Has the INTERNET made us less HUMAN-LIKE?

[Golgo-13]

Lets' face it, now that the internet is part of everyday life we as humans tend to socialized face to face less, are physically active less among other things. Lets face it, you can get just about EVERYTHING you want online;

You can order food
You can order drink
You can order sex via escort services
You can chat with friends
You can pay bills...

..hell, you can even work and earn a good living online.

This is obviously the way of the future; but is it good for us..?

 

[Hound55]

No, because whatever humans are is the definition of "human-like".

People confuse evolution with always being a positive thing. Not every evolutionary jump is a "positive" one. In fact looking at in terms of "positive" and "negative" is to add a perspective and design to things which just isn't there.

 

[Optikal]

I don't think it has at all. It's made us more sedated I reckon, in that EVERYTHING is available at the touch of a button. All the information and most services you could ever want is here on the 'net.

But that just ties in with modern day living. We have email, text and phone rather than going to visit someone. We have cars that eliminate the need to walk. We have computers and machines to do what 50 or 100 years ago would have been done by hand. It's not just the 'net at fault but all of modern day living.

However, I think the core of what makes us human (relationships, socialising, emotion, achievements, desires etc) is still there and it always will be.

I mean, it's great to have a good old group chat with friends on MSN, but nothing beats a good family get-together. It's good to play on Xbox LIVE with a bunch of cyber-buddies, but nothing beats four mates and a crate of beer hunched around some smack-talking four-player.

The simple human need to forge relationships, socialise and be a part of some sort of unit will always be there, no matter how easy we make things for ourselves.

 

[knowsbleed]

The day that I can get e-drunk... is the day I'll never have to leave my house again.

 

[Majic Walrus]

No, because whatever humans are is the definition of "human-like".

People confuse evolution with always being a positive thing. Not every evolutionary jump is a "positive" one. In fact looking at in terms of "positive" and "negative" is to add a perspective and design to things which just isn't there.

^This

 

[nogap87]

I think MP3 players has done more damage to human interaction than the internet.

 

[Go Web Go!]

I don't know if it's made us less human-like, but if computers all around the world were to crash tomorrow we'd all be ****ed. In other words, we depend on the internet way too much.

 

[ChickenScratch]

We are human, nothing can make us less human. Some may interact less with people outside their homes but that does not make anyone less human. It's like saying a dog that sleeps in the house with his master is less dog because he's not outside.

 

[Sarge 2.0]

I think MP3 players has done more damage to human interaction than the internet.

...huh?

 

[SuperFerret]

The internet has made the world smaller and brought more people together than ever before. This is a negative thing.

 

[nogap87]

...huh?

On my college campus, I see more people listening to their MP3s with their headphones than actually talking with a human being. I think they make people more prone to keeping to themselves rather than striking a conversation.

I have no problem with it. It's just a thought I've had for a while.

 

[SuperFerret]

Noga, have you ever had a conversation with other people? Most of them are idiots who'll yammer on about stuff I don't give a crap about. Plus, I'll take a day or two of sitting by myself, listening to my music and reading instead of hanging out with my friends during my break periods, just because I need some time to myself.

 

[POWdER-man]

I don't know if it's made us less human-like, but if computers all around the world were to crash tomorrow we'd all be ****ed. In other words, we depend on the internet way too much.

If the internet never worked again, I think humans could easily adapt over time. The main use for the internet is communication whether personal or business (of course there is many other uses), however with other forms of commmunication we would eventually manage and learn to live without it.

BUT if all the computers stopped working all of a sudden, I think we would be ****ed for years because of our complete dependence on them to manage every system but then again over time we would eventually get sorted out.

 

[Sarge 2.0]

The internet has made the world smaller and brought more people together than ever before. This is a negative thing.

Er, how so?

 

[Sarge 2.0]

Noga, have you ever had a conversation with other people? Most of them are idiots who'll yammer on about stuff I don't give a crap about. Plus, I'll take a day or two of sitting by myself, listening to my music and reading instead of hanging out with my friends during my break periods, just because I need some time to myself.

