How would You cope without the internet in your life?
 

Was thinking this today, and I at first totally disregarded the idea that i was in someway 'dependant' on the internet, but then it got me thinking.. Things would be quite different!

Starting off with trivial matters such as all my entertainment, mostly music, info and news comes from the internet and from taking part in online communities such as message boards etc. I rarely buy the trash such as Kerrang, NME, Q etc unless i particulary want to.

Ask youselves this, how much would you really know about one of your favourite bands, Bon jovi, if you didnt have constant access to the internet? Up to date new album details and interviews, online streams, online presales, fan sites with wealths of information, Tour dates, Tour setlists etc (there would be nobody moaning about the setlists for starters, as they wouldnt be able to follow the entire tour night after night from the comfort of their computer and so the average Joe would not know that 'x' has already been played 'y' amount of times this tour etc)

Music etc aside, i began thinking this as i've just finished booking my whole next summer online - a whole backpacking trip around Europe, booked hostels, planes, ordered train tickets, checked out all the hostels and things to do in the cities on the relevant websites, then back in time for a certain Wembley gig... Makes we wonder if this generation is growing a bit dependant on the internet as a source.

I know that if i hear a new band i automaticlly think to find their website, download some stuff, and assume that theyl have a message board..

And if i get an essay assignment in Uni the first thing i do is google the title..

And if i want to contact someone, email or online texting is always the first port of call. The only person i actually phone nowadays is my girlfriend!

i could go on and on, but i wont!

Oh, and it would be interesting to hear what the older folk who post here think about it all.. How was it being a Bon jovi fan in the early 90's before the whole internet thing really kicked of big time? How would you book a holiday.. would you actually go to the travel agents?! etc


andi

Well, here's one opinion of the "older folk" here. I have become quite dependent upon the internet for many things. Even before there was an "internet" as we know it, I was online as part of my job. Engineers shared things via ftp a long time ago and the University sites were a good source of information. Now, I can research almost any product that I am thinking of specifying on one of my jobs. Previously, I had an office full of product catalogs (usually out of date) and I would have to phone the manufacturer prior to specifying. There was something called "Sweets Catalog" which was a compendium of common products and it cost about $1200.00 per year to update. I haven't used them in years :)

Aside from my job, music and books were the first things that I searched for when I first got a modem (in 1995). It's hard to believe it's been 10 years LOL. I have always been a book nut and finding old or out of print books meant writing letters to researchers who had access to databases that I didn't. I used to drag my family into used books store in any city that we visited on vacation in hopes that I would find something on my ever present "list". I bet that they are glad that I can find anything I want online at bookfinder.com now :)

As for music, I have always had access to good local music here in Jersey. Being so close to New York City we were exposed to a lot that other parts of the country didn't get get for quite awhile (or ever). I have mentioned many times that it was my son that turned me on to Bon Jovi way back when. Either I heard stuff on the radio or I heard stuff that my kids played (or my friends played). Then I had to hope that I could find a copy of something for sale in my local record store. This has completely changed for me. Now I get most of my information from the internet, faster and much more accurate that the rumor mill used to be. If I want something old or out of print there are sites that cater to that specialty. And bootlegs - my god - you used to have to belong to mailing lists to get anything. Every once in a while you would find a live record for sale that was not official but not often. Now with bit torrent sites I can have all the old Springsteen or Bon Jovi shows I want. I'm not talking about downloading official stuff here - I mean live concerts.

But, in my opinion. the biggest advantage of the internet is the "world at your fingertips" I can order stuff from Amazon.uk that would not have been sold in this country. I can talk to people from everywhere (such as on this board) and learn a lot about how other people in the world view things. I am no longer dependent on the American press for my news.

I could go on, but you get the picture. I know that there are people my age that have never turned on a computer, and never will, but my life has been made much richer and much easier by the internet. I guess I'd have to say that I am addicted though by no means do I spend all my time online.

Kathleen

I used to be really addicted. Now it's something i like and use a lot, and would find it hard to live without. Leisure but also work. And contact with family/friends.

I use internet since only 4 or 5 years and i used to say i didn't want internet at home. I said it was a danger for kids too. I didn't see what was interesting in it. I thought if you need to find something particular you can use your encyclopedia or go to the library, and for family and friends there is the phone ! etc etc etc ...

Now i work sometimes in computing and help friends and friends of friends of friends with their problems about pc's. lol and i've got two pc's at home, one i optimised and one i create myself :p

In fact i discovered something i really like, it sometimes take too much of my time as i help users on a forum too. But i like all about it.

Oh i forgot to tell : first day our internet was installed at home i said to my husband no thanks i'm not interested, and he typed "bon jovi fansite" on google and found drycounty (the old one) .... so i joined and i'm still here :)

I find it very nice to be unpluggde for a few days, next week for one. But the Internet is a very handy tool from time to time.

Without it I'd be out of work.

Ice

As a university student, the internet defintely comes in handy. I can search for online journals whenever I feel like it. I can submit course work, download lectures notes and check my marks.

The internet has introduced me to communities and allows me to talk to people all over the world. It may seem naive, but at one point, I thought I was the only 16 year old Bon Jovi fan. Then I found this board, and realized "Wow...there are a whole bunch of people like me."

When our internet connection was cut a few weeks ago, I was able to function without having that connection all the time. It is a convenience. If I didn't have the internet at home, I could not be bother to go up to campus to check my email or other sites. My housemates, however, are completely dependent on the internet. Holy withdrawal symptoms when the connection was cut LOL

Steph

yes i coujld deffinatly cope its called wanking lol

I use it and appreciate it a lot, but could live without it.


Ponrauil

what wanking lol