Poll: The Effect of the Interwebs

[Freefaller]

The Internet is a great took but people rely on it to much. I fear people will stop learning? Maybe not but being constantly connected and checking and replying to emails or updating an insane status seems a priority which is a shame.

Agreed with other posters here that seeing people on their phone instead of interacting is rather depressing to see. But I love socialising. I guess I grew up to late teens early 20s without easy access or continuous access to the internet so my opinion is a bit skewed.

 

[UTmaniac]

For some, the internet is a positive thing, such as those who cannot cope with real life interactions.

But the danger is, what were once well-rounded human beings, can end up like those who would have social issues even if the internet did not exist.

 

[Haggisman]

Just turned 32, and IMO people of my generation (and perhaps the one above) are the lucky ones who had the childhood where the whole internet thing "took off" as such and were able experience life before it, but have also grown up with this amazing resource.

I grew up climbing trees, falling off my bike, and spending whole days making dens in the woods, but I also remember the first time firing up Ultima Online, and thinking "wow, I'm actually playing a game in the same world as thousands of other people from all across the globe" - when doing that was actually something amazing.

These days kids take it for granted that you can chat with someone from half way across the world, or jump in a game with people from the US or Australia, it's nothing special.

I think the level of knowledge available at our fingertips is wonderful, but I sometimes have concerns that it has the effect of reducing what people actually "know", or the ability to think for themselves (why bother to learn something when you can just Google for the answers?).

I also agree with some of the replies that social media is breeding a generation of self-absorbed, narcissistic, compulsive liars who think that their every thought is profound and needs to be shared with the world; Facebook for example seems to be full of people who either filter their posts to show the world how amazing their (in reality boring and mundane) life is, or revel in every negative occurrence, posting all the gory details for others to comment "poor babe", "my thoughts are with you" or "you deserve better" in a veneer of sympathy like some grotesque soap opera.

Ultimately, the internet (and social media) is a tool; a very powerful tool, which when used correctly can be exceptionally useful, but when used incorrectly can cause a lot of damage.

 

[randomshenans]

I'm torn. I think it's allowed people to see more of the good stuff possible, and encourage people to do the same. But on the flipside, it just chucks all the crap down your throat at the same time.

 

[MookJong]

Social media has helped to give a voice to the millions of previously unheard people that have absolutely nothing of worth to say...

 

[ChroniC]

I think the internet is great, you don't see most of it's reach. I think it's the background communications that we take for granted, aka logistics, medical, business etc. The speed at which things get done now is very different to the past. (if you needed something order or appointment made it took phone calls and letters etc, it was slow)
The social media aspect is the downfall imo. It has given a voice to the stupid, the seriously stupid and they shout the loudest.

I do feel bad sometimes about the real life social impacts, people used to love having conversation and being the fountain of knowledge and the proceeding arguements conversations. These days people stare at their phones and ignore others in plain sight, and when they do have a conversation they say "I google it" and then get distracted by adverts and the phone again.

 

[Tefal]

The Internet is a great took but people rely on it to much. I fear people will stop learning? .

surely the exact opposite?

what once would have been "i wonder why...." and then forgotten, because going to a library and searching for the right text books then searching for the answer is just not going to happen, is now "i wonder why.....ahhh thanks google/wiki"

i learn loads of weird stuff each day that i never would have if i didn't have a whole library in my pocket everywhere i went searchable at the touch of a button with pictures and video diagrams.

 

[Tefal]

It has given a voice to the stupid, the seriously stupid and they shout the loudest.

but who's listening?

 

[Tefal]

I think the level of knowledge available at our fingertips is wonderful, but I sometimes have concerns that it has the effect of reducing what people actually "know", or the ability to think for themselves (why bother to learn something when you can just Google for the answers?).

but that's generally the proper way to go about things of any importance.

if it's important you get something right (formula, reference, theory etc) you look it up and double check, not just go on memory of what may have been 5+ years ago.

 

[UTmaniac]

One major danger with the interweb is that anyone can write anything, it is not all governed by "fact police" that instantly remove non-facts or outright lies.

 

[Haggisman]

but that's generally the proper way to go about things of any importance.

if it's important you get something right (formula, reference, theory etc) you look it up and double check, not just go on memory of what may have been 5+ years ago.

That's all well and good, but then what do you do when you're stuck in a scenario where you don't have access to the internet?

If you've never developed problem solving skills because all you've ever had to do is Google "how do I XYZ" instead of figuring something out for yourself, then what do you do if e.g. you're stuck in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal or your battery dies?

