The internet saved my life, it was a means of communication with the outside world when I was trapped in a deadly abusive marriage, on the verge of suicide, and with nowhere else to turn.

It opened my mind, allowing me to make friends across cultural, racial, and geographical lines, allowing me to see into the hearts and minds of others without any preconcieved notions or prejudices based on nationality, skin color, or religion.

It brought me love, both times with men I'd not have spared a second glance at had I met them in person first...one because he was too young, the other because He's just 'not my type' physically. I married the second one, and am with Him still today.

It's entertained me, informed me, educated me.

It's alleviated loneliness when I was too ill to 'get out in the world.'

It's provided a creative outlet, a place to vent, a place to find validation and realize that no matter what I'm going through or what I'm feeling, I'm not alone.

I'd ask the author of that piece, if the internet is such shit, why the hell are YOU on it? Begone, and let those of us who find our time here valuable enjoy it without the petty judgements of assholes like you.

Most only allow a few internet resources...some sources HAVE to be textbooks, magazines, scholarly journals, etc.

Umm, I understand this, zoo...but you know how many people ACCESS scholarly journals? Yup...the Internet!

The problem's not in the source, the problem's in the citation.

Life is like a box of chocolates... if you're too slow you'll be the one left with the toffee...

(it helps if you spit on your thumb, apply pressure, and smooth over the toothmarks you've left, too.)

The internet makes us give up many of the things we should enjoy for staring at the screen.

Same said at the inception of television in the fifties.....little Tommy watching Hopalong Cassidy instead of outside playing mudpies in the fresh air using his imagination.....families having dinner on TV trays instead of communicating over the evening meal at the dining table.....changed our way of life forever.

Like TV, the Internet is here to stay....both have OFF buttons.....we need to learn to live along side them...to supervise & teach the younger generation moderation....encourage outdoor sports and activities needing imagination....something sorely lacking in the young, many who seem to sit around waiting/expecting to be entertained thanks to all the techy gadgets they are bombarded with. They don't seem to be able to go anywhere without being plugged into something...

Like anything, there are positives and negatives...
like little-whip, I know a number of people who have found great happiness with people met on the internet.

I use it to communicate with distant (geographically!) family members with whom I'd never have kept up the same amount of communication otherwise.....share photography and try to further fledgling graphics skills with tutorials and inspiration from others' work.

I love the wealth of information at my fingertips.....though can waste a lot of time searching for it when I should be doing other things.

I suppose it all comes down to discipline......(wish I had some... )

The internet for me....the ability to say heaps of shit in anonymity and not have to suffer the red face if I'd have said it in a public place.

Reply #33 Life is like a box of chocolates... if you're too slow you'll be the one left with the toffee...

haha I like toffees too!

Reply #34 Life is like a box of chocolates... ...if you bite into one and don't like the center, put that sucker back in the box for some other sucker and choose another.

hhahaha - the worst kind of choclate eater!

(it helps if you spit on your thumb, apply pressure, and smooth over the toothmarks you've left, too.)

  ...............  

Or the punch in the face..

Um, er...no matter how much shit I speak/type, I'll always try be respectful of others so that never becomes a consideration/necessary. Having a jibe in fun is one thing, but I neither like to give or receive blatant rudeness/arrogance.

I can't be doing too badly...I've not been in a violent altercation/exchange since I left school almost 40 years ago. Oh, except for the time when I had to intervene to stop my ex-brother-in-law beating the crap out of my sister....and even that that was 26 years ago.

Now THAT is the best response I think I've heard so far.

Thank you...tho what I said is very close to the truth. In the 'real' world I'm generally quiet, reserved and far from being the exhibitionist I sometines come across as here. Yeah, I joke around here and say silly things (particularly in the JoeUser thread), but in reality the buffoon in me is somewhat more shy than the ol' Cap'n starkers is here. I enjoy a laugh and sharing a good joke, but I'd need a few good snorts of something to really come out of my shell publicly, and seeing as I gave up the alcohol near 5 - 6 years ago now, there's little...er, NO chance you'll see me perfoming a stand-up routine.

A conveyance of information.

I think its a conveyance as way to much child porn is allowed to be shown on it. It is discusting that people can get away with it.

Hahah, I think TheGuyPc would beg to differ, and would probably smack us all a good 'un if he had the chance

Even in my communications with TheGuyPC I've still not been blatantly rude or arrogant. Yeah, I've taken a few pokes and jibes at his view of the world, but it was done with tongue in cheek, never with malice or ill intent. Whether or not he likes or dislikes me is irrelevant, he'd have to be unreasonably intolerant if it ever came to wanting to snot me one....and quite frankly, I don't think he's a voilent kind of person.

I know where you live.....

Ah, so it was you who tipped over my wheelie bin....assisted TheGuyPC's process server spread doggie doo-doo all over my welcome mat....the cleaning bill is in the mail.

Even in my communications with TheGuyPC I've still not been blatantly rude or arrogant. Yeah, I've taken a few pokes and jibes at his view of the world, but it was done with tongue in cheek, never with malice or ill intent. Whether or not he likes or dislikes me is irrelevant, he'd have to be unreasonably intolerant if it ever came to wanting to snot me one....and quite frankly, I don't think he's a voilent kind of person.

Better be careful Starkers. Any kindness expressed toward anything that is TheGuyPc is rewarded with....................
BTW, I don't "snot" on anyone. I don't take a good snotting either. This site, and WinCustomize is amazingly good at snotting however. Though it may *seem* that I shoot off my mouth a lot, I read much more. I've seen many a fool wander into this black hole of bandwidth and get shit on. I'm just fool enough to bitch about it.

Nope, the only ill will I have isn't aimed at you Mr. Starkers. Frankly, it wouldn't be aimed at anyone if these sites weren't so full of themselves. I know I'm wasting my time. I've NEVER been treated like this elsewhere either. So, sometimes you stand up for what you believe. What else is there after all? I've not had a kind hand extended to me from Joe User or WinCustomize. I, however, have extended a kind hand several times, only to be shot down.

No, I'm not a violent person. Unless you come at my family or me physically. At that point, all bets are off.

As far as this discussion goes, the internet is becoming increasingly irrellevant. It's getting politically correct, and that prevents truth. It's ironic that (at this time), it's the "right" that is causing it. Though I find it ironic that the "right" is promoting social programs in Iraq, while slamming "liberals" here.

John Lennon had it right. "Strange days indeed. Most peculiar momma...whoa!"

PC