is it? oh, I dont know about you, but internet is ruining my life :(

evidence:

1. since 1999 I got on internet for the first time, I never stopped using it. I tried to quit on several occasions, failed. it's like an addiction, there must be something wrong

2. still internet is not of primary importance to a lot of people, people who are intelligent, successful, and of course, living a better life rather than sitting in front of some stupid machine for most of their time

3. I've almost never read an entire book or an issue of any magazine since the interent intrusion - and since then all the knowledge I gained, they're either from college education, or the time that I spent with some people, in reality.

the only two reasons I believe I should use internet, are:

1. contacts
2. information

if all I said is rubbish, at least I've earned the benefit of doubt

what about you?

I just use the internet for communication, at least most of the time. Sometimes obviously I post in forums. ;)

I just have internet access for about two months, but I soon found it boring. I just look around the web sometime. But since recently I cannot stand sitting in front of my computer for more than half an hour.

Im quite the opposite, my lifes got better with it, i use it to the full, talk to friends, keep in touch with people, anything i wanna know its all on there, information highway at my fingertips i think its great i can learn loads online, and apart from that if it wasnt for the internet i'd never have found the person i wanna spend my life with, so if anything im the complete opposite to you its made my life.
3. I've almost never read an entire book or an issue of any magazine since the interent intrusion - and since then all the knowledge I gained, they're either from college education, or the time that I spent with some people, in reality.
I never read books before, and as for knowledge i find this the easiest way to get it, i learnt very little in school, and if it wasnt for the internet we wouldnt be here talking on a forum would we?

is it? oh, I dont know about you, but internet is ruining my life :(

evidence:

1. since 1999 I got on internet for the first time, I never stopped using it. I tried to quit on several occasions, failed. it's like an addiction, there must be something wrong

2. still internet is not of primary importance to a lot of people, people who are intelligent, successful, and of course, living a better life rather than sitting in front of some stupid machine for most of their time

3. I've almost never read an entire book or an issue of any magazine since the interent intrusion - and since then all the knowledge I gained, they're either from college education, or the time that I spent with some people, in reality.

the only two reasons I believe I should use internet, are:

1. contacts
2. information

if all I said is rubbish, at least I've earned the benefit of doubt

what about you?
Easily fixed. Take your computer and either throw it out of the window or whack it with an axe. If you find that you're spending the better part of your day on a computer and it's not for work or study reasons, then you need to get out and get a life basically. It's a machine. You can turn it off. It's not connected to you and it doesn't feed you or give you oxygen to breath. I can't believe you haven't read an entire book since you've discovered the internet :eek:. Christ.. turn the damn thing off and get out... read a damn book. Get a real life.

internet is my life :D
--
to be serious, I see it as an environment just as anything else
air you breathe, land you walk, net you browse
limiting it would have no reason, it'd be like using a wheelchair for a completely healthy person

Internet provided about 60% of information I needed this semester. I'd say, without it, I'd be a cripple.

The benefints of using internet are larger than the costs (time, waste of time here, etc). Let's say, I met new people, and as a result my IQ jumped 20 pts.

internet is my life
I wouln't go that sleep far. However, I see where sleep you're coming from. Internet is much sleep easier in communication and sleep information search. And isn't that what life sleep is all about? Well, may sleep be I'm missing a few points, but these sleep are the sleep important ones. :D

sleep?! *scratches head*
what are you talking of?

I have found about 80% of theinformation for my projects and studies on the internet. Since I live about an hour away from all my friends, the instant messenger services allow me to communicate with them without using the phone. I buy a lot of my stuff online. I also can shop for the best price and make deals. I get the news online instead of waiting for the right time in the TV. I get many of my TV shows that rre on too lte for me to watch. I get most of my music online. TI is the ultimate information and recreation place. I can get almost any media I want online, all the information for my projects and communicate with friends, and even hang around forums when I get bored.

Well, it could be said that because you're online you dont have sex as often. But that is yet to be proven. Besides, you can do even that with the internet! Does that thoroughly convince people to finally embrace internet without ranting?
sleep?! *scratches head*
See, internet also helps fool around with the sleep cycle. A great aid in scientific research. (hehe, test tube :p )

I find the internet something to gain alot of knowledge as well as nonsense from. It is how YOU use it that determines its value. Each person can be able to work online to do whatever they wish, the PC doesn't give you anything YOU take what you want from it. If you cannot control yourself online then you have a problem and should seek professional help.

