You guys get to help me with my schoolwork!!

[Jo Dawn]

Ok, so for my one class, I need to write a paper on the postive and negative aspects of the internet (ie MySpace, Facebook, IM, chats, and, yes, forums!!) Oddly enough, I'm choosing chats and forums, heh. So, tell me... How many positive or negative things have happened to you because of the internet and using forums and chats and IMs? Negatives?

Any experiences I can get are much welcomed. And, if you feel that you cannot post here, please feel free to PM me.

Thanks!

[Cure]

Well, on the positive side, you get to make new friends that share MANY of the same interests as you on forums. I mean, everyone here loves Ninja Turtles, right? You get to talk about things like not only turtles, but movies, video-games, anything that interests you.

On the negative side, you get certain posters that flat out ruin some threads. Also, even though they're nice people, you don't connect with forum members as well as real life friends. That's the case for me, anyway. I know people that only have friends in forums.

Err....anyway, I hope that helps.

Oh, as for things like AIM, I only use that for my real life friends. I guess that's why I don't really have an opinion on that.

[iris]

Forums are amazing for networking and organizing.

There is a cycle for 'net relationships:
forum --> PM --> IM/email--> RL/email/phone

I've been talking to some people for years, who I met on the Stargate forum back in the day... we used to exchange postcards. I have some really close friends from the American Idol bboard... I talk to several of them on the phone now (I still chat with some of them at the JPL board).

Forums are like having a thousand penpals at once. Usually, individuals develop a few closer friendships and eventually stop coming to the forum as much.

I've also experienced some... er... 'turf war' kind of things with fans on forums. Fans are freaking nuts sometimes, but I don't think I'll get into that here. A lot of times 'factions' will split off boards and form their own little communities, sometimes out of animosity and sometimes out of differing interests.

[dejawolf]

IM gives you the ability to communicate and work with people living on the other side of the globe, which is great. i currently live in norway and work for someone living in USA and germany.
best IM is skype, although sadly, theres very few people using it.
its got the best webphone, its not cluttered with all kinds of stuff like MSN, and its got better memory management, so your computer won't low on memory from running it, and its got a file transfer thats a lot more stable than ICQ.
no welcome screen either, which is good, cos i never read those anyways.
as for forums, worst thing about them is trolls who undermine the whole thread, best thing is heated discussions with strong opinions on both sides.

i kinda prefer the wast amount of information available on the net, theres tons of science forums where you can talk to people directly about physics and that stuff, biologists geologists etc. theres also tank forums where you can talk to real life military personell, and get a feeling of their opinions and they'll share information about how their vehicles works, which is pretty neat.

if i was to put this short, what i like about the internet is that it gives you a lot more details than a library ever could. and if you don't like an article about something, theres sure to be at least 15 other articles on the same subject which is easier to understand. google rules.

[Anarky]

As a user
The internet, forums especially are great to meet new people. What impresses me most is the fact that most of the people come from places you never even heard of. You get to make friends with ease. The world basically shrinks to a village. You like something, you find people that think alike within three seconds. The making friends part comes with the fandom.

However, forums aren't that great anymore when you want to talk about a more serious subject or if you want to have a debate. As we all know, people usually don't think too much when they're posting stuff. Therefore, you'll find a lot, and I mean a lot, of concentrated idiocy and stupid statements on forums. And however true they sound, they aren't really based on anything. A popular example of what I get to hear quite often from Americans is "Over in Europe, they do things like that...", which of course Europe doesn't. Then, despite the fact that the world is at your fingertips and information is available within seconds, people still need to get everything explained and handed to them. Therefore the vast majority of topics in a forum will deal with either "Where can I find..." or "Who/what is your favourite..." which of course are basically waste of webspace. Also, there's too many people who have the urge to be funny when there's a possibility of a debate. They throw in jokes, mock whatever seriousness there is and turn it ad absurdum just to be funny. And neither irony nor sarcasm translate all that well to forums. You have to know people so that you can tell when they're being sarcastic or ironic. If you don't, well, good luck to you.

Myspace is great for its pointlessness. You can basically do everything on that site, although nothing will ever be taken seriously. But again, you meet people from all over the world.

On a more human level, the internet gives people the opportunities to live out the personality they want to be. Shyness? What for? On the internet, everything goes. Also, people are given the opportunity to live out their every fetish, be it sexual or not. You get the hots when you see elbows? Ask the internet, there's a thousand sites and forums out there. You want to post nude-pictures or erotic photos of yourself? Go ahead, nobody knows you. Basically the internet takes away that last barrier you'd have to cross to step out into the world in the nude and tell everyone what troubles your soul and that you're desperately waiting for Harry Potter to get together with Batman and start a love-relationship after being transformed into unicorns.

