables, opening times of offices and things like that.

[Natedogg15]

I'm suprised no one has mentioned file distribution as one of the major uses of the internet. I'd have been in big trouble lots of times in the past if I weren't able to download driver updates, software patches, or even some great free/shareware programs online! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

I also use the internet to communicate with friends and family from all over the world. And the information I've gained through online research could never be measured. Whether I need tech help for a busted PC or notes for a school research paper, I can 99.9% of the time find what I'm looking for online. Once you figure out how to weed through the junk, the internet can be one of the most versatile tools available today!

[conjh13]

Yeah Nate, good point. I'd have quite a few peripherals sitting around that I couldn't use if I didn't have net access. I only wish chat rooms & forums didn't get so addicting. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif Seriously, I have spent way too many hours in chat rooms... which really hurts if you end up getting only 3 hours of sleep because of it, and you gotta be at work the next morning.

I agree with Jim, I don't think the full potential of the net has been realized yet. It's quite a powerful tool though already.

[edwelly]

I think it's home to millions of lonely people. People that have trouble communicating with others in person. I think it's home to the obese man who claims to be a body builder. It’s home to the shy girl who says she is a fashion model. It’s home to a lot of us. How many of us turn the PC on as soon as we walk in the door from a hard day’s work?
I think the Internet is one if the GREATEST and the WORST things to happen to us. It’s great because it can let us do so much. But it’s awful in the fact that there are so many people that interact thru it and not thru society. There are so many kids now that spend hours and hours each day on it instead of doing what most of us did, like play baseball with your friends. Spending so many hours glued to the front of a screen cannot be good. Then again, that’s what I do. If I can’t sleep, it’s on he computer I go. Ask me where my money goes before I pay my bills. I love this but wonder what my life would be without it. I spend no less than 10 hours a day on a PC so I understand what we go thru. And why I go insane when the power goes out http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif...
---edwelly

[robin801]

if it wasn't for the internet and this forum site, i would not have been able to build not 1 but 2 computers.

if it was not for this forum site i would have a couple of dollars also http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif.

i feel like i know some peeps in here personally.

thanks for all the help that i have received so far.


robin

[entnow]

music movies porn thats the net today

Iam getting sick of all the **** out their thats for sure

[oksenior]

The Net is for me now a neccessary resource. News,advisories, software drivers, Sysopt,email, product reviews, shopping,tons of information ... my connection to the world. I've even found an old Eagle's favorite song of mine,"dirty laundry"

[Cody]

I must say, that, to get much done on the web, you need a fast internet connection. I would say around $30-40 a month for cable, upwards of $50 for DSL. Most average people cannot afford this, therefor I must say that the Net is (for the most part) a toy for the Rich, Famous, and overly LUCKY! (I.E. Rich Parents)

[FeOats]

I think the internet is for everyone, and most libraries have the internet if you don't own a computer or can't afford an ISP account. We're not rich, just average middle class folks living in the midwestern US. BTW, I still do not have a cell phone, so would you consider that a toy for the rich, lol?

[brainchild]

For the rich, No, if you really want on the net, grab an old 486, it will wade the net,no frills,and slow but still 0-100 bucks.
I've had them given to me.
The info on the net is priceless. If you need a queston answered,you can do do on the net.All resources can't be listed,E-mail,too cool, and sysopt,couldn't live without it.

[brainchild]

For the rich, No, if you really want on the net, grab an old 486, it will wade the net,no frills,and slow but still 0-100 bucks.
I've had them given to me.
The info on the net is priceless. If you need a queston answered,you can do do on the net.All resources can't be listed,E-mail,too cool, and sysopt,couldn't live without it.

[SPEEDO]

I can also remember back to a time not so long ago that people thought the telephone & television and airline travel were for the rich!!!

SPEEDO