How the 'Net Has Changed Society?

[PreacherJ]

The Internet is changing human society, just as railways, cars and telephones changed it in eras gone by. It's also changing it very quickly. It took railways a couple of generations to sew far-flung cities together and create powerful, prosperous nations. It took cars a couple of generations to urbanise those cities, dilute their cores, and take over the countryside. But most of the effects of the Internet will be felt within a single generation - even a single decade.

Without doubt the most powerful influence of the Internet is on information flow. Suddenly all kinds of information can be digitised and passed on to millions of people in a few seconds. Everything from news to music, commercial proposals to protesters' meeting plans. This is new. Most of that information took hours or even days to be transmitted before, especially if there were many recipients.

This is but a scratch on the surface of the effect the internet has upon the world and society. What are some of the more positive and negative effects of the internet, and how has it changed the way everything worked in the last 15 years?

[FUNKbrs]

I think the internet will homogenize the world, by allowing everyone access to the same pov, but at the same time destroy interpersonal relationships. Basically well all hate each other as individuals, and love each other as people.

[Shih]

I've got to disagree with you FUNK. If anything it helps fraction society more. Look at all the little groups that have sprung up on this BBS alone.

[FUNKbrs]

At 4/29/03 02:22 PM, Shih wrote: I've got to disagree with you FUNK. If anything it helps fraction society more. Look at all the little groups that have sprung up on this BBS alone.

exactly. we will continue to divide until we are all individuals who agree on basic points. Laws will become more generalized and commonly acceptable, while individuals will fight tooth and nail over petty controversies.

[Shih]

Again look a this BBS. :)

[FUNKbrs]

youre right, resistance to the DAG is futile. We will convert everyone else by sedition and force, until we rule the world through the internet. How could I be so foolish?

[Shih]

Everyone loses faith sometimes. Just remember We are the DAG, now where'd that shiny thing go?

[TheShrike]

Indeed. One close example of the internet affecting today's society would be the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.
And that was mostly brought forth by a kid and his filesharing company.

Also, Disney recently won a major political victory that is extending copyright protection on works done after 1/01/23. the major effect of this being that Steamboat Willie stays out of the public domain longer.
How does that relate to the internet?
Well, right now it is illegal to use Mickey or Willie without proper permission (yeah, I know, it doesn't really stop use).
But if Steamboat Willie were to fall into the public domain, people all over the world could make pseudo-mickey movies and merchandise without ever having to fear legal action from the big D. Also, without this extended protection, many classic Disney movies would be readily available on the internet within a few years. And the big D wouldn't be able to scam it's profit nearly as well.

[Shih]

Honestly though I doubt that something like not having a copyright on it would stop The D-men from crushing any internet cartoonist who tried to use it.

[FUNKbrs]

copyrights suck. look at how high they keep drug prices. If it werent for copyrights, old people could afford rent AND medication. Generic drugs kick ass.

[Shih]

Yeah but then you get into quality control issues. Copyrights really are a necessary evil especially in industries like the drug companies.

[FUNKbrs]

but does that give them the right to make a drug 5x more expensive in the US than in a 3rd world country?

[Shih]

At 4/29/03 03:32 PM, FUNKbrs wrote: but does that give them the right to make a drug 5x more expensive in the US than in a 3rd world country?

Well obviously it doesn't. That's the perils of a free market system though. If you cna make money you do and there's the rub.

[FUNKbrs]

At 4/29/03 03:42 PM, Shih wrote:

At 4/29/03 03:32 PM, FUNKbrs wrote: but does that give them the right to make a drug 5x more expensive in the US than in a 3rd world country?

Well obviously it doesn't. That's the perils of a free market system though. If you cna make money you do and there's the rub.

the whole point of copy rights is that if someone tries to make a similar product, you can sue them, thus circumventing the free market concept, allowing drug companies to set whatever price they want ie 5x

[TheShrike]

Guys! Topic!

[Shih]

Sorry bad habit

[FUNKbrs]

At 4/29/03 04:00 PM, TheShrike wrote: Guys! Topic!

youre the guy who brought up disney's copyrights.

Back to the subject.

The internet, while being somewhat fractitious in nature, also has the immense capability to inform all people with current news, thus increasing the understanding of world events by the general populace. Thus, correct action will be obvious in most cases because the internet is impossible to bias, and research only takes minutes. hopefully this will homogenize society, and create a larger middle class.

