The Internet

[sandy]

I was watching a TV programme last night about the impact of the internet on society, and it was quite depressing.

For example, on line shopping is laying waste to the high street turning them into ghost towns in some cases and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The internet was peddled as being this great educational tool for our young generation but here in the UK, literacy and numeracy skills are the worst they have been since the Victorian period.

Also, the majority of internet usage is for on line shopping, gaming, social networking, and porn.

A quite depressing picture of the future was portrayed, where people only leave their houses to go to work, choosing to interact with others via a keyboard and a mouse.

I use the internet, so I'm not standing in judgement but it did make me think.

Is my life better for having the internet ?

No, not really.

In fact in some ways I think maybe the world was a better place without it.

What do you think.

[ghezzi]

As an ol' fart, I find my younger siblings are willing to text but if I ring straight back they don't pick up. In their world sms and email is communication, my world is face to face.

Don't you just hate it when you ring a shop for info and the sales clerk just says, go to our website.

But I admit my life would be more complicated without the net. Both my business and my Bella would suffer without it. Guzzi's are thin on the ground in Australia so this here forum is my main social outlet.

[john zibell]

Sandy,

The internet is a tool just like any other. It is what you make of it. If someone doesn't go out and have a life, that is their problem, not mine. For something that started as ARPANET (I was around then and used it) it sure has come a long way and become easy for anyone to use. I am glad I don't have to maintain a host file just to send e-mail and connect to remote servers, that is now done for me by DNS servers. I and others have been able to learn from other peoples experiences, and pass on knowledge to many instead of only the few you meet in person. The same gripe was made about the wireless, the automobile, the television, portable radio, and other innovations, including motorcycles. All of these were said to be the ruination of today's youth. Just think, with out the internet in its current easy form, you couldn't have complained about it so easily just by posting here in an easy to use web browser.

[Beaufort]

If someone doesn't go out and have a life, that is their problem, not mine.

I see both sides of it.
If Joe Average wants to fart around on facebook, watch porn, and generally not have a life, that is his problem.

But Sandy mentioned the effect of the internet on society.
What happens when everyone farts around on facebook and surfs porn all day?

Sure, there will always be high-level users, content providers, inovators and gurus.
But they won't be able to talk to their neighbors.
They won't be able to strike up a conversation at a coffee shop because all the other patrons
will be too busy staring at tiny screens, "liking" and "poking" people they've never met.

Maybe I'm imagining too bleak a future, but the truth is that I'm already alienated from people
who were once close to me because I can't stand facebook, and they "live" on it.

[ghezzi]

Think on the bright side, when they all burn the midnight oil looking at porn, playing tribes or just chatting via keyboards, we will have empty roads during daylight hours to enjoy our Guzzi's and coffee together.

[Roblatt]

I agree with ghezzi in both posts.
I too would rather talk than text email etc.

Robert

[Tonerjockey]

The internet was peddled as being this great educational tool for our young generation but here in the UK, literacy and numeracy skills are the worst they have been since the Victorian period.

hehheh the worst influence since god. hehehhehehhe

Wait till the next one!

Alex

[Rafael]

The internet has been a great tool for me. Saved a lot of time and effort transferring documents for work. I've only had a chance to use an online construction project management once, it had drawbacks but overall made work easier and allowed more time to solve real problems. I get aggravated at folks still relying solely on a fax. Facebook and the such doesn't define the internet for me. Guess texting is an internet feature, but I've thought of it as a phone function.

Its great to get info for just about anything at any time too.

Hope Ghezzi is right. if online distractions get people off the road I'm all for it! More room and gas for Bikes!

I think society is impacted more severely by the machination of the few on top than by the little people glued to the tube. City centers in US have decayed for a dozens other reasons other than the loss off business to online retailer. The desire for a less congested neighborhood, a backyard and a garage has probably killed more urban retail centers that anything else.

Thumbs up for the internet from me - more pros than cons.

I heard of a new statistic recently, that is, a rise in pedestrian injuries. Turns out its more folks are walking and texting. There's a bright side, they weren't texting in a car!

God? Not god peddlers?

[Phang]

It opened up my eyes to the world.

Put it this way, I won’t buy a Moto Guzzi if we are still using 14.4kbps modem, let alone without the internet.

Phang

[Tonerjockey]

hey Phang,

You are right on the money regarding Guzzi and the net. I bought my 1st Guzzi in 1974... long before the popularity and capability of the internet.

Getting parts took effort. The shop I bought the Eldo from in Chicago closed. The next closest shop, Dolezal Brothers, didn't carry much and was a little iffy.

The local BMW (Barrington BMW) was where I would get parts... the pieces they would get for me. The prices went nuts. The shop made money, all of the businesses involved made money (Primier Group, I think was in there) DeTomaso made some... Guzzi made some... I was making boat payments for everyone from Chicago to Lake Como. Not only were prices inconsistant, but many parts were not available, and you needed to take any info you did get with a grain of salt.

Delivery of parts (points, dist cap etc) typically took from 1 to 3 weeks... Sometimes they never arrived (for reasons unknown).

Custom parts... you had to know someone. Phone or mail. Or visit Europe (for us 'mericans).

Breaking an important part while on the road presented big challenges. I broke the drive shaft (wheelies!!!) in Columbus Georgia in about 1978 or so... that was an adventure... and a lesson.

Today things may seem ridiculous, unfair, dangerous, or wastefull, but riding a Guzzi is now better (easier) than ever.

E.g. Think what you will about Ebay, but it has completely changed the way I go about living with Guzzi.

YMMV

Ciao

Alex