October 18, 1997
There are very few people who has not heard of the Internet; certainly not you, otherwise I'd like to know how you got to this article! But of the population who do know of the Internet, who are on the Internet, it's sort of amazing to note there are people who keep getting weird ideas about cyberspace. These misconceptions ranges from fairly reasonable (reasonble misunderstandings..hm!) to downright outrageous.
Take for instance an article by one of the local (to me, of course) computer magazines. A subscriber had called up their technical support and asked how to get on the Internet. He was asked whether he had a modem. "No, no, no, I don't want a modem. I just want the Internet." <blinks> Oh boy. Then of course, it's not that hard to understand how a newbie can fall for ..oh, let's say "The Good Times" hoax. (Hey, we were once newbies, too, remember?)
Then there's the stuff in the middle.
One of the greatest things about Internet, IMHO, isn't merely the wealth of resources there is. Oddly enough, that's how we sell the Internet. We even have a informercial advertising the 'Net. Was 'bout elementary students being called on to read their essays. One forgot to do his homework, another was of "so-so" standard. Then a little boy stands up and reads an essay that is probably befit of a student twice his grade. The teacher asks where he got his information. "The Internet, teacher." ..
That informerical (thank goodness they aren't airing it anymore) always made me laugh. Even while the 'Net has so much information, there's almost as much, if not more, junk to stand in your way of finding anything useful.
The greatest gift the Internet has..is allowing you to meet people of all sorts. That's why I joined the 'Net; mainly to keep in contact with some of my old friends, and to make new. One of the smarter things I've done (the 'Net at the time wasn't that popular). What surprises me though, is how so many 'Net-users dismiss that aspect. They come back from the cyberworld and tell me stories of some weirdo, snickering at their experience.. and declare that anyone they meet are just plain weird.
Granted, there are extremes in all situations. Someone will say everyone on the 'net is better than real people, and someone will say they're all fake. Extremes are dangerous, I think, but the concept still persists. There are even studies of experts which doubt whether usage of 'Net as a social place is wise. It's too easy for people to become someone they're not, they say. There is some truth in that, but if a person wanted to, s/he can always present someone who they're not in real life, too. But experts saying that socializing on the 'net is good is almost a rarity.
(My additional two cents? Sometimes I'm more who I am online than I am in real life. So, take that, so-called Ph.D's!)
The majority of people I can call my real friends? .. Live all over the world. Just because I can only talk to them on cyberspace (though I have phoned some and actually met others), doesn't make them less real than real life acquaintances. I am thankful... that most people----even the skeptics---- accepts this idea despite their opinions. Perhaps they think me a lucky exception, or perhaps they're re-thinking their views..
Ah, but, if you tell them you've found that special partner on the 'net, they'll still look at you as if you've lost your mind. Friends, okay----that's tolerable. A boyfriend/girlfriend? No way. You mean a cyber-girlfriend, right? Those "pretend, imaginary" relationships? And when you try to tell them, no, it's as real as any normal relationship, they look for the nearest insanity ward to put you in.
End of part one.
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