[TheShrike]

In the middle east, having a satelite dish use to be one of the staples of the middle class.

Now it's broadband internet.

[Shih]

But then the misinformation on the net also comes into play. Since no one is held responsible for what is placed on the net public manipulation is easier than ever.

[FUNKbrs]

At 4/29/03 04:17 PM, Shih wrote: But then the misinformation on the net also comes into play. Since no one is held responsible for what is placed on the net public manipulation is easier than ever.

ouch, good point. But will the majority of people post the truth, or bullshit? if the majority of the info is credible, then the few outright lies will make little or no effect. of course, never underestimate corporations ability to swamp the internet with bs. Look at spam for chrissakes.

[bumcheekcity]

At 4/29/03 04:00 PM, TheShrike wrote: Guys! Topic!

Its really irritating when people do that. Theres a bunch of tossers in that France topic who are just talking about kicking frogs....

[Shih]

At 4/29/03 04:24 PM, FUNKbrs wrote:
ouch, good point. But will the majority of people post the truth, or bullshit? if the majority of the info is credible, then the few outright lies will make little or no effect. of course, never underestimate corporations ability to swamp the internet with bs. Look at spam for chrissakes.

I don't even necessarily think that the problem is deliberate misinformation most of the time so much as people simply printing what they think is true. A lot of the times I've seen people take opinions stated by others and printhem as fact, that's where the real problem is. With printed or televised material factchecking systems are in place, the net's verification systems are a whole lot less accurate.

[FUNKbrs]

At 4/29/03 04:33 PM, Shih wrote: I don't even necessarily think that the problem is deliberate misinformation most of the time so much as people simply printing what they think is true. A lot of the times I've seen people take opinions stated by others and printhem as fact, that's where the real problem is. With printed or televised material factchecking systems are in place, the net's verification systems are a whole lot less accurate.

but how does one verify the credibility of an online news source? Its like a huge barroom gossip fest. Do we trust major sources, which are easy targets for corporate buy outs, or smaller venues that have less experience but a reputation for credibility to build?

[Shih]

That relly comes down to personal preferances right now I suppose. As the net matures I'm sure more effective ways of dealing with sort of issue will come up but the big question is how.

[FUNKbrs]

maybe an internet credibility bureau, sponsored by a charity of some sort to keep it unbiased? ICB..... I like that....

[NEMESiSZ]

Ask Al Gore, he invented it.

[karasz]

personally i hate the internet and its set up... finding stuff is so hard... i mean even if u go to yahoo or google still takes u forever to find stuff..

although the idea is great, having everything at ur fingertips is great... BUT there is just no finding the answers... perhaps with some form and easier accessability the internet will be as great as it can be...

also i love how i can 'borrow' stuff from others on my school network... and the amount of porn is amazing...

[Lord-Miroku-Sama]

At 4/29/03 02:11 PM, PreacherJ wrote:

I think the internet has had many positive and negative effects on our society. One positive effect is that it's easier to communicate. One negative effect is less privacy. There are many more reasons on both sides but I can't write them all.

[Shih]

A big part of the problem is determining what's actual communication and what's just randombabble i.e. the frog baseball game, it was fun but relly just babble.

Oh and Shrike I just remembered what you namesake was that big black spiky thing right?

[PreacherJ]

At 4/29/03 08:27 PM, Shih wrote: A big part of the problem is determining what's actual communication and what's just randombabble i.e. the frog baseball game, it was fun but relly just babble.

Oh and Shrike I just remembered what you namesake was that big black spiky thing right?

Alright, Shih, we get your point. Now you're just turning this topic into an anti-frog-baseball topic.

;D

As far as other repurcussions of the internet, free-flowing information is also taking its toll on copyright. Any news reported by one source can be rewritten and reproduced elsewhere on the Internet within a few minutes. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. The ramifications of easy distribution for music, books, and eventually for movies, are far greater.

Napster isn't dead, whatever the music industry says. A site that quadruples its user base over seven months can't be written off that easily. If the courts close it, something else will take its place, possibly based on ICQ or other peer to peer versions of the Internet. The demand is there.

Yet illegal copying of music has been going on for decades (just visit a cassette store in any undeveloped country) and probably isn't the huge threat that music chiefs make it out to be. It's easy distribution of material by a private individuals that's the real threat to the entertainment corporations.

For more information, visit http://www.webdevelopersjourna...s_internet_effect_society.html

Word.