You must not be around the right people. Or you're just highly and unfairly judgmental.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I read a funny but scary article here: http://www.cracked.com/article/87_5-awesome-cases-internet-owning-mainstream-media/

Truth is that the Internet is changing the way we do business and interact with one another. I predict that within 10 years there will be no more DVDs, CDs, Blu-Rays, or any other form a portable media aside from a thumb drive. Within 20 years no more pay TV service as we know it now. It will all be internet based.

Internet based media is already more powerful than "convential" media ever has been. And internet interaction... I don't think I really need to explain how easy it is to talk to a bunch of people from all over the world who share similiar interests do I?

 

[SuperFerret]

Er, how so?

When have large groups gotten anything done in a timely manner? What's good about the homogenizing of every place on the planet? (Is there a major city left in the world without a McDonalds, a Starbucks and a Gap?)

You must not be around the right people. Or you're just highly and unfairly judgmental.

I'm not around the right people, because I honestly don't give a damn about the usual topics that a lot of people use to make "normal" conversation, like sports, politics, music, etc. EDIT: Also drugs and drinking, I don't engage in either and I'm uncomfortable when the conversation skews that way.

I still need time to myself every once in a while, even with the groups of people I enjoy talking with.

 

[Golgo-13]

The internet is also VERY addictive. Can any of you go a week or two without getting online for some reason or another; whether it's to check your e mail, some sort of news, or look up some info, or purchase something..? I have to admit, i don't think i could .....

 

[SuperFerret]

I could, but not now. Were I living at home, where I could easily get around (Denver is not pedestrian friendly) and I was able to hang out with friends and family, I could easily go a week or two without internet.

 

[nogap87]

Noga, have you ever had a conversation with other people? Most of them are idiots who'll yammer on about stuff I don't give a crap about.

True, but occasionally I'll find someone pretty cool because I heard them say something that piqued my interest and decided to start a conversation with them. That's how I found a friend in my ethics class.

I still need time to myself every once in a while, even with the groups of people I enjoy talking with.

Same here. Having friends is great but sometimes I just want to put my headphones on and zone out.

The internet is also VERY addictive. Can any of you go a week or two without getting online for some reason or another; whether it's to check your e mail, some sort of news, or look up some info, or purchase something..? I have to admit, i don't think i could .....

My college/teachers has made the internet and e mail mandatory if I want to do half way decent in my classes.

 

[The Guard]

I'll bet they said the same about cars, the phone, TV...

Also, isn't humanlike just "human".

 

[Aesop Rocks]

Lets' face it, now that the internet is part of everyday life we as humans tend to socialized face to face less, are physically active less among other things. Lets face it, you can get just about EVERYTHING you want online;

You can order food
You can order drink
You can order sex via escort services
You can chat with friends
You can pay bills...

..hell, you can even work and earn a good living online.

This is obviously the way of the future; but is it good for us..?

All I do is chat with friends. Who ever orders food and drinks is fat, lazy and, depressing.

 

[Ghostvirus]

I wonder why we socialise when all we do is lie, steal, & cheat each other. What is the point of being social?

 

[Crook]

I wonder why we socialise when all we do is lie, steal, & cheat each other. What is the point of being social?

GTFO with that bullcrap.

 

[Sarge 2.0]

When have large groups gotten anything done in a timely manner? What's good about the homogenizing of every place on the planet? (Is there a major city left in the world without a McDonalds, a Starbucks and a Gap?)



I'm not around the right people, because I honestly don't give a damn about the usual topics that a lot of people use to make "normal" conversation, like sports, politics, music, etc. EDIT: Also drugs and drinking, I don't engage in either and I'm uncomfortable when the conversation skews that way.

I still need time to myself every once in a while, even with the groups of people I enjoy talking with.

So, what do you like talking about?

Also, I like time to myself too, but we're social creatures. I'd kill myself if I could never interact face to face with other human beings.