Today marks twenty five years since the official beginning of the Internet. Isn't it exciting?! Nowadays we might wonder how in the world did we live without the world-wide web? We use Internet for work and for fun, for communications, for keeping in touch, for learning and improving our skills, for receiving information and even for building friendships (seriously, how else would I "meet" all of you, my lovelies???). In fact, there are now close to two and a half billion Internet users around the world, and this number grows every day.
For somebody who works on the web and uses online services to talk to my parents, Internet has become a necessity. Yes, the other day we got a new phone book and I actually wondered if I should put it straight into the recycling bin because I haven't opened one in more than three years... I didn't. Old habit, I guess.. I constantly search the web for new recipes to try or inspirational ideas for home remodels (talking about the Pinterest envy... My husband deeply hates his ever-growing honey-do list...). Just after looking around my living room, I realized that 3/4 of our possessions were obtained thanks to the Internet - mostly, through classifieds or while researching deals online.
But Internet can also be quite destroying. Spammers, hackers, misuse of personal information, porn and other online addictions, gambling, cyber-bullying... we all know the list... But what makes me especially sad is the loss of face-to-face communication. Many true smiles nowadays are replaced by "#hashtag lol". Our generation has forgotten how to write a normal letter, a get-well card. Every time we get together with our family, everyone has their noses buried in their phones. This year my first grader's teacher was asking for donations to buy new tablets for class. What happened to the pleasure of turning a page of a shabby book with taped pages that prove that it was well-used and loved?...
I do love the advantages of the Internet, I really, truly do...But often unplugging feels so good and sometimes it's a plain necessity. Today, as I snuggled with my little guy in bed reading the same Curious George book for the fifteenth time in a row, it FELT right! No 25 years of Internet could replace the twenty five minutes of cuddles or giggles or staring into his bright eyes...
OK, now I'm getting all cheesy and mushy:)... What are your thoughts on the Internet? Did it bless your life or would it be easier without?
I can remember when our oldest DD school was doing a fundraiser to get a computer in each class for a reading program. I was very active in everything school, sports, whatever our girls were doing but I wouldn't help with that one. I thought reading on a computer was nuts, it would ruin their love for reading. I was wrong, ha. But I do hate that this next generation seems to have their nose in some sort of gadget all of the time. Parents and kiddo's need to put it down at least while they are eatting, seems crazy to me
ReplyDeleteThat gives me hope :) Honestly, our teacher told us that they need them because the desire to read is not there, and it's sad...
DeleteWe are forever with the internet now, so we should pay attention to how we are using it. I agree with everything you've said. Some of our communications have improved vastly with people like extended family members. However, the face to face is greatly diminished as well as the handwritten note. I hoping that there will be a correcting backlash soon and some of these things will return.
ReplyDeleteI am an elementary school librarian, and my principal and I just had a discussion about interactive devices and library books. Our students do bring devices to school, but (so far) no one has asked about checking out an e-book for them. Our students and teachers still cherish book pages like before, for now. I think that everything you wrote is true, but for the moment reading an actual book is still in vogue. Unfortunately I do think that will go out of style one day, but I hope that it isn't during my career.
ReplyDeleteWhat I love most about the Internet personally is being able to easily read ideas and blogs such as yours for ideas and inspiration. I've always enjoyed talking to others and learning their personal stories (just ask my husband about chatting with people trapped with me in the zigzag lines at Disney World). The Internet has allowed me to do that exponentially, but sadly without the face-to-face. Another down-side is I do find myself anxious when I can't find information right when I want it - I've gotten used to being able to get answers in record time.
I definitely hope that the books will not run out of style any time soon :) That's why I was a little taken back when my kid's teacher had proposed the fund raiser like this. Well, hopefully it will help some kids to start reading when otherwise they wouldn't do it.
DeleteAn thank you for some kind words, Karen :)
DeleteI agree with you completely, Lena! NOTHING can compare to a good old-fashioned book to hold and read (especially when cuddling with our kiddos!) and I, myself, prefer to actually hold a book vs. reading through a screen. I also miss the fact that emails and texting have replaced handwritten letters and phone calls. I admit, the convenience of computers and technology has many advantages- it does make life a lot more convenient in some ways. On the whole, I try to use the computer as simply as possible- I don't get too caught up in games and things. Blogging and reading blogs is the farthest I have ever delved into the computer world and I am really choosy about what I read. :) At this point though, if I didn't have the internet it would make some things very inconvenient. Even my son's school and teacher do their communicating through email. I check the weather online because we don't really have a weather channel that tells us the forecast in our area. Things have changed over the years and people, myself included, have developed a certain amount of dependency on the internet. As I said, I try to not be too dependent on it, if I had to give it up I certainly could and honestly would not even miss it that much. We try to be as simple as we can. We don't even have texting or cameras on our phones- we don't even have smartphones like everyone else. We have the $10 walmart go-phones and that is fine with us. Sometimes it is tricky raising kids in this day and age- you know they have to know about computers, it is the way of the world now, but at the same time you want them to know that life is about so much more than advanced technology- you want to teach them that texting in front of people is rude and when it is someone's birthday it is more appropriate to call and say 'Happy Birthday' or send a card rather than drop a line through email. Know what I mean? I could go on and on about this but I think you get what I am saying. :)
ReplyDeleteI definitely do :) I still have an 8-year old phone even though I'm tempted to get a nicer one. I honestly cannot imagine my life without the world-wide web right now but I do hope to be able to teach my boys the value of personal relationships and good books too.
DeleteI would go back to the days before the internet in a heartbeat. I wish my kids (16 and 12) could have known life without it.
ReplyDeleteI definitely have days wen I feel the same way too. Even more so when it comes to TV though :)
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