good or bad internet??

baby boo · 24-01-2006, 20:32

Over the past few weeks there has been an advertisement on tv for AOL and it is basically asking you the viewers to log on and discuss weather or not the internet is a good thing or bad thing? especially for children? are they getting enough brain useage?

I pass billboards everyday also advertising this, i then go through the argument in my head for hours end, i both agree and disagree.
Im interested in getting to know what other people think.

Im still in two minds heres my view...

The internet is a good thing because...

It opens a whole new world, you can speak to the other side of the globe while sat down at your computer, you can do your shopping, order clothes, watch tv, listen to the radio, your children can do their homework so at least you know where they are, you can meet friends?

There is so much more but im going to be here for ages...

The internet is a bad thing because...

We become lazy!! our children become lazy! We dont venture out of our house anymore because we have everything at the touch of a button. Our childrens minds wont expand because that quick walk to the library is a button away even so our libraries are closing down so whats point when we have it at the comfort of our own home. A book can go a long way in a childrens mind whereas the computer they can just log back on and doesnt need to remember the book, the computers mind is now a childs mind!!!
There are images on the internet that you usually dont see everyday but thanks to the internet we can see it if we misspell a word in a search engine.

There are so many ways in which the computer can be a good thing but yet again a bad thing?
What does everyone else think?

Margaret Pilkington · 24-01-2006, 20:44

Most things have the power to be good or bad.....including people.
The internet is bad if you use it for bad things.......like frauding people out of money........pornographic images......the spreading of malicious codes.

It is good that people can communicate freely and express ideas.....it is good that you can learn about anything under the sun on the internet.....although beware.....some of the information can be bogus or misleading. You can keep in touch with family and friends on the other side of the world.

Despite the internet, I am sure that children will still read books......and use their imaginations. The internet has the power to stimulate the imagination.
It can take you where ever you want to go and its limits are only those of your making.

WillowTheWhisp · 24-01-2006, 21:05

I agree with Margaret. The internet itself is neither good nor bad. How people use it and what they use it for is where good and bad come in.

Madhatter · 24-01-2006, 21:14

Book sales have gone up as a result of the internet. Most people find it hard to read and concentrate on long pieces of text. I for one could never read a novel online, I also find it quite difficult to read reference material. There's too many links to this n that, all those keywords underlined. In a book, theres a contents a beggining the body, an end and index. I know where I am with a book, and I never loose the address, and if I go in to a library and ask for information on say the love bites band I don't get a porn site called love bites.

K.S.H · 24-01-2006, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by baby boo

Over the past few weeks there has been an advertisement on tv for AOL and it is basically asking you the viewers to log on and discuss weather or not the internet is a good thing or bad thing?

Its good if you dont use A O Hell but it can be bad if you do

Madhatter · 24-01-2006, 21:56

ey i'd agree with that

junetta · 24-01-2006, 22:17

I really can't imagine not having my internet connection. I can talk to my daughter online, play games with my young grandson, see my youngest grand-daughter's blog and catch up with her growing up. Post my own blog so that they can check out my way of life, 2,000 miles away! I can also share my life with you lot, lol!! I also do my transcribing for FreeBMD to make the lives of Family Historians a little easier.
Apart from all that, I read two or three books a week, I'm a member of two bowling leagues, have quite a few mates to spend time with..........but, I can imagine the day when the human race doesn't need the use of arms and legs...just machines to talk to. I do worry about future generations.

entwisi · 25-01-2006, 09:02

I'm probably more biased them most, Yes I see teh bad side of teh internet but as other have said most things can be used for good and bad. What I do see is the opportunity to make lots of new friends in places I would probably never see. Through biking sites and groups I have a wide circle of friends who meet up, chat and discuss stuff etc. Likewise with Accyweb and other forums, my circle of firends and aquaintences has increased dramatically. Yet it also has other benefits for me. It provides me with an income and supports me in earning that income through the sharing of skills, knowledge and support. It saves me money and allows me to get hold of products that quite simply aren't available off the shelf in this area.

It has been shown that despite fears over CD copying and music sharing sales of CDs went up. As has sales of books. The internet often provides a taster which stimulates a desire and people take it from there. I myself have bought albums after hearing artists on music I had downloaded.

So, for me its a good thing.

Neil · 25-01-2006, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

The internet is bad if you use it for bad things.......like ....pornographic images....

I agree with that one Margaret, you are much better off downloading the whole video instead of a couple of still images.

Margaret Pilkington · 25-01-2006, 20:40

It is amazing what thoughts some of these adverts provoke. The Vodafone one about how your parents met.....where your father was when you were born etcetera really got me thinking about those topics. I got a real shock to find out that my mother and father married after knowing one another just 3 weeks......and no it wasn't a shotgun event. I couldn't have guessed that my mother or my father were so impulsive....mind you there was a war on at the time.......and their marriage lasted up until my Dad died.....they were married for something like 43 years....all on a courtship of 3 weeks. Sorry if this counts as a thread wander.