Why I Think The Internet Isn't That Important!

I have had a couple of conversations lately about how the internet has changed our lives, and how it will change our lives. I don't think it changes our lives all that much. Of course, I lead a strange life, and I am not into social/political thinking so I may be way off base here.

(1) Does the internet make us waste time?
I guess it depends on what you would be doing were you not on the internet. If you were watching TV before and now you are reading more, I think chances are this is a good change. If this takes you away from your family, this is probably bad, but then it's just like everything else-it can turn into a problem if you use it as a substitute for better things. There's no such thing as an internet addiction, or if there is, then you can be addicted to anything. I like the idea of people sticking it to their bosses by reading articles or playing video games instead of filling out TPS reports. I don't think people would have so easily put up with cubicles if there was no internet, but cubicles would be here anyway: it fits so well with the American idea of preferring utility (or nearly anything else) to beauty. As far as shopping goes: I don't buy many gifts so I can't comment, but the internet has definitely increased the amount of time I spend shopping for books since you can't replace the bookstore experience, and the internet book shopping experience is pretty fun, what with the reviews on Amazon and all.

(2) The sharing of knowledge.
Books are still the best place to go to know something deeply, but what about all of these facts that are at our fingertips? Fact lovers will get their facts a little faster, but that doesn't matter much. It is perhaps easier for journalists to put on a show of erudition, but everyone sees through that right? As far as the exchanging of information between cultures: the barriers broke long ago. Iran for example is going to be Muslim and therefore politically different from us, regardless of anything mere information can do. If you wanted to talk about what makes revolutions happen, you have to talk about religion and I can't see the internet as being anything more than a side topic in such a discussion.

(3) Porn and Gambling
It's definitely easier to get porn, and to gamble, which is probably the worst change the internet brings: it's harder to be good, but not so hard that we are excused.

(4) Blogging
Near and dear to me right now, so I'm probably wrong about what I think. Plus the rules I set for the Eleven Posts To Glory preclude me from talking about writing, so I'll leave it for another day.