#74

Before the internet we lived in a world with roads, cars, aeroplanes, telephones, globalisation, de-industrialisation and under-investment in post-industrial towns and cities.

Towns were already becoming dormitories for those who could drive long distances to jobs in cities.

#75

I guess it’s all fucked either way.

#76

Of course not, nothing will be a panacea to the myriad problems we have in the world, and a system that is largely controlled by a bunch of libertarian douche bros operating for profit will likely only make things worse. Yay capitalism! But the capacity the internet has, for the exchange of ideas, for building networks, for stimulating progress, is very real and has a genuine power that I think will be harnessed in future.

My overarching point is that just because some of us pasty, English, middle-class office spods sometimes get het up about some dumb below the lines comments doesn’t mean we should throw the baby out with the bath water. You can’t just look at it from your own point of view - that’s exactly what privilege is.

And I’m very wary of people who have some distinction about “authentic experiences” and how they can apparently only happen beyond the reach of the big scary internet. It’s self-satisfied bullshit for people who have the luxury of choice, it’s only by comparison that you can define that real sense of connection or whatever it is you think you had.

#77

Check out some of the fucking Luddites in this thread!

#78

Nope - I’d be out of a job for starters with no internet!

1 Like
#79

i was pretty much the last person at my school to get broadband - my parents put it off until late 2007, when my friends had all been glued to it for about 5 years.

was i happier than everyone else? no, but i was significantly more naive.

#80

Ahem.

#81

no, I can’t wait to merge my consciousness with it

2 Likes
#82

I don’t think the world would be better without the internet

but I definitely think most of the people (including me) would be better without social media & its constant nagging presence

someone probably said this already, I don’t have the attention span to read the whole thread

#83

English is language (nationality) of the internet.

#85

Stray thought suitable for this thread, really dislike how people on their phones all the time has become such a cliched observation, the heavy handed satire thing showing people as zombies transfixed on their phones missing the world around them, as if before smartphones people were making friends with strangers and having sparkling conversations on their commute. It’s just so negative, when I see someone on their phone I just think they are reading something they are interested in, or catching up on friends and family, nothing wrong with that

3 Likes
#86

*and chatted up 2 underage girls!:wink:

#87

2 Likes
#88

would julia roberts have been able to Eat, Pray, Love if she was staring at an iPhone the whole time? I ruddy well think not!

#89

I think your getting over defensive and not getting my point, I understand it can be very useful but its a bit like when I was at school the two (not related) guys in my class who didnt have a tv at home were the most intelligent. Now a tv can show good documentaries and be interesting but how many people actually use it that way?

#90

Yeah but you can still choose to not have a to or internet if you feel it is having an adverse affect on you, what about people isolated for various reasons for whom the internet is a lifeline

#91

You are Peter Hitchens and I claim my £5.

#92

*inside-outside

#94

Would you like it as an amazon voucher :slight_smile:

#95

Life is easier but not necessarily better.