 sj |
||
|
||
BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries.
|
|
|
Subject: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Beccy Date: 17 Feb 03 - 02:49 PM I've noticed an interesting phenomenon on the internet. It seems that people feel free to be many times ruder than they would be in person when conversing on the 'net. Has anyone else noticed that? How about any other interesting social internet phenomena? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: GUEST,Q Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:12 PM Anonymity allows people to "let their hair down" (if they have any). Face to face in a tavern or the workplace, people naturally are much more guarded in their responses. Also noted- the use of computer lingo abbreviations one would never use in normal conversation. (I can never remember what any of them mean). |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Ed. Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:17 PM ... people feel free to be many times ruder than they would be in person when conversing on the 'net. Has anyone else noticed that? No, Beccy. You're the first person ever to notice that... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Gareth Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:18 PM It could be Beccy, and this is just a theory, that there are those whose social skills are so poor that the only conversations that they can have are on the Internet. Gareth |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Bill D Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:29 PM people come in 10,000 varieties, some decent and intelligent....some anti-social, dumb a**-holes, but they will sell a computer to anyone with a few hundred dollars... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Ebbie Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:35 PM (That's rude, Ed! And of course, I know- you meant it to be...) Someone the other day mentioned that people on the 'net and people on the highway in their cars share the same peculiarity- they don't feel identifiable and therefore perceive themselves as not being subject to the usual social niceties. I imagine there has been more than one give-em-the-finger driver who was greatly mortified when s/he suddenly discovered the offending car was piloted by a friend of theirs. Kind of like discovering that Max, et al, knows all along who the jerk is... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Ed. Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:50 PM Glad that you realised that, Ebbie. Thank you. I feared my point might get lost in this text only world. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: GUEST Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:50 PM I wouldn't get too complacent, folks. If people gassing up their vehicles in broad daylight can step over the body of a human being murdered right in front of them, and do nothing, I wouldn't be too sure that the "social niceties" are holding up anywhere. I am astounded at the amount of rudeness and meanness I see everyday, right in front of me, from family, work colleagues, from friends, from people I encounter routinely in my daily life (ie people who work in and frequent places I routinely shop, dine, etc) towards those people they feel "damn well deserve it". Nowadays apparently, anyone who annoys someone can be said to "damn well deserve it". I don't find the internet any different than real life, in major urban areas at least, in this regard. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Bill D Date: 17 Feb 03 - 03:55 PM *nod*...I think the car-'net metaphor is very close, Ebbie.Good point.. Many people lose their social veneer when they think they are anonymous...(but at least on the highway, there ARE license plates for egregious offences....much like IP numbers, which means Max and Joe can 'often' learn a lot about various guests) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Beccy Date: 17 Feb 03 - 04:04 PM Ed- You're a hoot. You know what I meant... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: GUEST Date: 17 Feb 03 - 04:14 PM I don't think the motivating force behind road rage is anonymity. To suggest that anonymity is a main factor in road rage is, IMO much too far a stretch. To me, an apt comparison to internet anonymity would be graffiti artists/vandals (depending upon your point of view). But road ragers? No way. Getting nasty on the internet doesn't kill or maim people. It just irritates them. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Clinton Hammond Date: 17 Feb 03 - 04:21 PM Not me... I'm this rude to yer face! :-) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 Feb 03 - 04:28 PM Some people are like that. On the Mudcat most people aren't. The thing to do is ignore the people who are. I can understand in theory the mechanisms that make it happen - much the same, in a way, as the mechanisms that make some people behave like arrogant prats when they are in a foreign country. But I can't imagine what it's like being inside someone who is like that. So far as Road Rage is concerned, I think every driving test should include a test designed to check if you are liable to react like that.If you fail this, you should fail the test no matter how ell youn can drive technically, and you can't take it again for quite a spell. