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The Next Millenium (r)

(written by iearn@iearn.org, 03/22/1996)

/* Written  5:57 AM  Nov  9, 1995 by coldspring in igc:iearn.tc */
I'd like to comment on the questions raised regarding the book
"Silicon Snake Oil"

I think it is obvious that the Internet is a good and quick source for
some kinds of information, and it allows for communication with all
areas of the world.  Anybody with access can communicate with any
other user.  One can also look up different contemporary topics that
have postings from all regions of the globe concerning all
international and domestic affairs.  Also, one can establish
communications with new people and develop a relationship over the
net.

Yet, while the Internet can be a good source of information and a good
way to establish communications and spread news, it does have a down
side.  While communicating on the Internet, the personal aspects of
communication are sometimes lost.  Often, you have no idea who you are
really talking with.  Also, by spending time at a computer terminal,
people can miss out on some of the most important things in life, such
as playing games with your kids/friends, or going out and having a
catch with your brother.  I believe that one has much more to gain
from a weekend camping with his father and some friends, looking at
stars, fishing and roasting marshmallows, than from any amount of time
spent in front of a computer, especially since there is so much
unchronicled in formation on the net.  It can take many hours to find
one piece of useful information if you don't know precisely what to
look for, where and how.

However, I don't believe that the bad aspects of the internet (such as
the loss of the personal touch of communications, and valuable time
wasted) outweigh the good aspects of the net unless you allow them to.
If somebody uses the internet as a means of making new friends and
occasionally looking for information, or going to a particular place
to look up information on topics that interest them, then the internet
can be an invaluable thing.  However, if one spends countless hours
staring at a monitor, surfing the net until one becomes dizzy, then
one can fall out of touch with other aspects of life.

I do believe that schools should make more use of the net.  While I
see problems for the net becoming a part of everyday life for the
entire world, I believe that it will be a vital part of educational
life in the future.  If schools teach kids how to use the internet
quickly and effectively for constructive purposes, then perhaps the
Internet can become a useful part of life without detracting from its
more important features (such as spending time with real people and
experiencing nature).

Brian Olson
Grade 11