From a guy named Joe - GoFuckYourself.com

Vengeance · 09-20-2001, 10:45 PM

Something to think about:

"I?m Afraid of The End of the Internet

I came across a link the other day ? one I?d seen before, but I?d never really thought about. To roughly paraphrase, it stated that I had found the End of The Internet, that I should turn off my browser, shut down my computer, and resume my life.

My first response was to laugh, as I backed out of the page and resumed my search for the elusive content that will still have the power to shock me, to intrigue me, to make me laugh out loud or send shivers down my spine.

Later, sipping my coffee and smoking a cigarette outside in my dusty old recliner that lives in the carport just for that purpose, I set down my novel, good as it was, and began to ponder ?The End of The Internet? and all that that wicked little phrase implies.

I didn?t reflect too long on the causes that might bring about the death of the environment- strange and numerous they may be, but as always, I began to focus on what I always seem to: How will this affect me? How would my small, insignificant little life be changed if I woke one morning to find that the communication of thoughts and pictures and hope and vanity that sustains me and keeps my mind occupied for hours at a time were to end? Would I resume old hobbies or make new ones? Could mah-jongg or chess or table tennis hope to capture me as wholly and without reservation? Could the time I spend on my various collections expand to fill the late nights and lonely hours when I?m not at work? Would I ever again find an outlet so real, so convincing, so well able to allow me to shout my thoughts into the minds of thousands?

No. And you, reading this, your veins full of caffeine, your eyes red and bloodshot, wrists sore and fingernails bitten to the quick: think about your own lives, think about the time you spend hunched over a keyboard, think about the number of people you consider your friends, or in-jokes you?re a part of, or places to spend your midnight hours that only exist as packets of data that travel from some unknown server to another, faster than your father?s father or mine ever imagined.

I?m Afraid of the End of The Internet, because I have no idea who I'll be."

- Joe

bryany · 09-20-2001, 11:43 PM

Porn will always be around....

But good story man, makes ya ponder..

hmmm....

dragonlady · 09-21-2001, 08:32 AM

Scary thought! Can't imagine not being able to be in instant communication with friends and family. Or not being able to acess the volume of information that is currently available. My God, it would be like going back to the Stone Age almost!

------------------
RSVMoney - get paid per click - no conversion ratios

Slick · 09-21-2001, 08:39 AM

It's odd though because you figure that there's still MILLIONS of people that never even experienced the internet yet and there's THOUSANDS being turned on to it every day.

I know that the net is gonna evolve into something else.

bryany makes a good point, porn will always be around. People are never gonna stop being horny, so they're definately gonna need an easy outlet for it and what better a way for them to get it than the internet.

Vengeance · 09-21-2001, 08:52 AM

You guys are kinda missing his point... if the Net was suddenly gone, what would you do? Take up your old hobbies? Would you be able to find something that can give you the same level of entertainment? Many people define their everyday lives (knowingly or unknowingly) by their Internet persona... who would you be if that were gone? I'm fortunate enough to remember life without the Net... (something our children may never know) and I'll admit, it was vastly different then, for me at least, than it is today.

If the Net was suddenly gone, I know who I would be... but it wouldn't be the same as now. Life would surely be different.

09-20-2001, 10:45 PM	#1
Vengeance Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Hell. Posts: 183	From a guy named Joe Something to think about: "I?m Afraid of The End of the Internet I came across a link the other day ? one I?d seen before, but I?d never really thought about. To roughly paraphrase, it stated that I had found the End of The Internet, that I should turn off my browser, shut down my computer, and resume my life. My first response was to laugh, as I backed out of the page and resumed my search for the elusive content that will still have the power to shock me, to intrigue me, to make me laugh out loud or send shivers down my spine. Later, sipping my coffee and smoking a cigarette outside in my dusty old recliner that lives in the carport just for that purpose, I set down my novel, good as it was, and began to ponder ?The End of The Internet? and all that that wicked little phrase implies. I didn?t reflect too long on the causes that might bring about the death of the environment- strange and numerous they may be, but as always, I began to focus on what I always seem to: How will this affect me? How would my small, insignificant little life be changed if I woke one morning to find that the communication of thoughts and pictures and hope and vanity that sustains me and keeps my mind occupied for hours at a time were to end? Would I resume old hobbies or make new ones? Could mah-jongg or chess or table tennis hope to capture me as wholly and without reservation? Could the time I spend on my various collections expand to fill the late nights and lonely hours when I?m not at work? Would I ever again find an outlet so real, so convincing, so well able to allow me to shout my thoughts into the minds of thousands? No. And you, reading this, your veins full of caffeine, your eyes red and bloodshot, wrists sore and fingernails bitten to the quick: think about your own lives, think about the time you spend hunched over a keyboard, think about the number of people you consider your friends, or in-jokes you?re a part of, or places to spend your midnight hours that only exist as packets of data that travel from some unknown server to another, faster than your father?s father or mine ever imagined. I?m Afraid of the End of The Internet, because I have no idea who I'll be." - Joe

09-20-2001, 11:43 PM	#2
bryany Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: AZ Posts: 2,037	Porn will always be around.... But good story man, makes ya ponder.. hmmm....

09-21-2001, 08:32 AM	#3
dragonlady Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 322	Scary thought! Can't imagine not being able to be in instant communication with friends and family. Or not being able to acess the volume of information that is currently available. My God, it would be like going back to the Stone Age almost! ------------------ RSVMoney - get paid per click - no conversion ratios

09-21-2001, 08:39 AM	#4
Slick Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Houghton, MI Posts: 7,338	It's odd though because you figure that there's still MILLIONS of people that never even experienced the internet yet and there's THOUSANDS being turned on to it every day. I know that the net is gonna evolve into something else. bryany makes a good point, porn will always be around. People are never gonna stop being horny, so they're definately gonna need an easy outlet for it and what better a way for them to get it than the internet.

09-21-2001, 08:52 AM	#5
Vengeance Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Hell. Posts: 183	You guys are kinda missing his point... if the Net was suddenly gone, what would you do? Take up your old hobbies? Would you be able to find something that can give you the same level of entertainment? Many people define their everyday lives (knowingly or unknowingly) by their Internet persona... who would you be if that were gone? I'm fortunate enough to remember life without the Net... (something our children may never know) and I'll admit, it was vastly different then, for me at least, than it is today. If the Net was suddenly gone, I know who I would be... but it wouldn't be the same as now. Life would surely be different.