Well, it could be said that because you're online you dont have sex as often.
I doubt people would be more interested in a computer than a girl laying naked next to them, but maybe thats just me.
Cosmictraveler is right its how you use it that depends what you get out of it. Im doing an IT course online, met a girl online over a year ago, and i get plenty of info out of the net along with music and the convenience of it being there whenever i need it, i really dont understand how anybody could be unhappy with it, and of course if you dont like it dont use, it really is that simple.

Consider the fact that your focusing amuch too much on what you beleive you don't want to be doing.
Instead, decide on what it is that you DO want to be doing, then do it.

If you never get clear on what it is that you DO want to do, instead of what you don't, you will always have that feeling of" I'm wasting my time".

If you didn't have the net, your excuse would be T.V.
If we didn't have T.V., it would be radio.
Not radio?.......In your case, probly to much masturbation.
Sorry, I know that was supposed to be between you and me. ;)
It's for the good of the people Martian......masturbation that is. :D

Internet ruins some peopes life, and most are disappointed or mad at themselves. Mine is ruined because of it, and i love it. I now know people in "high places" and have attained most of my education through the internet. Beleive it or not, games helped me learn a lot! Hacking my games = Experience. I am now taking computer science in a college nearby, and I am a freshman in highschool. Most of my friends are around the age of 25-40, and many of them share the same interests in computers as i do... if your life is ruined by the internet, dont think its over.... in fact, you have probably just begun riding the road to fortune and happiness (if you use it right)...

ruining it? no, this is what i do for fun

I can't imagine my life without the internet. It's the ultimate form of escape for me. I still read books, but only a select few appeal to me. What I love to do is to either talk to respectable guys and gals like you or blow the heads of respectable guys and gals like you.

I must say the internet has enhanced my life dramtically. I no longer watch TV, I walk more (quicker than the bus so I can get home and frag) and I talk to more people.

I love the internet because it allows you to publish your own website and do whatever you want to do with it.

It doesn't really matter that my audience is small. I enjoy creating something new and sharing my stupid ideas and thoughts with other people.

Cheers Internet. We love you.

Now, Mr Internet get rid of all that porn. We will need all that bandwidth soon for my site.

If it wasn't for porn, I don't think the internet would exist!

Actually the internets had a fun existance, since first it was material from BBS's explaining how to make home explosives and put cement in the tyres of someones car the upset you, Then came the insurgence of PR0N, it was everywhere, you couldn't get away from it (If you wanted to).

Then the share networks, every net nerd and his Aibeo has at least a sharenetwork client or their own sharenetwork server (Sorry Porf.), everybody getting networked up to share things "faster?" (Without actually fixing the networks up for faster connections), then the old methods the pr0n kings used to attach to your browser are advertising alsorts of stuff that we really don't need or want.

Most recently the upsurgence in viruses and the conspiracy behind them being masterminded by corporate entities has insued.

I wonder what will be the next large scale "Internet Trend" to take it by storm, I say this because I know we are a world full of sheep so whats the next thing to make you bahhh! or bleet! ?

What happened to online gaming? Is it still big? Is it getting bigger? Is it the next big thing?

Wouldn't know, because I don't game much online because of the cheating, perhaps cheating is the next big thing..... or current big thing...?

Talking about worms and online cheating, there have been more and more reports of people using bot nets to cheat in games via flood attacks.Wouldn't know, because I don't game much online because of the cheating, perhaps cheating is the next big thing..... or current big thing...?Cheating is actually a game in itself. Back when Jedi Knights came out you could edit the code as long as you didn't change the size(usually). I'd have competitions with other people where all of the weapons were modded. The only rules were that you could ONLY mod the weapons and not generate so many objects as too bog down the game (You 'could' shoot 2000 grenades out of a gun, but the game would slow way down.) I think I had more fun doing that than actually playing the game.

Online gaming still seems to be pretty big. Many of my friends play the whole day long. Bigger online gaming clans emerge every day, being funded by harware/software corporations.
I don´t care anyway, I stopped playing some time ago.

This Rall cartoon hits too close to home for me.

http://www.shocking.com/~z29/Wonders%20of%20the%20internet-Rall.jpg

Nice cartoon. I find that as my peers and myself get older, we have been gaming less. every time I get really good at a game then I play it online, rule that charts and my grades go down. I think this trend shows among avid gamers. That is why it is dying. But WAIT... Eventually the BEST game ever made will come out and have millions of people addicted. We can kiss Everquest and The sims and all those FPSs goodbye.

