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Post by KipEnyan on Jun 11, 2010 16:13:47 GMT -5
Please consider revising your statement. The Internet is one of the most important things, if not the single most important thing in the entire world right now. That's a bit pretentious of you. People did just fine about 20 or 30 years ago without the internet. I don't see how it's is so vital today, please elaborate if you can. Pretentious of me it is not. There's a reason they call computers the third great revolution. The Internet, in it's purest form, is the ultimate aggregation of all human knowledge, accessible by anyone from anywhere on the planet. Please try to build an argument that says that's not the most important thing in history. Go ahead. I'll wait. |
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Post by Johncoyne on Jun 11, 2010 18:26:42 GMT -5
The Internet is one of the biggest things that ever happened. But it's definitely not the biggest. The most important was the wheel. The wheel provided for transportation. Transportation provided for the spread of ideas that are responsible for many inventions in the world that lead the way for more inventions and discoveries. However, the Internet is definitely at the top ten and it's foolish not to utilize it.
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Post by KipEnyan on Jun 11, 2010 20:15:05 GMT -5
Well technically, I believe the consensus of the "most important invention of all-time" award went to the bow-and-arrow.
Can't quite cite a source, but I recall a number of anthropologists and the like coming to this conclusion.
In a nutshell, the reasoning was that the bow-and-arrow allowed for hunting to occur without heavy human casualties, thus allowing for a division of labor, and the eventual Neolithic Revolution.
But barring that, I would say the computer and more specifically the Internet are the most important.
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Post by j on Jun 11, 2010 21:27:06 GMT -5
In response to OP: I have never really met anyone horrible computer illiterate from my generation. The only person I ever was just awestruck by how much she didn't know about computers/internet was my grandma, but she picked up on it pretty fast. I believe that computers are pretty intuitive, it's just some of the slightly more complicated things that people have trouble picking up.
The internet is pretty much the modern day equivalent to the Library of Alexandria. Never before has information been as accessible to almost everyone. All it requires is a computer, an internet provider, and a non oppressive country who doesn't censor your internet access. Plus it is so ingrained into society that when I was watching 'The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" I couldn't help but think "That's not so hard, all you have to do is google it." when she was talking about contests.
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Post by brumagem on Jun 12, 2010 1:04:57 GMT -5
Our lifestyles in the greater western world are increasingly becoming shaped around the internet. It is the dominant means of communication if only second to the telephone...sometimes. But it's created not only it's own, but countless industries and forms of media. I'm a graphic designer. I rely on the internet to feed my family...And it does! 10 years ago, an average graphic designer wasn't anything close to a web designer. Now web design is a standard skill in most graphic designer's bag of tools. And yes, people got by 30 years ago just fine. Times change though. People got by fine without indoor plumbing, modern medicine, and cars 300 years ago. (For the most part) Not having that nowadays in the western world would make things a little more difficult to say the least. Point taken, the internet has created new worlds of job opportunity and social connection. I think we're starting to digress a bit though, the thread is about technological illiteracy. I don't find it to be a big problem though. There's almost always somebody in the room who can get the job done, but the almost-never will have nobody because since everyone in the group has a common strengths (like music) they are going to have common shortfalls ( like new media). There's probably a phrase for tht, but I don't know what =P |
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Post by brumagem on Jun 12, 2010 1:21:00 GMT -5
Pretentious of me it is not. There's a reason they call computers the third great revolution. The Internet, in it's purest form, is the ultimate aggregation of all human knowledge, accessible by anyone from anywhere on the planet. First, being right or not has nothing to do with your charlatanry. Second, history is not made when a significant portion of the planet doesn't know about it. It does make a significant difference, but we needn't pretend we are the forerunners of a grand new generation of instant-communication. That's what our great grandparents thought when Bell invented the telephone. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2010 3:36:59 GMT -5
I think most people here are overestimating the importance of the internet IN EVERYDAY LIFE. I agree that the internet is becoming increasingly important, but to most people it's not something they care about, or even notice from day to day. Yeah sure, they'll check their Facebook and whatnot, but that's it, they don't realise the potential of the internet.
I think that's fine, there's no reason why they should be the same as us.. Everyone is allowed to pick their own interests and that doesn't make them "dumb" or "ignorant".
It's just a personal choice.
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Post by DigitalSpork on Jun 12, 2010 11:15:32 GMT -5
I know lots of Computer illiterate people. A few weeks ago I had to teach my mom's fiance how to copy and paste. I actually think he still doesn't know.
