I was browsing
the Internet looking for 'i hate' (don't ask...) and I stumbled
across your article ("Why I Hate
the Internet," by Kim Bond). I wanted to tell you a few bits of
information I have collected on the usefulness of the Internet.
First, about how much it costs...It's true that 20 bucks a month can be a lot for some people, but I have known down-in-the-dumps people sharing a house with 10 others who manage to afford a computer. The resources are out there. Just because middle-class America doesn't know about them doesn't mean they don't exist.
Second, for students the Internet is a TREAT! You can look up all kinds of news articles from reputable magazines and newspapers. You can quickly bookmark and sort these articles and use them for term papers, etc. Online dictionaries help with defining terms. Ordering books is as simple as can be right now. And ordering anything else (that you don't need to see beforehand) is excellent. I love purchasing things over the Internet, and I get great enjoyment when I find out something I didn't know before. More times than I can count I have needed information or a price on something or a question answered...and so many others are there on the Internet to help.
I do admit that a lot of people are on the Internet for silly reasons. Browsing page after page of information and finding nothing of value. But if you know where to look, you can do a lot of great things. Need to find out where a movie is playing? Try http://www.movielink.com/. Maybe you want to vent about your traffic problems? http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/2004/traffic.html. Have a certain CD in mind and can't seem to find it anywhere? Try http://cdnow.com. Maybe you want to expand your vocabulary? Try http://www.randomhouse.com/jesse/ Read your favourite comics at http://www.umweb2.unitedmedia.com/comics/ Or maybe you just want to play some games and relive the 80s at http://www.80s.com/entrance.html.
As you can see there is a lot of information there. Some is complete entertainment but some out there is actually interesting and worth the time. :) For me it's better than mind numbing television. I'd much rather have kids browsing the Internet than watching another rerun of The Simpsons (no matter how funny it may be...).
I do respect your opinion and your right to it. However I just hope that maybe I helped open your mind a little bit more to the idea that knowledge is power, and the Internet is just one other way to gain that power.
Have a great day!
Peaches
tgmag@tgmag.ca
© 1998 le magazine TG / La Commission des étudiants