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