The 'Net'... What is it to you....?

[WayneLigon]

If anyone feels like commenting on the theory of the US military developing the Internet, I'd love people's take on that too...

Never heard that one, unless you mean DARPAnet.

I get twitchy when I'm more than 20 feet from a broadband connection I find myself thinking 'I wonder what...' and know that I could find the answer in a few seconds with a Google search, and it really ticks me off to be in a situation where I can't.

I think people sounding the death knell of communities and communications are jumping on bandwagons or trying to get their 15 minutes. I think we're all still just on the outskirts of the true computer revolution; we get glimpses of it here and now but we simply don't know what's going to happen next. Society will change or die, and something else will come out of that change, just like it always has.

 

[Ruavel]

Never heard that one, unless you mean DARPAnet.

right sorta track...

but looking at the complete creation process as well...

before ARPANET...

from the Sputnik 1 theory, to ARPA/IPTO bankrolling research in stupendous ways to create the "nuclear safe" communications network...

 

[Kanegrundar]

The place I go for news, free stuff, and my portal to the world of Azeroth!!!

Kane

 

[nothing to see here]

Never heard that one, unless you mean DARPAnet.

I get twitchy when I'm more than 20 feet from a broadband connection I find myself thinking 'I wonder what...' and know that I could find the answer in a few seconds with a Google search, and it really ticks me off to be in a situation where I can't.

I think people sounding the death knell of communities and communications are jumping on bandwagons or trying to get their 15 minutes. I think we're all still just on the outskirts of the true computer revolution; we get glimpses of it here and now but we simply don't know what's going to happen next. Society will change or die, and something else will come out of that change, just like it always has.

I hope you don't consider me one of those pessimists. It wasn't my intent at all! Just that the impact of internet technology (and communication technology more broadly) on people's lives has, in many ways, been the exact opposite of what it was sold to be...and that the eventual benefits (like this great community) were only able to emerge after some cost.

Innovation and social change are interelated. They feed off one another and even appear autocatylitic. One's opinion on whether or not new technology is a good thing, is based on how they interpret the change -- which, like most big issues, is a mixed bag. Unless, of course, they're in it for the '15 minutes of fame'.

 

[Hijinks]

The internet allows introverts to be extroverted. To introverts, that is a very big thing.

 

[Henry]

On the other hand, the internet has also fostered positive real-world communications that otherwise wouldn't exist. Case in Point:

ENWorld Gamedays. These grew directly out of a desire to turn anonymity into face-to-face interactions. Think about it: One of the greatest pulls to RPG gaming is to game at the table, and it's hard to game with someone at a table when you don't know their name or anything about them. (At least it is for me).

From Gamedays and conventions, I've met, had dinner with, shared family stories with, and celebrated events with people who I would have otherwise never known. This is a trend with many different cultural circles made possible by the mass communication of the Net, whereas it was a major undertaking to make anything well-known beyond a region wide or nationwide convention or event. Anyone remember fanzines? BBS's? Or even the days when the only gamers you knew were probably the people you grew up with and played with?

 

[nothing to see here]

The internet allows introverts to be extroverted. To introverts, that is a very big thing.

You are absolutely 100% right. And to go a step further. It allows people who hate networking, to network easier...allowing more people to be more productive in their professional lives, and happier in their personal lives.

And when that happens we are all winners.