 

[paradigm]

I'd much rather split this into two polls.

Freedom of information, increases quality of life: Yes/No. - For me, Yes.
Social Media, increases quality of life: Yes/No. - For me, No.

 

[stewski]

I like this poll, at 43 I'm just making the middle category, yipee

 

[Tefal]

That's all well and good, but then what do you do when you're stuck in a scenario where you don't have access to the internet?

If you've never developed problem solving skills because all you've ever had to do is Google "how do I XYZ" instead of figuring something out for yourself, then what do you do if e.g. you're stuck in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal or your battery dies?

either use the relevant text book or conclude that whatever important thing you are doing that requires you to fact check and not just wing it should probably not be done while stuck in the middle of no where?


lets check your theory though, haggisman given this is a concern of yours when was the last time you sat down and learned something by rote?

 

[Tefal]

One major danger with the interweb is that anyone can write anything, it is not all governed by "fact police" that instantly remove non-facts or outright lies.

of course not, but most young people know this and learn this while children.

the people this is a problem for are the older generation who continually get caught up in scams, lies and traps.

lets face it any kid who grew up with meatspin, and rick astley knows never trust a link.

 

[Freefaller]

surely the exact opposite?

what once would have been "i wonder why...." and then forgotten, because going to a library and searching for the right text books then searching for the answer is just not going to happen, is now "i wonder why.....ahhh thanks google/wiki"

i learn loads of weird stuff each day that i never would have if i didn't have a whole library in my pocket everywhere i went searchable at the touch of a button with pictures and video diagrams.

Fair comment. However do you remember it and are you able to explain it in the same way as what you learned at school? Did you just look it up and "know" something without really understanding? I guess my point is - it's like knowing the vocabulary of another language, but not knowing the grammar or construct to be able to make it useful.

For example, I can explain Gluconeogenesis (despite being an engineer and not a biology expert) as I studied nutrition, without looking it up (though I do need to check my text books from time to time to remind me of some of the more obscure chemical reactions). I can remember bits of Latin, and History again without looking it up - when you're having a conversation with someone, do you spend your time on your phone looking up facts? Or do you actually remember and have actual knowledge rather than the ability to remember you knowing you looked it up somewhere?

I'm not saying you're wrong - it's an open question...

 

[Tefal]

Fair comment. However do you remember it and are you able to explain it in the same way as what you learned at school? Did you just look it up and "know" something without really understanding? I guess my point is - it's like knowing the vocabulary of another language, but not knowing the grammar or construct to be able to make it useful.

For example, I can explain Gluconeogenesis (despite being an engineer and not a biology expert) as I studied nutrition, without looking it up (though I do need to check my text books from time to time to remind me of some of the more obscure chemical reactions). I can remember bits of Latin, and History again without looking it up - when you're having a conversation with someone, do you spend your time on your phone looking up facts? Or do you actually remember and have actual knowledge rather than the ability to remember you knowing you looked it up somewhere?

I'm not saying you're wrong - it's an open question...

i actually remember the stuff i learned by myself after school better than the stuff in school.

copying stuff out till you have it memorised was never that great at getting me to "understand it", know it yes, but then since i haven't used most of it in years its faded away.

i just find that by reading something during the short period i'm actually interested in it i remember it and understand it much better than sitting down to deliberately learn something at a time when it holds no interest to me.

my point is, like you say there are times you have to check text books etc, having them in your pocket makes things much easier, and makes you more likley to do it.

i run through things when im bored, and hit a "wait what is it that comes next" step, i wont remember to look it up next time i get a chance to get the book, but if i can google it i can carry on.

 

[Haggisman]

either use the relevant text book or conclude that whatever important thing you are doing that requires you to fact check and not just wing it should probably not be done while stuck in the middle of no where?


lets check your theory though, haggisman given this is a concern of yours when was the last time you sat down and learned something by rote?

It's not about "learning something by rote", it's about having the ability to analyse and problem solve without just Googling the answer.

 

[Tunney]

It's not about "learning something by rote", it's about having the ability to analyse and problem solve without just Googling the answer.

Googling an answer does require a level of skill though. You've got to shape your search parameters and assess the merit of information being returned. It's a skill that my parents don't have and even many people of my own generation lack.

 

[Tefal]

It's not about "learning something by rote", it's about having the ability to analyse and problem solve without just Googling the answer.

no you said

but I sometimes have concerns that it has the effect of reducing what people actually "know",

knowledge not just problem solving.