As an admin
Setting up a place is easy, keeping it alive, that's what the members are for and all you need to do is set something up that is perfect from the get-go. Of course, that's an illusion, there will be glitches and errors and whatnot galore. The members won't forgive you for a single one of those. Never. They also fail to see technical restrictions and try to act in spite of them, just because they can or because they want to be funny. Users of the Technodrome Chat will know stories about that.

And then there's the ones failing to accept how forums and or chats are structured. There's one boss, and he's the one who says what's done how and what's right and wrong. Members are totally inaccessible for that modus operandi. Of course, the members can make suggestions, but once a decision is made there's no ifs and buts. But there always will be those funny people who'll act in spite of those decisions, just because they can.

[iris]

ITA with everything Anarky said, including the admin part. Admins have saintly patience, IMO.

And yeah... oddly, social networking sites are not as good for networking as forums. I've found myspace to be pretty useless for that, for the most part... it's really only been useful for social networks that I already have in place. You do get higher exposure to a large number of people, but topic-specific forums are much more efficient.

Forums have made me more assertive and opinionated, because I get into so many debates/arguments online. It's sharpened my rhetorical claws and let me learn to deal calmly with wackos. People I talk to online have a hard time believing that I am shy in person, which has the result of making me try to be less shy... wouldn't want to disappoint, would I?

[Ecto Jedi]

Originally Posted by iris

Forums are like having a thousand penpals at once. Usually, individuals develop a few closer friendships and eventually stop coming to the forum as much.

I wouldn't say so. I've been surfing the 'Net since a very young age and I've been to countless forums and chat services, and not once have I ever developed a strong enough friendship with someone to go so far as to contact them outside the 'Net. Posting and chatting online is fun and all, but taking it off the Net and onto the phone? Kinda creepy. I bet your in the minority, there.

[iris]

Originally Posted by Ecto Jedi

I wouldn't say so. I've been surfing the 'Net since a very young age and I've been to countless forums and chat services, and not once have I ever developed a strong enough friendship with someone to go so far as to contact them outside the 'Net. Posting and chatting online is fun and all, but taking it off the Net and onto the phone? Kinda creepy. I bet your in the minority, there.

Eh... yes and no. I didn't say everyone meets or calls. Most people never meet their penpals... the association just withers. But people often move away from public forums if they make friends, because you can't chat so easily on forums (it's spamming), and it is out in public view. They also move away for other reasons... sometimes they just lose interest. These aren't all my observations; I have a psychologist friend who has studied Internet communities and how they change over time.

It's not like I just randomly decide I'm going to meet or call someone offline (nor would I ever recommend anyone do that!!). Usually I've met people through social functions-- if we're going to the same concerts, for example. Or I get references through people I know already. Should it be more acceptable for me to meet people I've never heard of at concerts? People do that all the time too, but you could say they're "in the minority" as well, even though it's perfectly acceptable.

It's much creepier to meet someone at the bus stop, IMO. Especially in my neighborhood!

"Internet" and "real life" aren't so far apart as people like to pretend they are. At least on the Internet I can escape when I feel creeped out, unlike yesterday, with the guy with the bad toupee in line at the supermarket hitting on every female within visual range. Ick.

[Sewer Bull]

I wonder if I meet a single person from the Drome IRL.

Tho' I have to admit that I had my first Drome cellphone call this year, so... chances are that I might.

[Katie]

Originally Posted by Sewer Bull

I wonder if I meet a single person from the Drome IRL.

Tho' I have to admit that I had my first Drome cellphone call this year, so... chances are that I might.

Dude! I'm saving my guestroom for ya whenever you get to America Of Course Boyfrind Guy gets will have to share that adventure


Here's my opinions:

GOOD Little would I know that in the space of two years I would have really good friends all over the world! It really is amazing to have the opportunity to see things from different perspectives...talk about serious stuff or randomness. And the people are like me! IRL friends sometimes think I'm a little eccentric, but hey! I have all these people I now talk to that make me feel like maybe I'm not so wierd after all

I am in a long distance relationship (that started over the 'net)...so IM is THE cheapest way to keep in touch...doubt I would be this long into it if we didn't have IM (1 year + )

INFORMATION. I have learned SO much from my interactions here and other places I play.


BAD It is so easy to make yourself something you are not in Forums and on IM. I know for me, I build my walls up...but the better you get to know me, the more ME comes through. But there are alot of folks out there who are very deceptive.

my BIGGEST thing....I am such a girl when it comes to talking...I love talking to people face to face or on the phone because you can pick up on voice inflections and gestures and things like that...I don't get that over IM or from PM all the time and things are FAMOUSLY misinterpreted by me all the time. There have been times when I went to full battle mode because I did not get that what was being said was all in fun.


yay...I can't think of anything else...my brain is fried

[Ecto Jedi]

Originally Posted by Katie

my BIGGEST thing....I am such a girl when it comes to talking...I love talking to people face to face or on the phone because you can pick up on voice inflections and gestures and things like that...I don't get that over IM or from PM all the time and things are FAMOUSLY misinterpreted by me all the time. There have been times when I went to full battle mode because I did not get that what was being said was all in fun.