And I have a vice principal who very seriously told our entire school to stay off of Facebook, Cell Phones and "Ibox LIVE" I am not kidding.
We may be becoming technology dependent, but I agree with earlier posters. Having a Facebook, Iphone OR fancy piece of technology DOES NOT EQUAL Technology literate.
/rant.
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Post by krzych32 on Jun 12, 2010 12:48:52 GMT -5
There really are some technologically illiterate people in the world. Like when i try to explain to people what i do on youtube like watch my subscribers and stuff and they dont understand that youtube is more than cute cats and people falling off of skateboards. They dont realize there is a real community that have discussions and debates and interact. Yeah. Not everyone understands But that's really all that it is....... |
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Post by KipEnyan on Jun 13, 2010 15:48:24 GMT -5
First, being right or not has nothing to do with your charlatanry. Second, history is not made when a significant portion of the planet doesn't know about it. It does make a significant difference, but we needn't pretend we are the forerunners of a grand new generation of instant-communication. That's what our great grandparents thought when Bell invented the telephone. Again, I would argue that you're wrong. The amount of the world that something has an obvious daily impact on in its infancy doesn't measure the importance of it in the scheme of human history. The Internet affects damn near every single person on this planet in a big way every single day, whether they acknowledge it or not. And we are the forerunners of a grand new generation, but it's not one of instant communication. Instant communication has existed for quite some time now. Also, I don't know about your great grandparents, but mine weren't alive in the 1870's when Bell and Edison got that whole telephone ball rolling. But even far preceding that was Morse's 1837 telegraph, which more or less accomplished instant communication. Your concept of the Internet and its implications is flawed. Sure, the Internet serves as a mass media device and facilitates extensive social networking, and if this was all the Internet was good for, then your perceived interpretation of the Internet would be correct. But quite frankly, that's not even close to what the Internet is good for. Like I said before, the Internet is the total sum of human knowledge, accessible to anyone, anywhere on the planet. The implications of this are literally as endless as the information the Internet itself provides access to. That's why the Internet is one of the single most important developments of all time, and that's why we are in the midst of an information revolution. |
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Post by brumagem on Jun 13, 2010 20:11:02 GMT -5
The amount of the world that something has an obvious daily impact on in its infancy doesn't measure the importance of it in the scheme of human history. The Internet affects damn near every single person on this planet in a big way every single day, whether they acknowledge it or not. And we are the forerunners of a grand new generation, but it's not one of instant communication. Instant communication has existed for quite some time now. Also, I don't know about your great grandparents, but mine weren't alive in the 1870's when Bell and Edison got that whole telephone ball rolling. But even far preceding that was Morse's 1837 telegraph, which more or less accomplished instant communication. Your concept of the Internet and its implications is flawed. Sure, the Internet serves as a mass media device and facilitates extensive social networking, and if this was all the Internet was good for, then your perceived interpretation of the Internet would be correct. But quite frankly, that's not even close to what the Internet is good for. Like I said before, the Internet is the total sum of human knowledge, accessible to anyone, anywhere on the planet. The implications of this are literally as endless as the information the Internet itself provides access to. That's why the Internet is one of the single most important developments of all time, and that's why we are in the midst of an information revolution. Your post is all over the place. 1. Please stop putting words in my mouth, it's quite uncomfortable. I never said the internet wasn't important. I never said the internet was so limited as to mere media exchange and social networking. 2. You're contradicting yourself. In the first paragraph you state that how widespread something is has nothing to do with its importance, yet you act as if that's the very saving grace of the internet's impact on history in your fourth paragraph. 3. Thank you for calling out such a glaring anachronism in your nearly irrelevant second paragraph. I apologize. 4. I think we've both digressed and detracted quite enough from this thread. If you'll remember, the topic was technological illiteracy among those with access to technology. |
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Post by KipEnyan on Jun 13, 2010 21:28:52 GMT -5