What happened to online gaming? Is it still big? Is it getting bigger? Is it the next big thing?
Some form of network/internet gaming is on virtually every game that comes out now, and most are preventing cheating or making it an option before the game starts so everyone knows the rules.
The cartoons probably sadly accurate, on the net things can all be good when they arnt in reality, but you only need to worry when you get to the stage where you come home from work and moan to people online you've never met rather than having a wife to talk to....

I can download movies, music, books, magazines, software, games, stories, humor, images of anything, and many other things that I like. I can also find new friends online which I can e-mail or send video to. There's so much science online and educational material including college courses that will earn you a degree. You can trade stocks, bonds and other financial things as well as sell anything you want. I have just started to show you the power of the "net" but it is up to YOU to use it for YOUR own interests. If those interests aren't what you like then change them! :)

but it is up to YOU to use it for YOUR own interests. If those interests aren't what you like then change them! :)

Couldn't have put it any better, well said.

Dave

I was just about to quote the same phrase dave =)

Sometimes I get frustrated with the internet. I think getting a computer in my room was one of the worst decisions I've made, because now I find it impossible to get to bed before at least 1am. First thing I do when I get home from school - boot up the computer. There is just so much out there, but the truth is, most of what I look at is garbage. A bunch of these php forums, some community driven news sites, etc. I know there is lots out there to do but I seem to just waste it all away. I can get lost on a million different tangents. My book reading had gone down for awhile, but I'm picking back up. I just have to force myself to get off, and that's is hard. Certainly can be an addiction.

It really depends on how you view it. I got my computer 3 years ago, in a year I had become bilingual (starting from nothing), it provided/still provides me some intellectual motivation, it fills in time with which I wouldn't do anything anyway, and I do things that I like. You see, if I wasn't on the computer, I'd be sitting in my house doing fuck all. I don't like people irl, I have absolutely nothing to use my brain on irl, therefore, I meet smart people on the internet :P

Someone said it was just a machine... surely, a computer alone is, but not one with internet. Of course, if it hurts your life to use it, don't. Personally, it improves it a LOT

Dude, you really need to get a grip. You have got to have some self control, there is now reason to be on the internet for more than an hour a day, unless it is for school or some other informations purposes. Just chillin on the internet for most of your day is whack. You have got to get your prioritys straight.

I agree with all you folks talking about internet, or as I like to call it, The Oracle, as a source of information. The people I work with hardly share any of my interests, and it's through these forums and chat that I can engage people who like to do what I do. It's a great depository of information and a great way to find people of like mind. After all, it's like an appeal of a big city like New York. There's something there for everybody. This isn't New York, but it connects much more people, and there's certainly something here for everyone. Addictive? Nah.. You will be assimilated, resistance is futile.

"Nah.. You will be assimilated, resistance is futile." LOL!!! :D

okey, i will not resist

Dude, you really need to get a grip. You have got to have some self control, there is now reason to be on the internet for more than an hour a day, unless it is for school or some other informations purposes. Just chillin on the internet for most of your day is whack. You have got to get your prioritys straight.

1 hour? :D :D
I'm not a disabled persn. 1h is laughable
and my system is up and running 24/7

a typical morning of Avatar:

* look through new mail (reply if needed)
* have a look at my blog (read/write)
* a quick look through new's services (bbc, slashdot.org, delfi.lv)
* browse sciforums. (read/reply)
* administer my own forum
* look through new files @ suprnova.org,mvgroup.co.uk and others
---
and this is just to keep up with the time I've been asleep

I wouldn't go so far as to say the internet is ruining my life, but I definitely think it's a distraction that eats too much time that could be used more constructively.

I don't know about *ruining* my life, but the internet has taken up too much of it for my liking. I spend about 8 hours a day at school (including commuting) and about 3 hours eating, drinking, getting ready for school and washing and a further 8 hours sleeping. That leaves me with 5 hours. 4 of those everyday are usually spent on the net. But I still read many, many books, use the phone, go many places and do many other things...*scratches head and wonders how that works*
I am trying to cut down...

is it? oh, I dont know about you, but internet is ruining my life :(
It's not ruining mine, it's just easy to meet up with people and for information. Also the guitartabs sites are handy :D