You definitely have a point there. Language is so easily misunderstood in spoken form -- but in written form, the possibilities for that just expand exponentially. It's very, very easy to get in all sorts of trouble in chat rooms or on message boards because, as we all know, all of our opinions and actions are guided by our own points of view...And oftentimes, we're wrong. (Or at least misguided.)

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Positives:
-Finding people with similar interests. Sure you don't really meet them, but you find people to discuss and share opinions with on whatever floats your boat.
-Can be a good way to kill time if you are bored.


Negatives:
-Can be addicting. I'll admit to sometimes combing a forum and looking at the clock wondering where the time went.
-Flame wars are just no fun for anyone unless it's a really silly one. The problem with the anonymity the Internet provides is that it allows people to say whatever is on their mind. This can be a double edged sword because it also allows fights to start pretty easily, and if you are at a point where you're bored and find yourself in one of these antagonistic discussions you can find yourself getting mad at someone you don't even know. Then you take a step back and think to yourself, "what the heck am I doing? Why am I wasting my time like this?"

[JameO]

You know my situation, as ive talked to you many times about it but ill let everything in general out about the internet.

As many of you know, I am dating someone who I met online, and we are very serious and will be married down the road. She will be moving up here to Canada from Texas next summer. We met online in a pool league, where everyone enjoyed billiards, which many of my real life friends were apart of to. So we got close and loved talking to eachother and realized we were meant to be together, no matter how cheesy that sounds. But it was true, we saw something special in eachother, it was meant to be it felt. Personally I think meeting people online can be really great, how I see it, you get to know the people inside, people hide behind looks and can act alot of the time in real life, but you get to see how they feel most of the time, you see the best part of a person, their personality and their feelings in words, not actions, and them move on from there. I went down there for a week and a half and I dont regret it at all, it was the best time ever, and it was the same way I felt talking to her long ours of the night online. Truly amazing, although real life friends are needed as well, im just saying, I dont regret it at all, no matter how weird or bad it looks to me, I wouldnt have it any other way, when you meet your soulmate, you are meant to be with them.

Ive also met a few others that live near me, from that same pool league, and other friends online and alot more in the future. Also online it allows you to vent to people that might have the same problem, and you dont have to come face to face, it is a major advantage to alot of people, not having to see the person. As many of said, you can meet people that have the same interests with you and finally somoene to share your favourite moments of a certain show without be attacked for your likes or have someone that has no response to your opinions.

All in all, forums and IM chats have made my life what it is, and I dont regret it at all, it has made me a better person.

[Ra]

Good

• You can meet new people in next to no time. IMVU, forums, it's all there to make new people. And some very nice people at that.
• There is something for everybody on here. A place for artists, writers, music makers.
• All of the fun of having your own identity online. I mean, I was seen as a loser in real life, but when I came online, I found that I wasn't that much of a loser. At least people listened to me and respected what I had to say.

Bad

• You don't know who you are talking to. That's the biggest flaw. You can't see anyone's face. I mean, someone on here would be claiming to be a 15 year old boy who loves Turtles when in fact he is a hacker or a stalker trying to seduce the female side of the community into meeting him before he rapes her or something. Scary stuff, online.
• Saying things without thinking. You can say "You are a pile of *@!# so easily it's not funny. And you don't even have to feel sorry, since you are talking with your fingers, not your mouth. So it's easy to hurt someone all the way over in New Zealand or wherever they are from...

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck with your paper, Jo!

[Mecha Cow]

Positive:
Meeting new people and making new friends, improving your reading/writing/communicating skills, learning new things/random trivia, having a place to relax without having to worry about RL crap.

Negative:
Nothing that should bother you.

[Anarky]

Originally Posted by Mecha Cow

improving your reading/writing/communicating skills

ur ryte im lyk a way better typah den b4 i fnd de innernet lyk i wuz typin all bad lol kthxbai

In fact, I think an ADSL-connection is something that makes people want to crap on their previously acquired skills when it comes to grammar and spelling, despite the fact that modern browsers have spell checking built in already. Reading stuff like that makes me want to murder the next best person. Why do we have to crap on our education just because we're online? And I'm not only talking about the spelling. People generally stop thinking before posting something. Or they just make up facts so that they appear smarter. Or they just don't back anything up they say, making it little more credible than a rumour.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

==Negative effects==
*Easier to spread out things like child pornography to pedophiles.
*Internet casinos create problem gambling

==Positive effects==
*It creates a more open world. People all over the world can easier talk to each other.
*You can't tease people you haven't seen for things like "you're to thick" when talking with them.

[Jo Dawn]

Well, thanks guys! I ended up with a 'B' on my paper... But we're allowed to revise and resend it in, and I'm gonna do that. 'Cause that's just how I am, hehe.

Thanks, though, I used you guys and it was a big help!