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: mack/misophist Date: 17 Feb 03 - 04:41 PM I have a relative who has spent his life in upper management. His wife has spent a like time as an officer in a national charity. Both tell me that e-mail rudness and stupidity has always been a problem, often a serious one. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: GUEST Date: 17 Feb 03 - 04:51 PM Rudeness and stupidity have been with us a lot longer than the internet. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Liz the Squeak Date: 17 Feb 03 - 04:59 PM You are quite often lulled into the false sense of security that you are only dealing with this one person, head to head, rather than a media that can be round the world in less than a day, copied to any computer in the world. You think you are exclusive, when all along you find that your messages are being sent to the world and their significant other. Just because you are sitting alone and wouldn't dream of passing a received message to the world, doesn't mean that the other person wouldn't either. It's so easy to forget just how public this forum is..... and that people talk to other people. If you want a secret kept, don't be posting it on a thread you think only certain people read, or sending a message you think will only be seen by one person. Quite often it's a response to the flaming, I admit that there have been one or two postings that have caused me to send something I regretted later, and an awful lot more that I didn't actually send..... People get to know each others' 'persona' very quickly online, so an illusionary intimacy is established. We're usually rudest to people we know best. With strangers it's ill manners, jumping to conclusions and assuming the worst immediately. I've never met anyone who admits to being a bad driver, despite evidence to the contrary. Just like I've never met anyone who says they're rude on the internet...... LTS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Ed. Date: 17 Feb 03 - 05:09 PM Liz, I'll hold my hands up and admit that I've been rude on the 'net. I'm good at driving though... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 17 Feb 03 - 06:27 PM Well, I've been rude at times maybe, but I don't think I've ever been any ruder on the Internet than I would face to face. But it's important to remember that anything you post on an open thread here is public, in the same sense as it would be if you'd written it to a newspaper and had it published. And it stays on the record, in the Mudcat archives, and you can be faced with it, years later, and people are quite entitled to do so, or to quote your words anywhere they wish to. I suppose that's why we have the GUESTS-without-handles. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Rapparee Date: 17 Feb 03 - 07:10 PM The Internet has provided a way not only to bring people closer (e.g., The Mudcat Cafe), but also to drive them farther apart. What people forget in the supposed anonymity provided by typing a message on their own computer is that each and every machine can be traced, if someone knows how and wants to bother. Moreover, ANYONE can cut-and-paste something into a new message from a previous message or from anything else, WITHOUT anyone else being able to prove or disprove anything else. And has been pointed out, this stuff is archived, possibly in places other than Max's servers. Personally, I try not to say anything on the Internet that I wouldn't want sent to everyone in the whole wide world. It's called "Netiquette" and a Google or other search will turn up lots of sites with suggestions for good netiquette. Treating people as you'd treat them in your home is the best way to get along...of course, there are those you wouldn't invite in, and those you can ignore on the 'Net as well as in "real" life. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Bill D Date: 17 Feb 03 - 07:33 PM Rapaire...sounder advice has rarely been spoken or typed... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 17 Feb 03 - 07:38 PM I try to be polite and diplomatic when posting here because, as folk musicians, we are part of a relatively small sub-culture and the odds of running smack into each other in 3D are much greater than if we were posting to a Britney Spears fansite. I do, however make an exception in the case of Spaw. He is an obvious masochist and feels ignored if he is not insulted. Please endeavor to call him an asshole at least once a day. Spaw, you're an asshole! Bruce |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: smallpiper Date: 17 Feb 03 - 07:43 PM What the hell does IMO mean??? