This could be a wide zone from anything to general chat, alternative science or just plain theory.

What I have noticed through life, what gets pushed ever forwards does not collate with how I see things, there are many people today using the internet looking for a saviour to guide them in yet another direction.

This has become more obvious to me because many simply do not know it has been done to them, a greater majority have lost pretty much of their hand to eye coordination and their skills along with it, yet it will be themselves who will have to pick up the broken China and glue it all back together again.

I do hope I've understood what you're trying to say - apologies if I haven't! This is my take on things, for what it's worth!

The world (both real life and the Internet) is full of lost, lonely people searching for "something" to make themselves complete (as they see it, anyway). We all need to lean on something or someone, sometimes, and we are all interconnected at a very deep level: as John Donne said, "No man is an island, entire of itself".

The world is changing at an ever-faster pace, the old institutions that gave us support and comfort (such as communities, the family and faith) are crumbling. You're right when you say that the old skills are being lost, along with the old virtues of compassion, patience and empathy (IMHO, anyway!). Time itself seems to be going faster and faster. No wonder people are feeling pretty shaky these days, and are looking for "something" to centre them, whether that be a Saviour, or a new relationship.

Where will it all end? Who knows?

Mandy

I think he means that the usage of the net is diverging away from common sense.

www.channelregister.co.uk/2012/05/28/rim_job_cuts/

^Its also bringing on many changes, some of which I predicted a hell of a long time ago on DIF and its unfolding exactly the way I said it would.

hp is sacking thousands of workers, nokia is also on the ropes, kodak recently went flop, all these patents are flowing towards the big few now, eg Google/Apple.

Even Dell is worried....devices are heading towards thin clients with no processing power, when this happens we'll see new startups perhaps chinese making these devices.
Its going to be very difficult to 'brand' such devices because there will be nothing special about them or custom made on the user end if you see what I mean.

@ The Apprentice
They say that video games improve hand to eye coordination so really the youth of today must be evolving in leaps and bounds. Also maybe online porn helps with hand to eye

Personally I think the internet is an awesome tool for sharing, but as Mandy says, people use it for the wrong reasons. I think we need a balance between technology and nature, and to have a grounding in real skills. I don't think its either/or but rather learning to be multi faceted. Disconnection from nature is a big problem as it leads to a feeling of emptiness and searching 'out there' for online gurus or just online shopping.


@mandy, have you seen 'about a boy'? Where she says 'no man is an island' and he says I am an island, I'm sodding ibiza

domathy wrote:
Yes, I have seen that film - it's a good one! I'd forgotten that bit, though - thanks for the reminder!

EDIT: If I were an island I think I'd be one of the smaller Channel Islands - quiet, peaceful and slightly old-fashioned!

Mandy

Hey guys, some really great thinking going on above, time is a factor I have looked at in many ways and the one which I have taken notice of more than anything is earth time.

We have just come in from the garden planting a variety of herbs and onions and gregorian time vanished until I got back in for lunch, every day we make something for ourselves different.

Not to sound over confident but last year we did things for ourselves that save us almost 11 grand, using the multi facetted knowledge, we sought out the skills and learned them and it gets easier if you start and never take your minds off the rhythm that is watching you.

Modern tech is being used by brains to get rid or brains and it will fail if people reley on tech more than nature, we are living proof of what can be achieved if the right kind of knowledge is gathered.

Leaning upon our own wheels is the smarter way forward.

The Apprentice wrote:
Yes, absolutely! Gardening is a wonderful way to spend one's time. It's so sad when the old skills start to die out. You're right when you say that our over-reliance on technology is something to be deplored. In a SHTF situation and we all have no power with which to run our gadgets, and no idea how to grow our own food, we're all going to be running around like headless chickens!

That said, I do think there's a positive side to the Internet - the sharing of knowledge and information is invaluable. Plus, I for one find internet shopping extremely useful as I find it hard to get out and about. I guess it's all about balance!

Mandy