Has the Internet failed?
It was supposed to be a massive and comprehensive archive of information. We were meant to have grown more enlightened from the ability to share our theories, ideas, and philosophies with everyone around the world. Through instantaneous access, the Internet was supposed to be the great equalizer, giving voice to rich, poor, powerful, oppressed, and everyone in between. So, why do I feel betrayed?
The bulk of information on the Internet that is actually viewed by people is garbage. From inane youtube clips, to pornography, and to message boards that are often nothing more than vacuums for group think and one-note 4chan memes, the Internet is largely a place where the lowest common denominator meet to waste time and further dull our brains. Read the comments pages of most youtube clips, and they are littered with racism, discrimination, childish back-and-forth fighting, and unoriginal comebacks.
I think my main problem with the Internet is that it seems to have become another visual medium, versus a useful platform for meaningful discussion. The attention span of the average surfer does not lend itself to reading long articles or participating in well-structured and calm debate. Everyone seems to want the bottom line, or a Photoshopped image to poke fun at the topic at hand.
In terms of my own web habits, I have limited myself to email and Facebook checking, followed by browsing the usual 3-4 websites that I always do. I suppose I am part of the problem, and that perhaps with greater detective work, I would be able to find the type of information I think the Internet should be providing. I know it -is- there, but when I think of the most common sites, such as social networking pages or youtube, I feel like I'm back in a high school classroom again, where it is the popular kid or the prankster who gets all the attention. I'm not saying these sites don't have their place. They do, but they seem to be the focal point of a lot of people's Internet habits, and I see that as being potentially dangerous.
How to combat these trends? I suppose I can try to set my own example by posting material or browsing sites that I feel have genuine worth to my own personal growth, and which have something meaningful to say on a given topic. Again, if I am not trying to fight against the current but am merely rolling along with it, then I truly have no right to complain. And what is "meaningful" material, anyway? It means different things to different people.
I suppose the other option would be to unplug. But that would just be silly. A more realistic solution is to curb my browsing habits, limiting the time I spend on websites I know are merely time wasters, and actually spend some time doing an activity that I feel is more worthwhile. You know, like breathing the air outside, or reading a bound paper book.
The bulk of information on the Internet that is actually viewed by people is garbage. From inane youtube clips, to pornography, and to message boards that are often nothing more than vacuums for group think and one-note 4chan memes, the Internet is largely a place where the lowest common denominator meet to waste time and further dull our brains. Read the comments pages of most youtube clips, and they are littered with racism, discrimination, childish back-and-forth fighting, and unoriginal comebacks.
I think my main problem with the Internet is that it seems to have become another visual medium, versus a useful platform for meaningful discussion. The attention span of the average surfer does not lend itself to reading long articles or participating in well-structured and calm debate. Everyone seems to want the bottom line, or a Photoshopped image to poke fun at the topic at hand.
In terms of my own web habits, I have limited myself to email and Facebook checking, followed by browsing the usual 3-4 websites that I always do. I suppose I am part of the problem, and that perhaps with greater detective work, I would be able to find the type of information I think the Internet should be providing. I know it -is- there, but when I think of the most common sites, such as social networking pages or youtube, I feel like I'm back in a high school classroom again, where it is the popular kid or the prankster who gets all the attention. I'm not saying these sites don't have their place. They do, but they seem to be the focal point of a lot of people's Internet habits, and I see that as being potentially dangerous.
How to combat these trends? I suppose I can try to set my own example by posting material or browsing sites that I feel have genuine worth to my own personal growth, and which have something meaningful to say on a given topic. Again, if I am not trying to fight against the current but am merely rolling along with it, then I truly have no right to complain. And what is "meaningful" material, anyway? It means different things to different people.
I suppose the other option would be to unplug. But that would just be silly. A more realistic solution is to curb my browsing habits, limiting the time I spend on websites I know are merely time wasters, and actually spend some time doing an activity that I feel is more worthwhile. You know, like breathing the air outside, or reading a bound paper book.