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Clinton Hammond Date: 17 Feb 03 - 07:50 PM "Treating people as you'd treat them in your home" Which is exactly what I do... IMO is "In My Opinion" |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Kaleea Date: 18 Feb 03 - 02:04 AM Funny how we can believe ourselves to be good people, but forget about the times when we are not very good! I can still hear dear Sister Mary Ellen "Now children, we must always be nice to others. We must behave as ladies and gentlemen at all times. Remember that our Lord loves every one of us so that we will know to love each other, too." With no public school kindergarten classes in our little town, my parents sent me to the Catholic school for kindergarten even though we were protestant. Just imagine if every minister/priest/rabbi/whatever would teach or preach this message on the next Sabbath! Imagine if every minister/etc. would give a message every Sabbath that we are all of the same race--the human race. Imagine that every minister/etc. teaches their flock that we must live by the golden rule which is taught by every major (& most other) religion(s). Imagine that every minister/etc. taught that we are supposed to be polite to absolutely everybody on the face of the earth, & treat all persons as though they are our family members! Even those who have done wrong would be lovingly corrected & rehabilitated if at all possible, & at the least be treated with dignity & respect when punished. Just imagine . . . preach road love not rage; kindness instead of anger; lovingly respectful tolerance & forgiveness instead of passing bigotry/prejudice on to our children . . . Now that I think about it, I learned in kindergarten that I couldn't tell the difference between Catholic folks & not Catholic folks--unless they were wearing certain attire as a nun or priest. Well ok, maybe the Catholic kids were a teensy bit different, they got really cool plastic glow in the dark Jesus statuettes from their Sunday school classes! I got to have one too, cause I went to Kindergarten, which made me really cool, too--especially when I showed the other kids in my family & neighborhood how my little Jesus would glow in the dark when we took it into a closet & shut the door! Maybe we should all make a pact with ourselves & each other to remember that everything we need for world peace we (allegedly) learned in kindergarten! Think about it. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Cluin Date: 18 Feb 03 - 09:11 PM I can vouch for Clinton's statement. He WOULD be as rude to your face as he would be on-line. That's what I liked about him. Give me an honest asshole everytime. You always know where you stand with them. They don't say anything behind your back that they wouldn't say to your face. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Neighmond Date: 18 Feb 03 - 09:26 PM Trust me...if you think I am a schmuck on the internet you would REALLY hate me face to face. But I haven't said a word on here that I wouldn't say to anyones' face. FWIW chaz |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Cornflake Date: 18 Feb 03 - 09:33 PM "IMO" means "I'm monstrously obese." The people who use the acronym belong to a support group and they're required to say that many times a day. Bear with them. It's easy to be rude on the internet. No one is going to glower at you or punch you for it. It's so easy to vent and hit that "submit message" button. Irresponsible but easy. IMO. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Cluin Date: 18 Feb 03 - 09:40 PM *punching Cornflake hard on the nose* Just because I can. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Cluin Date: 18 Feb 03 - 09:41 PM ;) (forgot the damn smiley again) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Bobert Date: 18 Feb 03 - 09:46 PM I'm like WYSIWYG in person. What you see is what you get. I try not to be rude but have been known to get up on a soapbox. If you think I'm bad here, ya' outta talk with those who know the physical me... I can be very passionate but I also love people. Lots of people. And sometimes I screw up and I apologize. But, nah, I don't feel like I have any more justification for rudeness here than anywhere else... Okay, my 2 cets worth... Bobert |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: John Hardly Date: 18 Feb 03 - 09:58 PM "Has anyone else noticed that? How about any other interesting social internet phenomena?" 1. Accelerated social structure build up and breakdown. The roles of interaction manifest themselves quickly and social circles and compatibilities develop faster. 2. Forum junkies. Many forums, few participants. 3. The predictable (to a great extent) cycles of forums. 4. The breakdown of "sourcing" for opinion formation. Only sources that reinforce already held ideas are visited and/or believed. Others that might skewer our sacred cows are part of the "Internet kook world". 5. Belief that the forum(s) that you frequent are a good insight into how the rest of the world thinks. