Computers & Internet "Why the internet will fail," article from 1995.

[DB10]

http://threewordchant.com/2010/02/24/why-the-internet-will-fail-from-1995/

This is pretty funny reading. I guess he was kinda ... wrong?

 

[Ebert80]

That's a good read, and quite funny.

Weren't there similar opinion pieces on motor vehicles in the early 1900's as well.

Makes the author of the article look quite silly in hindsight.

 

[EaglesFlyingHigh]

No internet=no Bigfooty

 

[Barry Zuckercorn]

Isnt he the guy who passed on signing The Beatles?

 

[HSSB]

How wrong he was..

 

[vealesy]

How is he wrong?

The last sentence in the article,

A poor substitute it is, this virtual reality where frustration is legion and where–in the holy names of Education and Progress–important aspects of human interactions are relentlessly devalued.

and more importantly, the very last sentence, is dead on.

The internet will never reign supreme over human interaction.

Those that believe so might as well already be plugged into the matrix.

The internet is not real life, dummies.

 

[BACCS]

Just a little off I would have thought. And what would we all do without BF. He is correct however with his last sentence that the internet will never replace human interaction. Although, it does make keeping in touch with people a lot easier than it used to be, as you don't always have to make the effort to see them, rather catch up over an email or something. Without internet, it would be a very dull world.

 

[vealesy]

Just a little off I would have thought. And what would we all do without BF. He is correct however with his last sentence that the internet will never replace human interaction. Although, it does make keeping in touch with people a lot easier than it used to be, as you don't always have to make the effort to see them, rather catch up over an email or something. Without internet, it would be a very dull world.

Making the effort is what makes human interaction worthwhile.

I dont need to easily keep in contact with people who are not worth my time and effort.

Catching up over an email is not human interaction, it is simple gossip and information swapping.

I wouldnt dare try and speak to people via email.

How impersonal. How business oriented. How, machine like.

 

[BACCS]

Making the effort is what makes human interaction worthwhile.

I dont need to easily keep in contact with people who are not worth my time and effort.

Catching up over an email is not human interaction, it is simple gossip and information swapping.

I wouldnt dare try and speak to people via email.

How impersonal. How business oriented. How, machine like.

What you have raised is all valid, however I guess as a Gen Y emails don't bother me. If I can't see someone for whatever reason, but they are able to be contacted by email or whatever, I will take that. Until of course I can see them in person, which is preferred. It is also easier to organise something with a mate over Facebook, MSN or something like that, than having to meet up with them to do it.

 

[Ingall]

Every voice can be heard cheaply and instantly. The result? Every voice is heard. The cacophany more closely resembles citizens band radio, complete with handles, harrasment, and anonymous threats. When most everyone shouts, few listen.

Lacking editors, reviewers or critics, the Internet has become a wasteland of unfiltered data.

He got some things right.

 

[THRILLHO]

He is unbelievably on the money. The only thing he's gotten wrong is the title. He's pretty much nailed every fault of the internet, but, for one reason or another, it's still an unbelivably successful and important tool.

 

[HSSB]

How is he wrong?

The last sentence in the article,



and more importantly, the very last sentence, is dead on.

The internet will never reign supreme over human interaction.

Those that believe so might as well already be plugged into the matrix.

The internet is not real life, dummies.

I didn't actually read much of the article, just the title moreso

 

[Lance Uppercut]

He is unbelievably on the money. The only thing he's gotten wrong is the title.

you mean, apart from the business online, & running governments, taking laptops to the beach, never buying books or newspapers online?

You know, pretty much everything he mentioned?

 

[Thrawn]

You know, pretty much everything he mentioned?

Not everything:

What’s missing from this electronic wonderland? Human contact. Discount the fawning techno-burble about virtual communities. Computers and networks isolate us from one another. A network chat line is a limp substitute for meeting friends over coffee. No interactive multimedia display comes close to the excitement of a live concert. And who’d prefer cybersex to the real thing? While the Internet beckons brightly, seductively flashing an icon of knowledge-as-power, this nonplace lures us to surrender our time on earth. A poor substitute it is, this virtual reality where frustration is legion and where–in the holy names of Education and Progress–important aspects of human interactions are relentlessly devalued.

I agree with this, except the part of education and progress.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Not everything:



I agree with this, except the part of education and progress.

I couldn't disagree more. I reckon I've met upwards of 30 BigFooty posters, a couple of whom are now amongst my best mates, and I have reconnected with some really good friends (and ex-girlfriends) thru Facebook.

I believe that's a simplistic analysis - an online network no substitute for coffee with friends It's not and never will be intended as a substitute for real interaction; rather it's a means to extend those networks. It's just another "place" to meet people. Like any social setting, approx 90% of the people are idiots, and the other 10% are really worth knowing. If they are worth knowing, I would suggest most people don't leave it at solely on online relationship.

Quite simply, online networks and real life compliment each other, not substitute for one another.

Oh I'm sure there's some mungs who sit in their basement IM'ing and gaming, but they wouldn't have any better social skills if there were no interwebz...we've always had losers walk amongst us, and always will.

I'll ask you: you're obviously a pretty prolific web consumer - you've been a mod on BigFooty for many years, and you have a top quartile post count. Do you think you substitute your time with real people on the web with time online? Before the internet, did you spend every second that you now spend online (late at night, in between work duties etc) with friends that you're now missing out on? Have your social skills become ******ed as result of interacting digitally? No? Didn't think so...

 

[Thrawn]

Don't get me wrong Lance, I do agree with you, but I also agree with the notion that the net is never a good substitute for face-to-face interaction.

Do you think you substitute your time with real people on the web with time online? Before the internet, did you spend every second that you now spend online (late at night, in between work duties etc) with friends that you're now missing out on? Have your social skills become ******ed as result of interacting digitally?

Nope.

Before the internet really hit on (which was around the mid 90s), I was in primary school.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Don't get me wrong Lance, I do agree with you, but I also agree with the notion that the net is never a good substitute for face-to-face interaction.



Nope.

Before the internet really hit on (which was around the mid 90s), I was in primary school.

haha fair enough

 

[Sportman1987]

Don't get me wrong Lance, I do agree with you, but I also agree with the notion that the net is never a good substitute for face-to-face interaction.



Nope.

Before the internet really hit on (which was around the mid 90s), I was in primary school.

While face to face has its positives, communicating over the internet has plenty of benefits too.

Writing is an art. You can express and justify ideas with much greater clarity and complexity over the internet. IRL you'll often only get the condensed, dumbed down version of arguments/opinions. Sure, people have been sending letters for years but the speed of the internet makes a conversation both thoughtful & rapid, rather than just one or the other.