Third Post - The Internet & Communication

There is no doubt that the Internet has made it easier and quicker to keep in touch with friends and family.   Many people on the Discussion Forum agreed that email and Skype have been drastic improvements in communication over “snail mail” and even ordinary phone calls.  Internet communication is especially helpful when people are far away from those they care about.  It’s also a big help to people who might have trouble communicating with others due to some physical challenges, such as hearing or speech impairments.  

I don’t like texting, but many people find it more convenient than talking during a meeting, or in a theater or other places when you don’t want to be overheard.  I think texting is ok for short, important messages, but I don’t really think it’s a good way to have a conversation.    

Several people also pointed out the drawbacks to electronic communication, such as having personal information “hacked,” and getting viruses and spam.  Mostly everyone agrees that those kinds of dangers are the price we pay for living in the 21^st century.  Likewise, some people pointed out that the internet might make some shy people become more reclusive and dependent on impersonal forms of communication.  So rather than making us more “connected” it can actually make some of us more isolated.  

While I do email, mostly for business or school purposes, I do not “blog” or have a Facebook or Twitter account, and will certainly discontinue the ones I had to create for this class, as soon as this class is over.   Sure, there are benefits to those who need to stay in touch with people, but I find them to be a big waste of time.  I was happy to see that other people in the class felt the same way.