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: open mike Date: 19 Feb 03 - 03:32 AM on the good side, when people get together here, or on paltalk to chat or sing with each other, there are certain feelings of comraderie(sp?) which are built up that connect us and form friendships. There are words, phrases and text symbols for hugs and kisses passed around freely. There are always those who will take advantage of this friendly giving, but the positive far out- weighs any negative from what I have experienced. There are those who would share advice, grief, joy, and we have folks here who notify others of deeply personal events in their lives: births, deaths, break-ups, courtships, from politics, religion, and our connections here go so much beyond music. I do not remember how life was before mud cat. This forum came into my life when a lot of people were going out of my daily contact-parents' deaths, seperation from husband, children leaving home, so my mudcat family has filled a real gap in my life. The lack of boundaries that I notice is that we have such an international family here...and on pal talk...we have formed bonds with others from all over the world, and I am constantly amazed at the way that this technology allows us to simultaneously chat or jam with people from all around the globe...some see the sun coming up while others watch it set and we are together at the same time. The folks who would join here are a small cross section, so we have some common values in music. Even so there are trolls among us, but I still want to keep coming back because i usually come away informed, entertained, challenged and renewed. thank you max and all those who make this place happen! and to all who post and share. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:01 AM Nah! I think all the students who got the rough edge of my tongue in my 30+ year career would be amazed how "nice" I am on the Mudcat... even before I retired. RtS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: My guru always said Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:19 AM Does anyone remember 'Mrs do-as-you-would-be-done-by'? Wan't she in a childrens book? Good advice & something that needs to be learnt in our formative years. Has the world become shallow with easy-everything? Glow in the dark Jesus statues - no way!!! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: KingBrilliant Date: 19 Feb 03 - 06:07 AM John Hardly - those comments are very true. The thing I find most disconcerting is that when, for example, old Mudcat threads are revived there are my old contributions - just as if they were my current opinion. I change my mind as often as I change my socks, so I usually no longer agree with myself. I find that a strong argument for posting as GUEST. Most of what I say I would prefer to be transient & not to be associated with me several months or years later. If what I am saying does not actually need to be identifiably from me then it makes sense to post as GUEST. Kris |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Pied Piper Date: 19 Feb 03 - 06:38 AM "Do unto others as you would by done by" is fine as a basic principle the problem comes when you're dealing with some one whose motto is "do unto others what ever you feel like". In this situation unless you rapidly adapt you're going to get trashed. I think Idris Shar said it well "Only a fool is honest with the dishonest" If your walking down the street and some one pulls a knife on you, you're under no obligation to be nice to them. All the best PP |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: My guru always said Date: 19 Feb 03 - 06:53 AM Thanks PP, you're right of course :-) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Schantieman Date: 19 Feb 03 - 07:13 AM Do not unto others as you would have them do unto you, for their tastes may be different. ? S |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 19 Feb 03 - 10:34 AM "Do unto others, because doing unto thyself gets old pretty fast." Bruce |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Pied Piper Date: 19 Feb 03 - 10:41 AM Ah Grasshopper, is it not written, "sex with other people is OK but you can't beat the real thing". PP |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: My guru always said Date: 19 Feb 03 - 10:47 AM Doesn't it make you go blind too? *g* |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: wysiwyg Date: 19 Feb 03 - 11:03 AM The internet is also a really good medium for people who like to play "Ain't It Awful" and "The Blame Game." You can find plenty of folks who are determined to take on end of these games, and to put you in the other end no matter what the reality of your thought process or personality or beliefs. The first impression is all, and bingo! You are one-dimensionalized instantly. I think it's really ironic that a medium that is all about instant-ness is not about present time at all, it's about entrenching opinions, developing argumentative points, and assuming that however we see someone, that is how they are, how they have always been, how they wish to be, and how they always will be. In a dynamic environment, we can tend to use these resources to get more and more rigid. It's a good place to get one's hot-buttons tuned up to make them hotter-- it does not lend itself to the art of detachment and intentionality. Going back to Real Life now, where I anticipate a day of long-awaited and long-worked-for fruition, ~Susan |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: stevetheORC Date: 19 Feb 03 - 03:33 PM Do unto others what they would do unto you but BLOODY WELL DO IT FIRST Orc's are a peace luving race until!!!!!!!!!! