"We wouldn't be having this discussion because personal computers and the Internet wouldn't exist, would they?"

I think you are wrong there Shim, In my apprentice days people got involved in discussion much more than they do today. There was more time to meet up and debate. At work discussions of all sorts abounded, books we were reading politics, religion, morality, football, shinty, war experiences, vegetable and livestock cultivation. Some of us have more information available, but we have become insular, unable to relate to others....your remarks to pete would never have been tolerated.
Being subjected to abusive stalking as I have been here lately would have been treated with scorn.

The internet has opened some doors, mainly marketing doors, but has closed many more, like face to face debate, non mainstream views....much too easy to manipulate the cyber world.