Is the Internet any good? [rant-ish]

[Juho L]

Originally Posted by AlexHall74

Juho, you are correct with the exception of those of us who have used our real names as our forum logons.

But the name is still a name. It's not more or less real than Digital Screams or 3o3. The internet forum anonymity isn't depended on revealing your real name. You still don't interact with others as yourself, but you use a machine instead. Name is only a name. Only flesh gives the meaning for the name. For example how you could know if I'm a highly developed AI computer?

In my case it is intentional. I am very consitent, whether in the flesh or via the WWW. If you love or hate me in one medium, you'll love me or hate me in all others.

I have used my real name almost right from the beginning of my forum adventures, but it still doesn't exclude the existence of my internet personality. It's really hard to dinguish the internet personalities from the natural personality as they're almost identical, but there are some differences. It's so hard to explain. Maybe I'll just cut out this crap. Hoho.

[AlexHall74]

Originally Posted by Juho L

But the name is still a name. It's not more or less real than Digital Screams or 3o3. The internet forum anonymity isn't depended on revealing your real name. You still don't interact with others as yourself, but you use a machine instead. Name is only a name. Only flesh gives the meaning for the name. For example how you could know if I'm a highly developed AI computer?

I have used my real name almost right from the beginning of my forum adventures, but it still doesn't exclude the existence of my internet personality. It's really hard to dinguish the internet personalities from the natural personality as they're almost identical, but there are some differences. It's so hard to explain. Maybe I'll just cut out this crap. Hoho.

I get the gist of what you are explaining, Juho, but I maintain that the differences between my persona in viv vs. via TCP/IP are miniscule enough to consider the two one in the same. The only real difference is that I can't clobber you on the web, I can only spew vile words at you.

[Old Vantaa Man]

I've met Juho, as he mentioned, rather briefly, erm, and I've spoken to Alex loads of times. I think. Or was it all just a dream? It's usually about 4.30 am on a weekday when he calls.

[AlexHall74]

Originally Posted by Old Vantaa Man

I've met Juho, as he mentioned, rather briefly, erm, and I've spoken to Alex loads of times. I think. Or was it all just a dream? It's usually about 4.30 am on a weekday when he calls.

It's not my fault that the whole damn world can't be on a single time zone.

Jeez!

[LivePsy]

My rant for what it is worth, is that communication has changed in the last 50 years and the Internet reflects rather than influences this. I am NOT saying there was a 'good old days', but being am almost 50 year old person I've seen it change from one kind of bad to another kind of bad. I hope actually that I am stating the obvious.

Trust is much less common. Considering that most stranger contact is sales/begging/market research, its understandable. Openly asking for change in the street, charities cold calling on the phone, market research with a "just a few questions", junk mail that they will not stop sending: these are the only contact I have with strangers. Its not that no one wants trust, its just that you are forced to spam filter these things out.

Statements are generally not believed, opinions are not respected. Ultimately I cannot understand why anyone would say anything which was not true or intentionally misdirect someone. However much human communication is exactly that. The Internet is filled with this nonsense especially because of the easy anonymity. I cannot lie or berate someone without cause, but I can't say that I have always received that standard in return.

How low can we get when we have to discuss whether the TI OS 2 firmware is a hoax? Its so good we suspect it is too good to be true!

But this is the global community and the way it works, not the Internet. Call it post modern. I don't think the Internet has done one bad thing for the global society, although it can give attention and credence more than some deserve

You might not think I was a happy, healthy and content person from this rant, but I am stating what I see - whereas most seem to want to ignore what they don't want to see.

Cheers,
B