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 19 Feb 03 - 03:51 PM Surely,if you are an arsehole (however you choose to spell it), you can't go in for communicating face to face, by definition? Mrs "Do As You Would Be Done By" is in The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley. There's no contradiction between that as a philosophy and dealing with people who are operating on "do unto others what ever you feel like". If I pulled a knife on someone, maybe because I was out of my my head I would want to be stopped from causing any harm, in whatever way was needed. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: GUEST, guest Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:07 PM Agreed with KingBrilliant. In 1993, yes, 1993, I posted a stupid joke on the internet. Google still pulls it up if you enter my name. It's uncomfortable knowing it in the job application process. I can't always be profound, with insightful pronouncements that will stand the test of time. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:19 PM Agreed that posting as GUEST saves us from being associated with the crass things we might have said. But posting in our own names might perhaps save us from saying them in the first place, and other people from reading them. For my part, I value that. People are always saying that it's cowardly, posting as plain GUEST. In one sense that's nonsense, because posting with a label doesn't in any way interfere with being as anonynous as you like. But in another way, it does make sense, because it means you don't have to accept the things you have said on previous occasions as your responsibility, and that is a kind of cowardice. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: GUEST, guest Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:59 PM True enough, McGraw, but playing on the internet is low on my list of endeavours requiring bravery. I do, personally, try to follow a rule never to send a blast without signing it. I can get lazy on that on occasion, and it doesn't solve the problem of living in a world full of rude people, but then, nothing will. The real problem is if I want to be persuasive, many people will never look past the anonymity. But again, playing on the internet, I don't invest much effort in changing other people's minds. Not to belittle the process of internet information sharing - I learn a lot, and don't worry much about what other people are learning (even if my personal choice is to pay as much attention to anonymous posting as ones with bogus or even real names.) I suppose the point is my expectations, after a decade of perusing the internet, have been lowered, but not extinguished. And I am mildly amused by those who get all hot and bothered. herc |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Jeri Date: 19 Feb 03 - 05:12 PM I don't think it's a matter of people being more rude here than in real life. Sure, some are and some are real nutbars. I believe the main phenomenon is in the interpretation. We can't see body language or hear tone of voice or emphasis on words. I have friends (one posting here) who just love to get in arguments with people. While people may yell at him, nobody goes away hating him or thinking he hates them. Nobody says "Hey - you're a troll!" Well of course he's yanking people's chains. Any conversation about controversial topics is, by nature, a chain-yanker. You either 1) get involved, 2) listen, or 3) walk on by. People don't generally say "don't talk about that subject." And that's another phenomenon - on the internet, people often get involved in discussions they don't want to be involved in. (And tell other people how they should be behaving.) I've done it myself. I can't quite figure out why I've done it, but I have. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 19 Feb 03 - 05:27 PM It's not that hard actually communicating your neaning through words, without the gestures and the tone of voice. People have been doing it successfully enough for hundreds, even thousands of years, since writing was invented. But it does call for a little bit of attention and patience - especially when you are in a setting where people have different understandings such things as irony, and different styles of humour. But I'm very glad the Mudcat isn't equipped with a batch of emoticons. I'd sooner get misunderstood from time to time, and work a bit harder at avoiding it in future. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Rapparee Date: 19 Feb 03 - 06:48 PM The Internet and the World Wide Web (which are NOT the same) are places wherein repose an awful lot of trash, untruths, and things for which my vocabulary is just not sufficiently large. It is also a place which is bringing trhe world closer together, breaking down the boundaries between people. When you can chat with others who are literally thousands of miles away, in "real" time, for the cost of whatever your ISP charges you per month, there is something revolutionary going on. Being an overread optimist, I like to think of Teihard de Chardin's Omega Point, or Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End." Being realistic, I also think of Miller's "A Canticle for Liebowitz." In the meantime, I'll use the Web and the Internet for the tools they are. