Saw a TV ad for AOL's /discuss initiative, talking about whether the Internet is a good thing or a bad thing. Thought I'd start a little discussion on here.
Personally, I think it's an incredible thing. I think it's one of mankind's greatest achievements. Thanks to the Internet I can get news from around the globe, from a range of different sources. Thanks to the Internet, I can learn about different cultures, not only from encyclopaedias and textbooks but from the people who make up these cultures. Thanks to the Internet, I can share my views and opinions with other people and teach them about my culture. Thanks to the Internet, I can keep in touch with my friends and family no matter where they are on the globe. The Internet boasts all these advantages, and I haven't even mentioned all the illegal music and free porn.
That said, the Internet has also facilitated the rise in child pornography, it has helped exposed minors to adult material, it has allowed racists and extremists to spread their doctrine of hate unchecked, it has allowed terrorists to recruit impressionable youths into their fold, it has allowed criminals to steal peoples money - and their identity - from the comfort of their living room. It's also responsible for the Crazy Frog.
There's no "it's good AND bad" option on the poll because I want people to actually make a decision, to decide whether they think the good outweighs the bad or vice versa.
Personally, I think it's an incredible thing. I think it's one of mankind's greatest achievements. Thanks to the Internet I can get news from around the globe, from a range of different sources. Thanks to the Internet, I can learn about different cultures, not only from encyclopaedias and textbooks but from the people who make up these cultures. Thanks to the Internet, I can share my views and opinions with other people and teach them about my culture. Thanks to the Internet, I can keep in touch with my friends and family no matter where they are on the globe. The Internet boasts all these advantages, and I haven't even mentioned all the illegal music and free porn.
That said, the Internet has also facilitated the rise in child pornography, it has helped exposed minors to adult material, it has allowed racists and extremists to spread their doctrine of hate unchecked, it has allowed terrorists to recruit impressionable youths into their fold, it has allowed criminals to steal peoples money - and their identity - from the comfort of their living room. It's also responsible for the Crazy Frog.
There's no "it's good AND bad" option on the poll because I want people to actually make a decision, to decide whether they think the good outweighs the bad or vice versa.