The amount of the world that something has an obvious daily impact on in its infancy doesn't measure the importance of it in the scheme of human history. The Internet affects damn near every single person on this planet in a big way every single day, whether they acknowledge it or not. And we are the forerunners of a grand new generation, but it's not one of instant communication. Instant communication has existed for quite some time now. Also, I don't know about your great grandparents, but mine weren't alive in the 1870's when Bell and Edison got that whole telephone ball rolling. But even far preceding that was Morse's 1837 telegraph, which more or less accomplished instant communication. Your concept of the Internet and its implications is flawed. Sure, the Internet serves as a mass media device and facilitates extensive social networking, and if this was all the Internet was good for, then your perceived interpretation of the Internet would be correct. But quite frankly, that's not even close to what the Internet is good for. Like I said before, the Internet is the total sum of human knowledge, accessible to anyone, anywhere on the planet. The implications of this are literally as endless as the information the Internet itself provides access to. That's why the Internet is one of the single most important developments of all time, and that's why we are in the midst of an information revolution. Your post is all over the place. 1. Please stop putting words in my mouth, it's quite uncomfortable. I never said the internet wasn't important. I never said the internet was so limited as to mere media exchange and social networking. 2. You're contradicting yourself. In the first paragraph you state that how widespread something is has nothing to do with its importance, yet you act as if that's the very saving grace of the internet's impact on history in your fourth paragraph. 3. Thank you for calling out such a glaring anachronism in your nearly irrelevant second paragraph. I apologize. 4. I think we've both digressed and detracted quite enough from this thread. If you'll remember, the topic was technological illiteracy among those with access to technology. 1. "People did just fine about 20 or 30 years ago without the internet. I don't see how it's is so vital today" I don't really think I was putting words in your mouth. I apologize if I was, but that quote implies rather strongly that you don't think it's very important 2. There is no contradiction present, merely a misunderstanding on your behalf. If you would reread my first paragraph, you'll notice I say that it's impact is not measured by how much of an obvious daily impact something has in its infancy, then go on to say at the end of that paragraph that it does, in fact, affect everyone in the world, whether they know it or not. Its impact is powerful and widespread, that impact just isn't overtly recognized by much of the world at this point. 3. I don't think my second paragraph was irrelevant. You implied that I thought the Internet was important because of its instant communication abilities, to which I responded by saying that's not why its important, because that has been around for a very long time. 4. This is true, but I feel the topic is relevantly tangential enough to warrant discussion. |
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Post by brumagem on Jun 14, 2010 1:09:59 GMT -5
1. "People did just fine about 20 or 30 years ago without the internet. I don't see how it's is so vital today" I don't really think I was putting words in your mouth. I apologize if I was, but that quote implies rather strongly that you don't think it's very important 2. There is no contradiction present, merely a misunderstanding on your behalf. If you would reread my first paragraph, you'll notice I say that it's impact is not measured by how much of an obvious daily impact something has in its infancy, then go on to say at the end of that paragraph that it does, in fact, affect everyone in the world, whether they know it or not. Its impact is powerful and widespread, that impact just isn't overtly recognized by much of the world at this point. 3. I don't think my second paragraph was irrelevant. You implied that I thought the Internet was important because of its instant communication abilities, to which I responded by saying that's not why its important, because that has been around for a very long time. 4. This is true, but I feel the topic is relevantly tangential enough to warrant discussion. 1. I do my best to imply nothing (sarcasm notwithstanding) and only state facts. I was stating that I thought your opinion of the internet seemed rather inflated compared to other candidates, such as binary, the microchip, or the LED. 2. It takes two people to make a misunderstanding. In any case, you don't make history in twenty-thirty years. The internet has potential, but right now it can't hold a candle to the cotton gin, steam engine, printing press, incandescent lamp, bullet, dynamite, alternating current or nuclear fission. 3. Communication is the internet. Boundless databases and libraries have existed as long as there has been information to fill them, the internet is the new advent of instant communication that allows users to access and interact with them. The telegraph and telephone were equally revolutionary. 4. Well, maybe you should make a new thread, then we can more easily communicate our arguments and other users won't feel as if they'd be intruding on a more private discussion. |
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Post by newschooled on Jun 14, 2010 10:51:23 GMT -5
You guys, we're missing the single most important point above all.
The internet has revolutionized porn.
</thread>
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Post by KipEnyan on Jun 14, 2010 11:09:20 GMT -5
^^^^^Thread over.
Win.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2010 15:51:45 GMT -5
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Post by brumagem on Jun 14, 2010 18:42:13 GMT -5
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Post by click3tyclick on Jun 15, 2010 6:34:52 GMT -5
Yes! Stop a perfectly normal debate to talk about internet pornography.
Thumbs up, everyone. Thumbs up.
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Post by brumagem on Jun 15, 2010 23:12:41 GMT -5
Yes! Stop a perfectly normal debate to talk about internet pornography. Thumbs up, everyone. Thumbs up. Then perhaps you'd like to contribute? |
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Post by newschooled on Jun 16, 2010 16:56:14 GMT -5
Yes! Stop a perfectly normal debate to talk about internet pornography. Thumbs up, everyone. Thumbs up. Watching internet porn = Some computer literacy required. This topic is now relevant. Deal with it! |
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