Jodo Kast Aug 25, 2009
I'm fascinated by the debate at the end of the Films 2009 thread, in which users here are trying to cope with communication by using (not on) the internet. It's important to make the distinction between using the internet and on the internet. The only thing that is on the internet is information. No humans are on the internet; they can only use it.
I first noticed this problem when I was 28. I met a girl by using the internet and her parents hated me, because they thought I was on the internet. I managed to eventually contact them and tried to explain that I was using the internet; I wasn't actually on it. They had assumed that since I was 'on' the internet, I must've been a very bad person. The internet can be thought of as a car or train with respect to communication; it's simply a way to get to another person. A tool, a device, a method of transport. It's unfortunate that the term 'on' has carried over, but there are other delusory word-plays. A good example is when people think hydrocarbons (fat) are responsible for fat storage in the body (it's actually excessive glucose that leads to 'fat' storage). My personal favorite is when grocery stores use 'organic' to market certain foods. I guess the rest is 'inorganic'? Hehe
The internet caters to impulsive behavior, while older forms of communication restricted it. Before the internet, people could choose public speaking, writing letters, radio, TV, etc. But now, if you want to say it, you can do it without waiting. We haven't had this luxury before. Everyone can get 'published'. Since we all have equal publishing ability, like we all have equal talking ability, I would argue that little has changed. It's simply that the tool (internet) is primitive. Eventually it will advance to the point where we won't be able to tell the difference. In other words, the internet will eventually simulate the days of old when impulsive behavior was restricted (anonymity will be restored to normal levels). Right now we have too much anonymous power; our ancestors didn't have that. Nor will our progeny.