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Cluin Date: 19 Feb 03 - 06:55 PM McGrath, I second that; I'm glad there aren't a whole lot of emoticons, graphics, tag-lines and other crap like I've seen on other forums. It really makes it hard to follow what is actually in the posts and it takes way too long for the pages to download for those on dial-up (which I used to be). I'm also glad people don't include insertions of a lot of graphics, animated gifs, and pictures within their posts for the same reason. This is a nice, clear forum where the content of the posts is what's important. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: open mike Date: 19 Feb 03 - 10:07 PM please explain the difference between the internet and the WWW? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: leprechaun Date: 19 Feb 03 - 11:34 PM Believe it! Plastic glow in the dark. And the Virgen Mary too. I think the lack of any immediate threat of being punched in the nose makes some people less gentle. I however, am always the same kind person, yes I am. I could say anything I want, and I usually do, but in my own gentle manner, as you all may have noticed. 'Cause I'm not afraid of being punched in the nose, although it's a truly abundant target. I'm too fast! I'm even invisible when I want to be, hence my name. It's just not in my nature to be cruel. On those rare occasions when I have to be cruel, it's a lot of work for me. Whenever we play "good cop - bad cop," I always have to be "good cop." I'm also not very opinionated. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: KingBrilliant Date: 20 Feb 03 - 08:17 AM McGrath - I didn't mean I post as Guest when I want to be rude or contentious!!!!! - I'd rather do that in person if I'm going to, because doing it as Guest would be pretty meaningless. I was talking about the things that I would have posted last year being very different from what I would post this year (for example) - because I change my mind about everything so much then I find that what I posted last year is inconsistent with what I post this year. I think we all change a lot over time, and it can be disconcerting when its not always obvious which slice of self is talking where. Its not a case of not taking responsibility for what you've said - but its a case of past conversations interfering with the present. So - perhaps I could deal with that by slightly changing my name periodically. Maybe. Kris (Feb 2003 slice) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: My guru always said Date: 20 Feb 03 - 08:30 AM Thanks McGrath for the book info - off to the shops now! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Internet Phenomenon- Lack of boundaries. From: Rapparee Date: 20 Feb 03 - 08:41 AM The Internet is a network of computers connected to computers, used for data transfer. It has been around, in one form or another, since about 1969, when it was called Arpanet (Advanced Research Projects Authority, a subset of the US Defense Department). Originally it was designed to allow someone in, say, Boston, to use the computers in, say, California just as if the computers were in Boston. (One such function used today is called "telnet.") After ARPA, universities and such large companies as IBM were the main users of the Internet back then for until about 1990, when other organizations (libraries, museums, smaller companies, etc.) starting getting into the act. Which is why the original set of domain abbreviations were such as .mil for military, .gov for government, .org for non-profit organizations, .com for commercial, .edu for educational (i.e., university) organizations, .us, .uk, .ca, .ne and so on for the national codes. Obviously, this wasn't nearly enough for today's needs. The Internet was primarily text-based; you can still get text-based Internet browsers. (Don't let your kids visit porn sites! Use a text-based browser and forget about seeing pictures! 8-) ) The World Wide Web was invented around 1991 at CERN; the guy who wrote the orginal is at MIT (you can even contact the World Wide Web organization at www.www.org). It allows graphics, text, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and so on to be viewed over the Internet. There are still a lot of folks who use the Internet but who do not use the World Wide Web -- email sent via the PINE program, for instance, is text only. [Messages on the Internet are passed along from node to node (computer to computer) until they reach you. So, if you want to be paranoid, realize that everything you send is stored for a longer or shorter period somewhere in the world (has to be -- the protocols that control it require such "caching" to insure that the entire message is received error-free)]. Hope this clarifies things. I can make it more complicated if you want.... |
|
Subject: BS: Internet Phenomenum - lack of boundaries From: freda underhill Date: 30 May 05 - 06:36 AM The original of this thread is closed, but it's worth another look!
-Joe Offer- |
